Accenture and the University of Aizu announced they will conduct a joint research project to develop what they claims will be the first standard API marketplace for smart cites in Japan.
The joint project also includes studies on how to utilize a Smart City operating system (digital platform for smart cities) to better utilize artificial intelligence (AI) in public services and promote citizens’ behavioral changes, focusing on Aizu Wakamatsu city, Fukushima, as a model case.
Accenture said that an API marketplace is a channel for sharing and disseminating standardized code for creating and linking software. The planned site will help local government, companies and other local stakeholders develop and benefit from new data linkages and integration between smart city and industry initiatives. With the advice of the University of Aizu, Accenture will develop the API marketplace on the cloud environment of the University of Aizu’s Advanced ICT Laboratory (LICTiA).
“Since its opening in 1993, the University of Aizu has been fostering world-class ICT talent and conducting research on ICT that contributes to the sustainable development of Japan and the world,” said Toshiaki Miyazaki, president of the University of Aizu. “Through this joint research, we will work with Accenture, one of the world’s leading consulting companies, to improve Japan’s competitiveness.”
“The Japanese government is promoting a standardized smart city architecture for the good of society, in particular to support sustainable development in urban areas,” said Shojiro Nakamura, co-lead at the Accenture Innovation Center Fukushima. “Creating standards for applications and data is key to our efforts to support work in individual cities and a nationwide smart city framework, as well as central to our collaboration with the University of Aizu to promote regional development.”
Opened in 1993, the University of Aizu is a public university which specializes in computer science and engineering.
