UPWARD transcends the framework of business, makes "working people" in the city smarter, and realizes the happiness of "living people" there.

UPWARD, Inc. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Takanori Kaneki; URL: https://upward.jp), whose vision is to "Innovate the Last One Mile of the Field," will significantly reduce the workload of local government employees working in the field through applications for local governments on April 1, 2021. By connecting "people who work for the town" and "people who live there" with IoT, we will realize "Society 5.0."

*Our company is participating in "April Dream: April 1st is Dream Day." This press release is UPWARD, Inc.'s April Dream.

Cabinet Office "Society 5.0" Integration of Cyberspace (virtual) and Physical Space (reality)

"Society 5.0," advocated by the Cabinet Office as a national policy, represents a new societal structure following the hunting society (Society 1.0), agricultural society (Society 2.0), industrial society (Society 3.0), and information society (Society 4.0). It is promoted as the vision of the future society that Japan should aspire to achieve.

"In the information society up to now (Society 4.0), there has been a problem that knowledge and information are not shared, and cross-disciplinary collaboration is insufficient. (Omission)"

The society to be realized in Society 5.0 overcomes these issues and difficulties by connecting all people and things through IoT (Internet of Things), sharing various knowledge and information, and creating new value that has never existed before. In addition, artificial intelligence (AI) will provide necessary information when needed, and technologies such as robots and self-driving cars will overcome issues such as the declining birthrate and aging population, regional depopulation, and disparities in wealth. Through societal transformation (innovation), we will break down the sense of stagnation that has existed up to now, create a society full of hope, respect each other across generations, and create a society where each individual can live comfortably and actively.”
(Quoted from the Cabinet Office) (https://www8.cao.go.jp/cstp/society5_0/)

These approaches toward the realization of "Society 5.0" are also effective in achieving the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as they lead to the resolution of various social issues around the world.

UPWARD's Approach to Achieving the SDGs

UPWARD aims to contribute to Society 5.0 and the achievement of the SDGs, transcending the framework of business, making "people who work" in the city smarter, and realizing the happiness of "people who live" there. UPWARD has primarily developed services for private companies, and has been helping approximately 300 companies, mainly enterprises, with DX in the field of sales. By expanding our service development to the BtoG area, we aim to leverage our greatest strength, geospatial information technology, to contribute to solving social issues faced primarily by local governments.

*Regarding the use of geospatial information technology, the Japanese government's SDGs Action Plan 2021 also states the following in "Priority Issue 7 [Main Initiatives]: System and Means for Promoting SDGs Implementation."

Promotion of partnerships using geospatial information
Promote the utilization of geospatial information in various fields such as disaster prevention through domestic and international partnerships, including collaboration with UNICEF, UN specialized agencies, local governments, and industry-academia-government collaboration. (Initial budget for R3: 0.3 billion yen, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism)
https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/gaiko/oda/sdgs/pdf/SDGs_Action_Plan_2021.pdf

UPWARD will continue to promote multi-sector partnerships, support those who work in local governments, and ultimately aim to create communities where all residents can live safely and securely.

Specific Initiatives Toward the Realization of Our Dream

① Activities and Recognition of Best Practices in the Local Creation SDGs Public-Private Partnership Platform Through Local Government Support
July 2020: UPWARD provides free licenses to support disaster-stricken areas during the Heavy Rain Event of Reiwa 2 (2020)
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000010.000015260.html
September 2020:登壇 at the Local Creation SDGs Public-Private Partnership Platform Annual General Meeting
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000009.000015260.html
January 2021: UPWARD's case study recognized as a best practice at the Local Creation SDGs International Forum 2021
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000020.000015260.html

② Multi-Sector Collaboration with the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan
March 2021: Announced multi-sector collaboration with the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan aimed at solving social issues related to geospatial information
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000025.000015260.html
Geospatial Information Authority of Japan x UPWARD Dialogue (Part 1): https://upward.jp/weblog/interview_giaj1/
Geospatial Information Authority of Japan x UPWARD Dialogue (Part 2): https://upward.jp/weblog/interview_giaj2/

③ Participation in the MUFG Business Support Program
Selected as a candidate for the 8th Rise Up Festa "Realization of Urban/Regional Society Updates and Smart Cities" category, currently undergoing secondary screening
https://www.bk.mufg.jp/houjin/festa/

Comments from UPWARD President and CEO Takanori Kaneki Regarding the Realization of Our Dream

It is extremely important for technology startups like us to take the lead in "multi-sector collaboration" in the public sector and initiate actions with the achievement of the SDGs as our axis. We hope to transform the co-created value through public-private partnerships into social infrastructure. We will continue to strive towards realizing contributions to local communities through technology.