The rapid increase in the elderly population, accompanied by a dramatic decline in the working-age population, is expected to undermine national foundations such as the social security system. In Japan, there is a pressing need to overcome this super-aging society ahead of the rest of the world and to create new lifestyles.
This project collaborates with various researchers and companies to address these societal challenges. From the perspective of promoting and sustaining behavioral changes that contribute to longer healthy lifespans, we are developing a digital platform that encourages mutual care and support, as well as fostering an ecosystem in which industries, products, and services are interconnected, sharing and utilizing information collaboratively. The “Helpful Platform” being built through this project is designed to provide information that helps people notice those in need and motivates small acts of assistance, thereby facilitating behavior change toward helping others. Moreover, fostering behavior change requires not only individual mindset shifts but also improvements in living environments. The project also targets research and development in environmental control, including offices, residences, and urban spaces.
Our goal is to integrate these initiatives not only at the laboratory level but also into practical platforms and ecosystems suitable for real-world experiments involving everyday users. Through these efforts, we aim to extend healthy lifespans and address the decline in the working population. A distinctive feature of this project is the integration of technology development into social system design, coupled with evaluation of whether these technologies and systems are socially accepted. By engaging with citizens through forums and exhibitions, we aim to co-create research and development that is truly needed by society. The platform will collect, analyze, and visualize data and information from various aspects of daily life, supporting individuals in health management and lifestyle improvement.