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The Fifth GSDM International Symposium: "Population Decline in Japan--Can Artificial Intelligence Balance Labour Shortage?"

February 2, 2018

Details

Type Lecture
Intended for General public / Enrolled students / International students / Alumni / Companies / University students
Date(s) March 2, 2018 13:30 — 17:20
Location Hongo Area Campus
Venue
Capacity 300 people
Entrance Fee No charge
Registration Method Advance registration required
Contact gsdm-ppoffice@pp.u-tokyo.ac.jp

Purposes

Evaluate the impact of population dynamics on the Japanese labour market and analyse the role that could be played by Artificial Intelligence to mitigate potentially adverse impacts.

According to governmental projections, the population of Japan is expected to decrease by 30% by 2065. Such an unprecedented event will have a dramatic and durable impact on the Japanese labour market. All sectors of the economy – in particular manufacturing and heavy industry – will suffer from an acute shortage of workforce.

Nevertheless, while being one of the most demographically fragile countries on the planet, Japan is also one of the most technologically advanced. The rise of Artificial Intelligence, often pictured as a potential threat to employment, could also be seen as a solution or at least as an easing factor. Consequently, the following question arises: to what extent can AI help to mitigate the impact of population decline on the labour market, in the short, mid- and long-term?

As Japan stands out as a forerunner in the demographic crisis currently affecting most developed countries, this symposium will gather a wide range of domestic specialists from academia, industry, government, employers’ associations, and labour unions to discuss its future. Moreover, beyond domestic considerations, foreign specialists will be invited to share with us best practices from all over the world.

The University of Tokyo, the most prominent academic institution in Japan, has a great responsibility for the shaping of the country’s future. Its GSDM programme, aimed at solving social issues by fostering multi-disciplinary research, considers it as a high priority to expand and deepen, through the hosting of this symposium, this debate for the sustainability of the Japanese economy, a topic which will certainly surge to prominence in the years and decades to come.

Language

Japanese/English (Simultaneous interpretation)

Hosted by

Global Leader Program for Social Design and Management (GSDM), the University of Tokyo

Program

  • 13:30-13:50 Opening
    • Official opening and introduction of the first speaker
      Yun-Chieh Wang, GSDM student
    • University opening remarks
      Hiroo Fukuda, Executive Vice President, The University of Tokyo
    • Symposium Coordinator opening remarks
      Quentin Verspieren, GSDM student
  • 13:50-14:20 Scene Setting
    • Vision of Rengo
      Yasunobu Aihara, General Secretary, RENGO (Japanese Trade Union Confederation)
    • Viewpoints of Industry
      Kazuo Yano, Corporate Officer, Corporate Chief Scientist, Hitachi, Ltd.
  • 14:20-14:55 Cross-cutting session
    • Keynote speech 1
      Dominique Guellec, Head of the Science and Technology Policy (STP) Division, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
    • Keynote speech 2
      Yoichi Ochiai, Associate Professor, University of Tsukuba, CEO, Pixie Dust Technologies
  • 14:55-15:05 Break
  • 15:05-16:10 Panel debate session (part 1)
    • Panelists
      • Sadanori Ito, Counsellor, Human Resources Policy Office, Economic and Industrial Policy Bureau, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI)
      • Dominique Guellec, Head of the Science and Technology Policy (STP) Division, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
      • Yoichi Ochiai, Associate Professor, University of Tsukuba, CEO, Pixie Dust Technologies
      • Masahiro Fukuhara, CEO, Institution for a Global Society (IGS)
    • Introduction from the moderator
      Hideaki Shiroyama, GSDM Program Coordinator, Professor, Graduate School of Public Policy, The University of Tokyo
    • Debate part 1
  • 16:10-16:20 Break
  • 16:20-17:00 Panel debate session (part 2)
    • Debate part 2
    • Summary from the moderator
      Hideaki Shiroyama
  • 17:00-17:20 Closing remarks
    • Closing remarks
      Mamoru Mitsuishi, Vice President, GSDM Deputy Program Coordinator, The University of Tokyo
    • Closing remarks from the symposium student team
      Asami Takahashi, GSDM student
    • Official closing
      Yun-Chieh Wang
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