Japan – Fujitsu and Teikoku Databank to Conduct Joint Trial of “Japanese electronic seal” to Deliver Verified Digital Documents Between Multiple Companies FP

Mar 31, 2022 | Business

Fujitsu Limited and Teikoku Databank, Ltd. (hereinafter TDB) today announced Japan’s first trials on the application of a Japanese version of an electronic seal (Japanese electronic seal)(1) to verify the authenticity of companies issuing digital documents starting April 1, 2022.

Trial overview

In the jointly-managed trials, the two companies will build a trust platform(2) to issue a Japanese electronic seal for the delivery of digital documents by leveraging Fujitsu’s digital trust technology(3) and TDB’s knowledge in corporate identity verification to confirm the usability of the newly developed seal.

The two companies plan to use a level 1 or level 2 Japanese electronic seal as defined in the Japanese government’s electronic seal guidelines(4). Based on the demonstrations, the two companies aim to clarify tasks of the Japanese electronic seal and promote its practical application in society.

Outline of the demonstrations

In the trials, the two companies will build a trust platform for verification of a Japanese electronic seal by June 2022, leveraging Fujitsu’s digital trust technology and TDB’s knowledge of corporate identity as an external certification body.

As a next step, the two parties plan to conduct trials for delivering digital documents with the Japanese electronic seal in simulations with various companies until September 2022. This will include the verification of Japanese electronic seals issued via the newly constructed trust platform for digital documents delivered by email and via cloud services.

Starting in April 2022, the two companies plan to select private enterprises to support the trials. Details of these will be announced separately at a later date.

Future plans

Fujitsu and TDB will continue to promote the use of the Japanese electronic seal to drive
corporate DX and realize a society in which transactions involving all types of digital documents can be conducted appropriately and smoothly.

Moving forward, the two companies plan to develop technologies and mechanisms for digital signatures that are compatible with European standards to enable Japanese companies to use the Japanese electronic seal in transactions with other companies in their European offices and European subsidiaries.

As previously announced(5), TDB has also started to use “EU-qualified electronic seals” and will accelerate its efforts for trust services including electronic seals in parallel to these demonstrations.

(1) Japanese version of an electronic seal :
Technology to verify the origin (publisher) and integrity of digital data. The development of technology, equipment, examination, operation standards, and standards for the Japanese electronic seal has become an urgent issue in order to achieve compatibility with the existing European standards.
(2) Fujitsu Develops Digital Trust Management Technology to Ensure Authenticity of Business Data
(3) Trust Platform:
A platform consisting of technologies that enable the distribution of data useful for solving business and social issues while ensuring confidence in privacy, security, and intellectual property rights.
(4) “Guidelines for e-seals (June 25, 2021)” (Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications): https://www.soumu.go.jp/main_content/000756907.pdf (in Japanese)
(5) Announcement of the start of in-house use of “EU-qualified e-seals” (Press release from Teikoku Databank): https://www.tdb.co.jp/info/topics/k220205.html (in Japanese)

About Fujitsu

Fujitsu is the leading Japanese information and communication technology (ICT) company offering a full range of technology products, solutions and services. Approximately 126,000 Fujitsu people support customers in more than 100 countries. We use our experience and the power of ICT to shape the future of society with our customers. Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702) reported consolidated revenues of 3.6 trillion yen (US$34 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021. For more information, please see www.fujitsu.com.

About TEIKOKU DATABANK

TEIKOKU DATABANK is committed to providing outstanding business intelligence for actionable insights and high-quality decision making.

TEIKOKU DATABANK was established in 1900, with the mission of “protecting corporations from fraud.” Since then, TEIKOKU DATABANK has been continually fine-tuning the craft of gathering, maintaining and communicating business intelligence.

TEIKOKU DATABANK is now proud owners of Japan’s largest corporate database, and have an extensive network across Japan and also internationally. With this, we are able to respond to diversified customers’ requests with high-quality information and a wide range of services, which includes:
– Corporate Credit Research
– Targeted business list
– Market research
– Credit management support
– Online services
– Publications on bankruptcies, economic trends, and corporate attitudes
– Operation of Certificate Authorities issuing Electronic Certificates

Copyright ©2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. A division of Japan Corporate News Network.

Japan – Mitsubishi Shipbuilding to Build LNG Bunkering Vessel

Mar 31, 2022 | Business

Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) Group based in Yokohama, has concluded a contract with KEYS Bunkering West Japan Co., Ltd. for construction of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering vessel, the first to operate in western Japan. The vessel will be built at the Enoura Plant at MHI’s Shimonoseki Shipyard & Machinery Works in Yamaguchi Prefecture, with completion and handover scheduled for March 2024.

Image of LNG Bunkering Vessel

LNG bunkering vessels supply LNG to LNG-fueled vessels. The use of LNG propulsion for ships is attracting attention as a solution for compliance with regulations aimed at reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The planned LNG bunkering vessel will have an electric main engine, and be equipped with a dual fuel engine capable of using both LNG and heavy oil as fuel, a first for an LNG bunkering vessel in Japan. When operating in gas mode, it will provide exceptional environmental performance with considerably reduced emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen oxide (NOx), sulfur oxide (SOx), and particulate matter (PM).

KEYS Bunkering West Japan is a joint venture company established in February 2022 to supply LNG fuel for ships in the Kyushu and Setouchi Regions, with investment from Kyushu Electric Power Company, Inc. NYK Line, ITOCHU ENEX CO., LTD., and SAIBU GAS CO., LTD.

Mitsubishi Shipbuilding, as part of MHI Group’s strategic initiatives for energy transition, will make use of the gas handling technologies and experience it has accumulated from building LNG carrier vessels. Through this business project involving low environmental-impact LNG fuel, Mitsubishi Shipbuilding, as a maritime system integrator, aims to further the decarbonization of the marine industry, and realize a carbon neutral world.

Overview of the LNG Bunkering Vessel
Length overall (LOA): Approx. 82.4 meters
Beam: Approx. 18.2 meters
Draft: Approx. 4.8 meters
Gross tonnage: Approx. 4,850 tonnes
LNG tank capacity: Approx. 3,500 m3
Propulsion system: Electric propulsion

About MHI Group

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group is one of the world?s leading industrial groups, spanning energy, logistics & infrastructure, industrial machinery, aerospace and defense. MHI Group combines cutting-edge technology with deep experience to deliver innovative, integrated solutions that help to realize a carbon neutral world, improve the quality of life and ensure a safer world. For more information, please visit www.mhi.com or follow our insights and stories on spectra.mhi.com.

Copyright ©2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. A division of Japan Corporate News Network.

Hong Kong – Anti-epidemic Support Scheme for Environmental Hygiene and Security Staff in Property Management Sector under sixth round of Anti-epidemic Fund disbursing subsidies

Mar 31, 2022 | International

Anti-epidemic Support Scheme for Environmental Hygiene and Security Staff in Property Management Sector under sixth round of Anti-epidemic Fund disbursing subsidies

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    The Anti-epidemic Support Scheme for Environmental Hygiene and Security Staff in Property Management Sector (ASPM) under the sixth round of the Anti-epidemic Fund is open for applications and has started to disburse subsidies.



    As of today (March 31), around 3 150 applications have been received for the ASPM, of which around 290 applications have been approved. The approved applications involve subsidies of around $23.54 million and benefit around 2 400 frontline property management (PM) workers.



    The Government has launched the ASPM under the sixth round of the Anti-epidemic Fund to provide a monthly allowance of $2,000 for five months (i.e. from February to June 2022) to the frontline PM workers engaged by PM companies (PMCs) or owners’ corporations (OCs)/owners’ organisations (OOs) to perform duties relating to environmental hygiene and security in private residential, composite (i.e. commercial cum residential), industrial and commercial (including shopping malls) building blocks.  The ASPM also covers similar types of frontline PM workers engaged directly by the premises situated within the building blocks mentioned above (applications must be submitted through PMCs, deed of mutual covenant (DMC) managers or OCs/OOs of the buildings, subject to the quota of headcount of 100), and frontline PM workers serving in eligible building blocks which do not have OCs or any form of residents’ organisations, or do not engage PMCs (commonly known as “three-nil” buildings).



    The ASPM has been open for application since February 28 and the deadline for application is April 30.  PM companies, DMC managers or OCs/OOs of eligible building blocks and frontline PM workers serving “three-nil” buildings are reminded to submit their applications to the Property Management Services Authority (PMSA) as soon as practicable.  For details on the ASPM, please contact the PMSA at 3696 1156 or 3696 1166, or visit the website of the PMSA (aspm.pmsa.org.hk/ ).

Hong Kong – LCSD to resume counter services at District Leisure Services Offices

Mar 31, 2022 | International

LCSD to resume counter services at District Leisure Services Offices

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     In view of the Government’s plan to resume public services gradually from April, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) announced today (March 31) that the counter services at the 18 District Leisure Services Offices (DLSOs) will resume operation starting from tomorrow (April 1).



     Organisations/applicants can also continue to submit applications for booking and refunds by post or make use of drop-in boxes located at the 18 DLSOs.

 

Canada – Government of Canada invests more than $31M in the next generation of health researchers

Mar 31, 2022 | International

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown just how much Canada relies on its scientists to respond to and recover from health emergencies. To strengthen our recovery and find made-in-Canada solutions to the next health and societal challenges, it’s critical that we invest in the next generation of Canada’s health researchers.

Investment will provide training and development opportunities for trainees and early career researchers that go beyond what standard research training programs usually offer  

March 31, 2022 – Ottawa, Ontario – Canadian Institutes of Health Research

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown just how much Canada relies on its scientists to respond to and recover from health emergencies. To strengthen our recovery and find made-in-Canada solutions to the next health and societal challenges, it’s critical that we invest in the next generation of Canada’s health researchers.

That’s why today, the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Health, and the Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, announced an investment of $31.1M over six years for the Health Research Training Platform (HRTP).

The HRTP is comprised of 13 unique training programs that bring together researchers from different hospitals and universities, with a view to increase Canada’s capacity to conduct research on specific disease areas and health challenges. This will help trainees and early career researchers develop skills that will increase their employability and set them up for success in careers that span academia and beyond.

Participants will have access to diverse, high-quality mentors and training that builds their academic and professional development skills, such as in grant writing, project management, science communication, interdisciplinary research, open science, and knowledge mobilization.

These interdisciplinary training programs will help advance scientific knowledge on topics ranging from dementia, kidney disease, diabetes and obesity, seniors’ health, girls’ and women’s health, and the mental health of 2SLGBTQ+ populations, among others.

Participants will be trained in the science of conducting diverse and inclusive research, such as respecting Indigenous Ways of Knowing, incorporating sex- and gender-based considerations in research, and recognizing unconscious bias.

The Government of Canada is supporting this initiative through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Public Health Agency of Canada in partnership with the B.C. Women’s Health Foundation, Egale Canada, and Mitacs.

“In a time when relying on scientific evidence has never been more important, our government recognizes the need to invest in the next generation of qualified health research talent. This new platform will help fill a gap in the career development opportunities available to trainees and early career researchers and will allow Canada to create the scientific knowledge we will need to build a more resilient future.” 

The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos

Minister of Health

“Investing in the next generation of researchers is critical to building the robust life sciences ecosystem we need to tackle the mental health challenges of today and tomorrow. Today’s funding will help trainees and early career researchers across Canada develop the skills they need to achieve success in their careers and improve the health of Canadians. Congratulations to all the recipients!”

The Honourable Carolyn Bennett

Minister of Mental Health and Addictions

“At CIHR, we care deeply about strengthening Canadian health research capacity, and we cannot do this without enhancing training and career support for the next generation of health researchers. That is why we are so pleased to be able to support this initiative, which helps to fill a known gap in the career development opportunities available to trainees and early career researchers.”

Dr. Michael Strong

President, Canadian Institutes of Health Research

Marie-France Proulx

Press Secretary

Office of the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos

Minister of Health

613-957-0200

Maja Staka

Press Secretary

Office of the Honourable Carolyn Bennett

Minister of Mental Health and Addictions

343-552-5568

At the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) we know that research has the power to change lives. As Canada’s health research investment agency, we collaborate with partners and researchers to support the discoveries and innovations that improve our health and strengthen our health care system.