The initiative for supporting the regional revitalization of Iki City, Nagasaki Prefecture: "SDGs Future City Project" (selected as “SDGs City of Future” by Japanese government in 2018)

#SDGAction42771

Description

Intro

In Japan, depopulation and aging of society are common issues in rural area and remote islands. Iki City also had same issues and they are trying to establish a robust and sustainable community where “No one will be left behind” to resolve these issues. As a core enterprise of this initiative, Fuji Xerox is supporting whole planning process to address the issues of Iki City and promoting stakeholders’ collaboration. This initiative was awarded as “SDGs City of Future” and “Municipality SDGs Model Project” in the Municipality SDGs Model Promotion Project by Japanese government in 2018.

Objective of the practice

The purpose of this initiative is to revitalize the whole community in each domain (economy, society, environment) through collaboration with Fuji Xerox. 
The details are as follows: 
・The project contributes to local industrial sustainable growth by introduction of the technology to local industries and human resource development. (SDGs: Goal 8/9) 
・The project aims at the expansion of the renewable energy usage through the environmental education such as workshops for community residents. (SDGs: Goal 9) 
・The project contributes to promoting the partnership of public-private sectors by inviting cooperative companies from the outside of prefecture so that we can more smoothly and effectively promote the initiative. (SDGs: Goal 17) 
Fuji Xerox has managed the whole project as a core enterprise of the public-private cooperation, utilizing Fuji Xerox's core competency (IT and communication technology, wide range of enterprises network etc.).

Partners

The main stakeholders are the public office of Iki City (Nagasaki Prefecture), local residents, specialized companies in each field (agriculture, retail, human resource development, environment), Fuji Xerox and its local sales company. Fuji Xerox has affiliate companies all over Japan, so that partner companies can bring to this initiative.

Implementation of the Project/Activity

Fuji Xerox has signed the cooperation agreement with Iki City in 2015 and repeatedly conducted dialogues among residents. This approach made use of Fuji Xerox communication technology, which led to the discovery of common issues for residents, “revitalization of the local economy”. Iki City decided to work with Fuji Xerox to revitalize the local industry. Fuji Xerox supported to draft the whole revitalization plan of Iki City and is engaged in promoting the implementation of the project as an important hub of the public-private cooperation with companies outside of prefecture. These partner companies introduce technology, and develop personnel who will work for Iki City sustainability projects, and train for shift to renewable energy.
Regarding the monitoring of progress, regular councils will be held every three months to confirm progress.
The importance of this initiative is not simply introducing services and products but aims to solve issues rooted in the region which was found through the local resident dialogues.

Results/Outputs/Impacts

This initiative has just started, therefor the detailed evidence output will be shared in the future. The targets that this initiative aims for 2030 is as follows:
(*All the data KPI is the one compared to March 2018.)
◆Economy
To solve the aging of agricultural workers and the shortage of successors, Iki City will visualize and automate all steps of agriculture from planting to sales by utilizing IoT and AI technology.
・Agricultural output: 1.65 billion yen→1.65 billion yen
・Number of introducing new technologies such as IoT, AI:0→5 cases
◆Society
To meet the needs of depopulation and aging society, Iki City aims to create a safe and comfortable future society through ensuring the nurses caretakers employment, establishing good education environment, and developing social infrastructure such as automated driving system etc., by cooperating with specialized technology companies.
・Ratio of people in need of nursing care: 23.1%→22.4%
・Developing community leaders: 3 people→39 people
・Securing labor population: 13,029 people（comparison with Oct 2015）→13,000 people
・Number of partner companies: 0→5 companies
◆Environment
Iki City, taking advantage of the unique climate of the region, aims to establish a sustainable environment through shifting to the renewable energy such as power generation by wind and solar energy, enhancing environmental education for citizens, and promoting the eco-friendly transportation such as electric cars.
・ CO2 reduction target: In 2020 (intermediate effect measurement year)→26%
・ Number of electric cars: 37 units→60 units

Enabling factors and constraints

The elements that will lead this initiative toward success are as follows:
◆Economy
Establishment of industrial basis for agriculture (agricultural diversification) by advanced technology.
◆Society
Economic revitalization through the creation of employment lead by agricultural diversification and human resource development.
◆Environment
Improvement of the residents awareness toward the shift for renewable energy.
◆Collaboration among partner companies who supports above implementation and overall coordination by Fuji Xerox.

Sustainability and replicability

◆For sustainability
・To conduct activities continuously to encourage the self-reliance of local industry, not a one-time philanthropic contribution.
・To realize the continuous collaboration with partner companies outside the prefecture.
・Recognizing that the growth of local community is essential for the own company growth, Fuji Xerox local sales company works in the medium to long term as a core enterprise of the public-private cooperation with Fuji Xerox's strength (IT, communication technology, network among companies).
◆For replicability
・There are similar issues in all over Japan, We aim to help solve local issues in rural area and remote islands by utilizing the nationwide inter-company network that Fuji Xerox possesses.

Conclusions

Toward achieving SDGs, corporate leaders should aim for a sustainable society by addressing issues rooted in the community rather than promoting social contributions through existing products and ready-made services. 
In that regard, This initiative aims to solve issues rooted in the community through dialogue meetings by utilizing the strengths of Fuji Xerox. Fuji Xerox will continue to support this initiative and would like to build a new model for revitalization of rural community through utilizing business strengths.

Other sources of information

◆Japanese Government website: an announcement about the recognition of “SDGs City of Future” and “Municipality SDGs Model Project”.
https://www.kantei.go.jp/jp/singi/tiiki/kankyo/teian/sdgs_sentei.html
◆ Document about the planning design that Nagasaki Prefecture Iki City announced.
https://www.city.iki.nagasaki.jp/soshiki/seisaku_kikakuka/SDGs/1/5175. html
https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/gaiko/oda/sdgs/pdf/effort_model_iki.pdf
◆The magazine article on Fuji Xerox's efforts.
The environmental business (2018. the publication in December),
The human conference (2018. The publication in December)

SDGS & Targets