The Ceatec Expo, which officially kicks off on Tuesday, is held online for the second year in a row due to COVID - 19 for the four day period.
Society 5.0 refers to a Japanese government initiative to achieve a convergence of technologies including the Internet of things, robotics, artificial intelligence and big data -.
Toshiba President and CEO Satoshi Tsunakawa gave a keynote presentation on Friday in which he talked about the conglomerate's initiatives that will focus on achieving carbon neutrality and greater infrastructure resilience.
He spoke about Toshiba's virtual power plant business, which aggregates different renewable energy facilities into single power plants as well as logistics solutions that incorporate AI robots and inventory control systems to support businesses.
Tsunakawa also touched on the Conglomerate's efforts in advanced quantum cryptographic technology for data security, telling the company that it wants to protect critical infrastructure from cyberattacks.
Society is more complex in the aftermath of Coronavirus outbreak, which is why digitalization is imperative, he said, adding that society must accelerate digital transformation in energy and other infrastructures. KAMASHIMAKISHIMA, Japan's newly appointed digital transformation minister under Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, shown her commitment to creating a society where everyone can feel the benefits of digitalisation. She said the digital agency will continue to promote a digital city state - a concept introduced by the new prime minister. Through tech investments, the agency will tackle issues like Japan's aging society, declining birth rate and widening gap between urban and rural regions.
At Ceatec, exhibitors will use an online platform which allows them to post video clips and reference materials. The website will have a video chat function where companies can directly communicate with visitors.
The main electronics manufacturers Sony Group, Hitachi, and Panasonic are among the big companies considered participants this year. In 2020, more than 350 organizations took part in the expo, with a total of over 156,000 online visitors checking out the event.
There will also be an area dedicated to startups and universities, which will allow them to present their products and technologies.
There will be a number of conferences with companies including Nissan Motor, NTT, NEC, Huawei Japan, Bosch and Cyient presenting their latest initiatives. Online panel discussions will be held on topics such as fifth-generation networks, mobility and artificial intelligence.
Japan sees Society 5.0 as a crucial growth strategy for the country, particularly as it faces a declining and aging population. The government has set up a number of large-scale programs to encourage companies to boost research and development and foster innovation.
While the government has expressed high hopes to achieve Society 5.0, it will be critical for Japanese companies and business leaders to show that they are rising to the challenge of intensifying global competition.
Hagiuda Koichi, Japan's new minister of economy, trade and industry, said on Friday that COVID 19 disclosed the Japan's slowness in digitalising government services as well as those in the private sector. In Japan, he said, we are at a watershed moment where we must use digital technologies to realize transformation. Advanced technologies showcased at Ceatec will prompt business models to evolve and will be key to enrich our lives.