JTW Digest, April 9, 2024

Author

Eldar Syzdykov
April 09, 2024

Updates on MyNumber Card Expansion and Digital Administrative Reform Initiatives

Digital Minister Kono’s press conference outtakes:

1. Expansion of MyNumber Card usage:

   From May 27th, MyNumber cards can be used continuously overseas.

   Procedures for applying and receiving MyNumber cards at diplomatic offices will be enabled.

   Provisions for using MyNumber cards without PIN input for certain purposes will be implemented.

   Additional 80 national qualifications will be enabled for MyNumber usage.

2. Digital Administrative Reform initiatives:

   A dialogue session will be held on the theme of collaboration between digital government/finance reforms and impact startups.

   The goal is to maintain public services like healthcare, childcare, and disaster prevention while driving social transformation and value creation.

   Challenges faced by impact startups in under-populated areas, regulatory hurdles, and investor perceptions are discussed.

   The government aims to create a better environment to support the growth of impact startups tackling social issues.

3. Updates on the ride-sharing program:

   The ride-sharing service has started, and the government aims to gather evidence on its effectiveness in improving mobility.

   Discussions will be held on driver recruitment, ensuring safety, and making the program attractive for drivers.

   The government prioritizes protecting people's freedom of movement over vested interests.

Microsoft Invests Record $3.4 Billion in Japan to Bolster Generative AI Infrastructure

Microsoft has announced a major $3.4 billion (440 billion yen) investment in Japan over the next two years to strengthen the infrastructure for generative AI technology.

This is Microsoft's largest ever investment in Japan, reflecting the growing demand for generative AI capabilities.

The investment will be used to reinforce Microsoft's data centers in Tokyo and Osaka, ensuring high-speed processing power required for generative AI applications.

Microsoft will also establish its first AI and robotics research base in Tokyo, aimed at advancing research in these areas and developing solutions to address societal challenges, such as Japan's aging population.

The announcement is expected to coincide with Japanese Prime Minister Kishida's upcoming visit to the United States, underscoring the strategic importance of this investment for strengthening Microsoft's AI capabilities in the Japanese market.

Gallium Nitride Surface Emitting Laser Achieves 20% Improvement in Power Conversion Efficiency

Researchers at Meijo University, led by Professor Tetsuya Takeuchi, have developed a method to significantly improve the power conversion efficiency of gallium nitride (GaN) surface-emitting lasers. The key points:

1. They devised a technique to measure the thickness of the GaN layer, where optical resonance occurs, during the crystal growth process. This allowed for precise control of the film thickness.

2. By controlling the film thickness with high accuracy, the luminous efficiency of the laser was improved, reaching over 20% power conversion efficiency.

3. For an 8-micrometer diameter element, the difference between the designed wavelength and the actual measured value was only 0.1%, enabling the manufacture of these lasers with high precision.

4. The researchers also improved the underlying layer of the light-emitting layer, which further increased the power conversion efficiency to over 20% for a 5-micrometer diameter device, achieving an output of more than 10 milliwatts.

5. This film thickness management technology is expected to lead to improved productivity and performance of GaN surface-emitting lasers, which can be applied to virtual reality (VR) terminals, medical equipment, and other applications.

Japan's First Floating Demonstration of Perovskite Solar Cells on a Pool's Water Surface

Sekisui Chemical, MM Bridge, and Koei Densetsu have started a joint demonstration experiment to install film-type perovskite solar cells on the surface of a swimming pool in Tokyo's Kita Ward, starting from April 3, 2024.

Perovskite solar cells are lightweight and can be flexibly installed on various surfaces, making them a promising next-generation solar technology. This demonstration aims to explore the construction and installation of floating structures that can take advantage of the lightweight nature of perovskite cells.

This is the first demonstration of a floating perovskite solar cell system in Japan. Sekisui Chemical has established a roll-to-roll manufacturing process for 30cm-wide perovskite cells with 15% power conversion efficiency, and is working towards commercialization of 1-meter wide cells.

MM Bridge, a comprehensive engineering company, will contribute its expertise in floating structure design and mooring methods, while Koei Densetsu will provide measurement and control systems to gather data on the water environment and floating structure.

The goal of this demonstration is to acquire useful data and insights for the future installation of floating perovskite solar cell systems, helping to popularize this emerging solar technology.

Joto Techno Develops High-Flexibility, High-Strength Polypropylene for "JIZAI" 3D Printing

Joto Techno, a housing materials manufacturer, has announced the development of a new polypropylene (PP) material called "JIZAI" for 3D printing applications. The key points are:

1. JIZAI is optimized for the FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) 3D printing method, allowing for better suppression of warping compared to conventional PP filaments.

2. The material offers both appropriate strength and flexibility, enabling the 3D printing of prototypes for parts that require those properties, such as hinges. This is something not possible with common 3D printing materials like PLA.

3. JIZAI is resistant to a wide range of chemicals, including acids, alkalis, and organic solvents, making it suitable for 3D printing of containers and parts that come into contact with chemicals. This property is not found in commonly used ABS resin.

4. The material supports high-speed printing at 500mm/s and has easy-to-remove support material.

5. Joto Techno developed JIZAI based on the core technology from its "Kiso Packing" resin composite product used in over 6 million wooden houses. The name "JIZAI" refers to the flexible modeling capabilities enabled by 3D printing.

Panasonic Unveils Refrigerator with AI-Powered Food Management

Panasonic is set to release a new refrigerator-freezer equipped with an AI camera in late May 2024. The key features of this AI-powered appliance include:

1. Remote monitoring of the refrigerator, freezer, and vegetable compartments through a dedicated app, helping users avoid forgetting to buy items or purchasing duplicates.

2. AI-based automatic recognition of vegetables from camera images and suggestion of recipes to use them before they spoil, addressing the common problem of food waste.

3. Humidity control and cooling technology to keep vegetables fresh for around 10 days.

Panasonic aims to leverage AI, IoT, and freshness preservation features to reduce the burden of shopping and cooking, provide meal ideas, and contribute to reducing food waste through this innovative refrigerator design.