Accenture has partnered with the University of Aizu to conduct a joint research project that will develop the first standard API marketplace for smart cites in Japan, the company reported on Monday.
"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 president of the University of Aizu, Toshiaki Miyazaki. “Through this joint research, we will work with Accenture, one of the world’s leading consulting companies, to improve Japan’s competitiveness."
Accenture’s joint project will feature studies on how to utilize a Smart City operating system to better utilize AI in public services and promote citizens’ behavioral changes, focusing on Aizu Wakamatsu city, Fukushima, as a model case.
The company will develop API marketplace as a channel for sharing and disseminating standardized code, which will create and link software. Accenture’s 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.
The University of Aizu will provide guidance to Accenture that will expedite the development of the API marketplace on the cloud environment of the University of Aizu’s Advanced ICT Laboratory (LICTiA).
"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, Accenture Innovation Center Fukushima, Co-Lead. “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.”
About Accenture
Accenture is a leading global professional services company, providing a broad range of services in strategy and consulting, interactive, technology and operations, with digital capabilities across all of these services.
We combine unmatched experience and specialized capabilities across more than 40 industries — powered by the world’s largest network of Advanced Technology and Intelligent Operations centers. With 509,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries, Accenture brings continuous innovation to help clients improve their performance and create lasting value across their enterprises.
