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The Government of Japan is pursuing an ambitious policy programme, Society 5.0, designed to respond to the formidable economic and social challenges facing Japan and the world, capitalize on Japanese technological sophistication and commercialization abilities, and provide a coordinated, forward-looking strategy that could ensure Japan's leadership in the technological revolution. Society 5.0 is the label attached to a vision of 'whole of government, business and academia' plan to integrate new technological systems across various fields to the benefit of humanity. This paper explores the conceptual background, rationale, policies and programmes Japan has enacted in pursuit of this vision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital content production - the production of ideas, words, images, videos, animation or other commercially valuable information for distribution through digital means - has emerged in recent years as a major economic sector. The content industry, however, does not fit easily with either national industrial policies or national innovation strategies, the two means governments use to promote economic development. Content policy is often equated with cultural production and so is aligned with heritage and culture programmes. This article examines the strategies of course jurisdictions - Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam and Hong Kong - and reviews their efforts to build the digital content economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Japan has been a key player in the global competition based on scientific and technological innovation. Through a series of Science and Technology Basic Plans, the national government sought to restructure the country's approach to scientific and technological development, with initiatives ranging from a fundamental restructuring of public universities to major investments in regional clusters. Collaboration with business has likewise been a centerpiece of the Japan strategy, as has high level political leadership of the broad initiative. This paper examines the international and national context of Japanese innovation, outlines the core elements of the Japanese innovation strategy, and provides preliminary observations about the first decade of the country's extensive efforts to establish Japan as a global leader in the commercialization of science and technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]