Good Practices and Innovations in Public Governance 2003-2011

2010 Category 4: JAPAN
Asia and the Pacific
Japan
2010 category 4 – 2nd Place Winner
Innovation Saga Project
Human Resources Development & Administration
Improvement Group, Saga Prefectural Government
Description
This is a public-private research and development effort to harness the latest technologies
and know-how available in the private sector in order to meet new demands
on the public sector.
Summary
Since 2007, this initiative has created a knowledge-sharing platform where government
officials present pressing problems in the public sector and invite private enterprises
to propose responses capitalizing on their know-how and the latest technologies.
Working with the private sector in this way, the Saga prefectural government
has introduced three innovations. The first is the creation of new solutions with the
latest technologies, especially with information and communication technology
(ICT). The second is the creation of new partnerships between small and mediumsized
local businesses and nationwide or global enterprises with cutting-edge technologies.
The third is the creation of new work styles to improve operating effectiveness
in public administration.
The Problem
Because of the recent slow-down in economic growth and the heavy concentration
of people, goods, capital and information around Tokyo, Japan’s regional
economies have suffered and local governments are facing shortages in tax revenues.
As a result, there is a need to develop new businesses in the regions outside
Tokyo, to create new sources of tax revenue so that local governments can
work more effectively. In addition, the local governments have to deal with newly
emerging problems, such as pandemic influenza, despite severe financial constraints.
The local governments needed more resources to tackle these problems. However, it
was difficult to start an initiative employing technologies or products that no publicsector
entities had yet tested. The assurance of solid results and a secure return on
investment was regarded as a very important prerequisite, particularly given the precarious
financial climate.
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