The reason why Yamanashi Prefecture is selected as a company that challenges the future is its value as a "testbed" that can be understood from two cases | PRESIDENT Online

Yamanashi prefecture with testbed soil and enterprising temperament

Yamanashi Prefecture is a place blessed with abundant natural environment and tourism resources such as Mt. Fuji. Alternatively, many people may have the image of a fruit tree kingdom that takes advantage of climatic characteristics such as long daylight hours, low rainfall, and large temperature differences.

On the other hand, during the Edo period, it was the stage of a demonstration experiment, such as a trial performance of a new Kabuki work as a key point in the east and west. Also, in the Meiji era, it was the first place in Japan to create a scheme called savings deposits for banks, and it was also the place where the Koshu conglomerate was nurtured.

In 1989, we invited the Maglev Test Line and contributed to the development of innovative technology that Japan is proud of as a test bed for the world's most advanced superconducting maglev technology. Currently, the world's top-level R & D bases related to hydrogen and fuel cells, including the University of Yamanashi, are concentrated, and demonstration experiments related to the production, storage, and utilization of hydrogen from renewable energy are also being conducted.

Demonstration experiment support business started under "Linear Yamanashi Vision"

When the Linear Chuo Shinkansen (between Shinagawa and Nagoya) opens in the near future, the time required from Tokyo will be about 25 minutes from the current 1.5 to 2 hours, and the time from Nagoya will be about 45 minutes from the same 3 to 4 hours. Each is expected to be shortened. In order to maximize this impact and revitalize the prefecture's economy, the "Linear Yamanashi Vision" was formulated in March 2008, and a policy was set out to make the entire prefecture a testbed field by taking advantage of regional characteristics. Was done.

An improved L0 series test line that conducts running tests on the Yamanashi Maglev Test Line.

Among the measures to realize this vision, the prefecture is paying particular attention to the operation and cost of the demonstration experiment in Yamanashi, cooperation with related parties, technical aspects, etc. "TRY! YAMANASHI! Demonstration experiment support project". In the first phase of the project, which started in FY2009, there were 43 applications from all over the country. Eight projects selected from among them are already steadily progressing in the same area.

From here, we will introduce interview articles of two companies that were actually adopted for this project. We will discuss in detail the reasons why both companies chose Yamanashi as the stage of the demonstration experiment, the value of Yamanashi as a test bed, and the actual situation of the prefecture's generous support.

Demonstration experiment to create the future ① Aeronext Co., Ltd. (Shibuya-ku, Tokyo)

Solve logistics issues with a drone!KosugaKosugePossibility drawn in the sky of the village

The vitality of the local community has declined due to the remarkable decrease in the population, and the living environment has not been improved compared to other areas. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the number of municipalities designated as depopulated areas is 885, which is more than half of all local governments. Nowadays, effective solutions in "logistics" are awaited, as the last mile problem is often highlighted. Set in the "sky" of Kosuge Village, Yamanashi Prefecture, "future logistics" is being realized ahead of time.

"When will it start?" "What kind of service will you receive?" When we held a briefing session on the demonstration experiment, the residents of Kosuge Village gathered and said that they were filled with words that made us feel hopeful. "When I first visited, I was confident that we would accept our business," recalls Keisuke Taji, president of Aeronext.

The company's strength is Japan's first dedicated logistics drone equipped with its proprietary center of gravity control technology "4D GRAVITY®", and is aiming to establish a "new smart logistics service" that combines existing transportation means and drone logistics. The demonstrative experiment being promoted in Kosuge Village was the catalyst for making great strides toward social implementation. The population is about 700 and the aging rate is 46% (as of April 2020). Forests occupy 95% of the total area, and there are eight settlements on the terrain with rich elevation differences. Due to the limited availability of goods in the village, it is not uncommon for residents to make round trips to the neighboring city of Otsuki in search of daily necessities, groceries, and medicines.

There are only a few companies in the world that manufacture logistics-specific drones. Aeronext's aircraft has made it possible to "carry luggage without tilting", which is difficult with the diversion of conventional aircraft used for shooting.

A clearer image of how the business will grow

Under these circumstances, a new smart logistics project "SkyHub®" has started, which Aeronext and Seino Holdings are jointly working on. We have set up a base called "Drone Depot ®", which is the starting point of the Last One Mile, and gathered the goods carried to Kosuge Village. From here, it is delivered to the residents by means suitable for the delivery destination, such as drones and cars. The service has already moved to the paid phase, and on-demand delivery, shopping agency, and delivery agency that can order daily necessities etc. with the application are implemented.Also, with the backup of Yamanashi prefecture, the surrounding areaTabayamaTabayama We are also considering the realization of initiatives for joint delivery and mixed freight-passenger loading in collaboration with logistics companies whose delivery areas are villages and Otsuki City, and public transportation.

The drone that takes off from the delivery base "Drone Depot ®" lands at the "Drone Stand ®" installed in each village of Kosuge Village. Residents who ordered come to pick up the goods. According to needs based on purchasing data, "Drone Depot ®" stocks about 300 items such as daily necessities and groceries. It also functions as a dark store specializing in on-demand delivery services.

For the people of Kosuge Village, the appearance of the drone flying became a "daily scene". "The village mayor, who is enthusiastic about overcoming the challenges faced by depopulated areas, and the residents who ask us to do our best. The most important thing when launching a new service is the connection with the area. I realized it "(Representative Taji)

As for the situation surrounding drones, the ban on "Level 4 (out-of-sight flight in manned areas)" is approaching, and the movement toward the establishment of the market is finally in full swing. The number of inquiries from various places wishing to observe the results of "SkyHub®" is increasing rapidly.

After the demonstration experiment, Mr. Taji said that he could clearly imagine the horizontal expansion in Yamanashi prefecture and the nationwide expansion. "No matter how good the technology is, if we cannot verify how we can utilize it and what kind of market we can find, we will not grow as an industry. Without the cooperation of everyone in Kosuge Village, we will be able to do business up to this point. I don't think we could make any progress. "

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Demonstration experiment to create the future (2) Triple W Japan Inc. (Minato-ku, Tokyo)

Network construction with university hospitals.Team up to get evidence

Triple W Japan promotes the mission of "advancing the world one step further" in the healthcare field. The excretion prediction device "DFree" developed by the company is expected to contribute not only to Japan, which is in the midst of a super-aging society, but also overseas, where rapid aging is expected. By utilizing the support project of Yamanashi Prefecture, a demonstration experiment was realized at the University of Yamanashi Hospital. Valuable evidence has been accumulated. It is necessary to set up a urination care team and train to obtain the medical fee "urination independence support addition". There are many sites where care records are recorded on paper, and many medical institutions are unable to take steps to build a system. DFree, which can record and store data on the app, contributes to improving the quality and efficiency of medical care and reforming work styles.

With the aging of the population, troubles related to urinary disorders such as urinary incontinence and frequent urination are said to be becoming more serious. It has been pointed out that not only does it lead to a decline in quality of life (QOL), but it also increases the risk of falls due to the effects of deterioration of physical function, and the relationship between independence of excretion and extension of healthy life expectancy is drawing attention. ..

The key to improving independence is to grasp the tendency of urination and create an environment where you can go to the bathroom and change diapers at the optimal timing. DFree is a wearable device that can monitor the condition of bladder urine accumulation in real time with an ultrasonic sensor. The accumulation condition is displayed in 10 stages and can be checked on smartphones and tablet terminals. The device weighs 26g and is compact and palm-sized. Wearing it on the lower abdomen has a low load, and the measurement posture is not limited, so it is possible to lead a normal life. We are developing two types, one for corporations and the other for individuals, centered on long-term care facilities.

The prefecture follows in detail. "I was surprised at the sense of speed"

In order to promote the introduction in medical institutions, he raised his hand to the demonstration experiment support project with the main purpose of obtaining further evidence. Not only can we receive support such as research funds from the adoption, but the biggest achievement is that we were able to build a network with the University of Yamanashi Hospital. Atsushi Nakanishi, CEO of Triple W Japan, emphasizes, "I was surprised at the sense of speed."

"The reality is that startups want to do something with a big organization like a university hospital, but it's hard to get permission. Even if it's decided to do it, the procedure is complicated and it takes a long time for the project to start. There are many cases that require

Shortly after being adopted as a support project, Yamanashi Prefecture became the coordinator and an interview was set up with Professor Takahiko Mitsui of the Department of Urology, University of Yamanashi, and Professor Tamami Taniguchi of the Department of Nursing. Since the hospital was originally interested in DFree, the story of the demonstration experiment was smoothly organized. Since then, close communication has continued while actively exchanging opinions.

We have repeated online meetings with people from Triple W Japan, Yamanashi University, and Yamanashi Prefecture, and have advanced the demonstration experiment.

"Every time we have a meeting, the person in charge of Yamanashi Prefecture is also present. We are carefully picking up the intentions of the hospital and our requests and following them in detail. I have a feeling that it is, so I would like to make use of the results of the demonstration experiment to create a DFree introduction model in the medical field. "

Challenge Japan is called a developed country. While aiming to transform into a "problem-solving advanced country," the results obtained from the demonstration experiment in Yamanashi Prefecture should be positioned as a turning point.

[Open platform Yamanashi that creates the future with cutting-edge technology]

What is the reason why "TRY! YAMANASHI! Demonstration experiment support project" is attracting attention while local governments all over the country are launching various measures to support attracting companies? There are three main types of support for this project: "accompaniment support for the entire Yamanashi prefecture," "expense support of up to 7.5 million yen (subsidy rate 3/4)," and "advice by experts." Of these, the generosity of "accompaniment support" is a major strength.

Hands-on support that is close to the company

When a company intends to conduct a demonstration experiment on its own, securing a demonstration field including an approach to cooperating organizations tends to be a major obstacle. In that respect, the project will be introduced to the cooperating organizations immediately after its adoption, and its support will continue during the project period. Prefectural officials will be present at meetings as necessary to support smooth and speedy cooperation with related organizations.

Regarding "expense support", most of the expenses such as personnel expenses, raw material expenses, transportation expenses, rewards, outsourcing expenses, advertising expenses, etc. are covered by the subsidy. On top of that, you can also receive advice from experts for commercialization. In addition, the prefecture fully backs up all aspects related to the promotion of the project, including PR aspects such as recruiting monitors for demonstration experiments. Even companies that are not related to Yamanashi can use their businesses with peace of mind.

In addition to such support as a business, Yamanashi specializes in "a support network that covers municipalities, companies, hospitals, etc. throughout the prefecture," "state-of-the-art research on hydrogen and fuel cells," and "support for entry into the medical device industry." It also has strengths in terms of "institutions" and "cooperation with smart agriculture." These are also likely to be points that add value to the company's demonstration experiment.

Achievement report meeting and final examination meeting will be delivered online in March

The prefecture intends to continue to actively promote this project with an eye on the linear opening in the near future. The budget is currently under deliberation for further enhancement of support after the third term.

If you want to know more about the business, you can't miss the two online events in March. The first "results report meeting" will be delivered on the 10th (Thursday), and the second "final examination meeting" will be delivered on the 17th (Thursday). Not only for companies looking for a field of demonstration experiments, but also for companies looking for ways to commercialize their own technologies and products, it seems to be an opportunity to get some hints.

That "flying bike" has also started a flight test in Yamanashi!

Did you know that the "flying bike" that appears in science fiction movies has already become a reality? The next-generation air mobility "XTURISMO Limited Edition" was first unveiled in October last year and then started accepting pre-order sales. Equipped with various cutting-edge technologies, this mobility not only contributes to the realization of more free and comfortable movement by making the air a field of movement, but also means of transportation at disaster sites and unpaved places. Is also expected.

We developed "ALI Technologies" in Minato-ku, Tokyo. The company is aiming for an "air mobility society" in which cars and motorcycles fly freely in the sky, but there are still many issues that need to be resolved, such as regulatory issues and ensuring safety. Yamanashi Prefecture is working with the company to resolve these issues.

In this way, Yamanashi Prefecture is inviting the prefecture to implement social implementation projects of cutting-edge technology in various ways other than the demonstration experiment support project. Efforts towards a "testbed sanctuary" are accelerating every day.

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