Science and Technology Foresight on Green Innovation and Future Smart Community Japan
Wednesday, 12. September 2012 | 11:45 Uhr
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Reporting
How the population can be sensitized for saving energy consumption was demonstrated byProfessor Tomoaki Wada from the Tokyo University of Science, using the example of Yokohama, Toyota, Keihanna and Kitakyushu. The aim of the five-year campaign in these cities is to motivate the population, but also business, to use energy efficiently. This includes measures in the areas of trans-portation, communication, building restoration, installation of solar panels and wind turbines for energy production. Energy meters (smartMeters) that allow reading the daily energy consumption were installed in every household and in every factory. A connection to local power stations allows for better control and optimization of the energy consumption. A concomitant communications campaign raises the population’s awareness for the careful use of energy. The Japanese model was also applied in other Asian countries. In China, there are so-called “low-carbon” cities. Wada sees three important aspects for the future: research, developing progressive technologies that withstand international competition and a contribution towards solving global problems. Besides carrying out the projects and research activities, the recruitment of qualified personal is very important, according to Wada.
Tomoaki Wada
Tomoaki Wada is Director General of the National Institute of Science and Technology Policy (NISTEP) at Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). His career with the Japanese government started in 1977, when he joined the Science and Technology Agency (STA).
Mr. Wada has held several posts in the Cabinet Office and MEXT (formerly STA), including Director of Science and Technology Policy and Director of Science and Technology Information Policy. He has been involved in developing national R&D plans on nuclear energy, making the 3rd S&T Basic Plan as well as planning a new graduate university of science and technology on Okinawa.
