On October 2023, 10, the Town & Gown Initiative Promotion Council was established, a national organization that aims to promote sustainable urban development through collaboration between universities and local governments.It was formed mainly by Hiroshima University and Higashihiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture, and will expand from local areas to nationwide as a system to energize the whole of Japan.
According to Hiroshima University, the purpose of this organization is for the Town and Gown to come together to share a sustainable future and contribute to regional revitalization.Universities and local governments form pairs to become members, aim to involve private companies in various innovations, and promote the creation of a future-oriented academic city.
The founding general meeting was held at Hiroshima University's Higashihiroshima Campus in Higashihiroshima City, and the four pairs of regular members are Hiroshima University and Higashihiroshima City, Hiroshima University and Kure City, Hiroshima Prefecture, Ehime University and Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture, and Shimane University and Izumo City, Shimane Prefecture. , Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University became an associate member.
As the first step of the project, we have begun operating ``Local 1G'', a high-speed, large-capacity communication service, at Hiroshima University's Higashihiroshima Campus.Universities will be positioned as co-creation centers and utilized for demonstration experiments aimed at promoting digital transformation and building smart cities.In the future, the organization plans to expand its membership to other regions and expand the organization nationwide.
