<aside> 💡 This document is the specification for individual theme 2). For information on requirements and application procedures common to all themes, please refer to the Application Guidelines for all themes.

</aside>

Table of contents

１．Recruitment theme

１－１．Background and purpose of the recruitment theme

An urgent issue in recent years has been the transition to a circular economy (CE), which aims to maximize the efficient and circular use of resources and added value, from the perspective of environmental constraints such as waste and climate change issues, and resource constraints such as increasing global demand for resources and geopolitical risks.
Bearing in mind the global supply chain, in addition to the need to comply with European and other regulations (Digital Product Passport (DPP)), which require ensuring traceability of products throughout the supply chain, it is also key to “visualize” information (carbon footprint, recycled material utilization rate, etc.) on products and materials and the actual status of recycling to encourage people and companies to change their behavior and to implement policies.
Therefore, it is necessary to establish an information distribution platform for CE from the perspective of promoting data distribution in the value chain.

１－２．Related past initiatives and remaining issues

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) is promoting the “Ouranos Ecosystem” initiative, which aims to realize cross-cutting data sharing and system collaboration across companies, industries, and borders, in collaboration with related entities.
In addition, the Cross-ministerial Strategic Innovation Promotion Program (SIP) of the Cabinet Office is building the Plastics Information Distribution Platform (PLA-NETJ), a data distribution platform in the plastics sector, based on overseas policy trends such as a proposal of the European Commission for a regulation on circularity requirements for vehicle design and on management of end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) (announced on July 13, 2023).
In conjunction with moves to build digital infrastructure in Japan and abroad, consideration is being conducted on building a “CE information distribution platform” for the circular economy.
In building a CE information distribution platform, it is necessary to ensure the confidentiality of suppliers and others as well as the reliability of information.

１－３．Pilot project overview

Verify how blockchain technology should be utilized in building a CE information distribution platform, using specific domains as themes (such as storage batteries, home appliances, construction materials, base metals (iron and aluminum), textiles, etc.).
In addition, the advantages and challenges of using blockchain technology in CE information distribution platforms, and the scope of using blockchain technology based on said advantages and challenges will be examined. The following three points will be included in the study.
- Is there a mechanism to ensure that the data exchanged can be trusted (information reliability assurance, auditability, etc.)?
- Is there a mechanism to trust the parties with whom data is exchanged (e.g., authentication of information inputters)?
- Is there a system to ensure that there is no excessive dependence on specific services or special technologies (e.g., sustainability of the system)?
- Is the design capable of withstanding high TPS (Transaction per second)?