Davos 2016 - Issue Briefing: Advancing towards a Super Smart Society | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

The Chairman and CEO of Hitachi, Mr. Nakanishi, discusses Society 5.0, a concept aimed at using technology to solve complex social issues.

Key Insights

• 😒 Society 5.0 aims to use technology to solve social issues beyond the manufacturing industry.
• 🤩 Collaboration and open innovation are key to finding effective solutions for complex societal challenges.
• 🉐 Japan's advantage lies in understanding specific market requirements and harmonizing society.
• 🪡 The education system needs to adapt to prepare younger generations for the future demands of industry 4.0.

Transcript

thank you very much for joining us this afternoon everybody uh it is with great pleasure that I introduce Mr nakanishi the chairman and CEO of Hitachi Corporation of Japan uh today the Japanese diet approved uh a policy framework uh dubbed Society 5.0 uh which is extremely appropriate for us here at the world economic Forum given that the theme of ... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: How will Society 5.0 help Japan in the face of unique demographic challenges?

Society 5.0 focuses on understanding the real requirements of emerging countries and collaborating to create solutions tailored to their needs, helping Japan's future industries thrive.

Q: With industry 4.0, will Japan rely less on emerging countries for manufacturing?

While industry 4.0 may change the dynamics of global manufacturing, Japan's advantage lies in collaborative creations and understanding specific market needs, which may reduce reliance on low-cost labor.

Q: Will industry 4.0 affect the middle class or low-income individuals negatively in Japan?

In Japan, societal challenges require more advanced solutions beyond industry 4.0. The focus is on encouraging younger generations to take on high-level jobs and improving education to prepare them for the future.

Q: How will Japan's education system adapt to the demands of industry 4.0?

Japan is already discussing the need for more attractive school environments and middle-level education to encourage younger generations to learn and adapt to the changing world.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Society 5.0 aims to extend the use of IoT and big data from monitoring social phenomena to solving global security and common problems.

• The current challenges faced include changes in electric grid behavior and rapid urbanization, which require monitoring and collaboration to find solutions.

• Hitachi focuses on social innovation, but acknowledges the need for collaboration with various partners to address societal issues.