9 INDUSTRY, INNOVATION, AND INFRASTRUCTURE
Production refers to the work of creating valuable things for people who need them in their lives, such as by processing natural products. Having the right tools makes life easier. In order for many people to live a more convenient and comfortable life, it is desirable to create a lot of tools and to create new and more convenient tools. In other words, it is believed that productivity and technological innovation will enrich people's lives.
In a money economy, people produce or work to earn income. In addition, in order to survive the market competition, it is necessary to continue to improve and innovate, and to bring new and attractive products to the market. In addition to lowering costs through mass production, we will continue to roll out new products to increase added value.
On the other hand, it has been pointed out that the wasteful use of energy and the destruction of the environment are caused by the fact that things that can still be used are thrown away due to mass production, mass consumption, and surplus production due to the overproduction of new products. People's future is threatened by energy and environmental problems brought about by human production.
Balancing industrial development and sustainability is also not an issue with a specific correct answer. Some people seem to think that in order to protect the environment, we should reject all modern civilizations and go back to ancient, or at least medieval, life. On the other hand, some may believe that scientific progress and technological innovation should be able to realize a sustainable futuristic civilized society.
What does the United Nations think? The goal of "Let's create a foundation for industry and technological innovation" seems to be based on the idea of developing industry and realizing a sustainable society through innovation and infrastructure development. In other words, in order to realize a sustainable society, the idea is that we should further promote industry, technological innovation, and infrastructure development.
In order to survive in the market competition, it is important for companies not only to simply produce, but also to incorporate technological innovation and launch new products. At the same time, it would be desirable for us to review the infrastructure we use, take an interest in its maintenance and improvement, and support it in some cases.
The United Nations has set eight specific targets for "Building a foundation for industry and technological innovation." In order to actually achieve the goals of "Let's build a foundation for industry and technological innovation," let's take a look at these targets and think about them.
9.1 Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure, including regional and transborder infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all
Infrastructure development is mentioned here. Infrastructure usually refers to the foundations that support people's lives and industries, such as gas, water and sewerage, electricity, telephones, roads, airports, and railroads. In recent years, with the development of information and communications, the term infrastructure has come to refer mainly to electric power and information and communications networks. If there is no infrastructure, or if there are problems with reliability and sustainability even if there is, it will not be possible to support people's lives and industries.
It is important for companies to cherish the infrastructure they use in their business activities and to take care not to adversely affect the lives and welfare activities of local residents. It would also be good to support infrastructure development and improvements in key regions of operation and overseas expansion.
9.1 Draft Course of Action
・"We will cherish the infrastructure we use for our business activities and take care not to adversely affect the lives of local residents and welfare activities. We will also support the development and improvement of infrastructure in major activity areas and overseas expansion destinations."
9.2 Promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and, by 2030, significantly raise industry’s share of employment and gross domestic product, in line with national circumstances, and double its share in least developed countries
Industrialization refers to the shift from a society centered on agriculture and handicrafts to one centered on industry by building factories and other facilities to produce products with added value. The goal here is to double industrialization, especially in the least developed countries.
Companies are required to plan, verify, and promote industrialization in order to improve production efficiency and increase added value.
9.2 Draft Course of Action
・"We will plan, verify, and promote industrialization to improve production efficiency and increase added value."
9.3 Increase the access of small-scale industrial and other enterprises, in particular in developing countries, to financial services, including affordable credit, and their integration into value chains and markets
This aims to promote industrial development by expanding access to financial services, especially in developing countries.
As a company, when expanding into developing countries and promoting business development, it may be interesting to take an interest in local small-scale companies and consider cooperation and support for promising projects.
9.3 Draft Course of Action
・"When advancing into developing countries and promoting business development, we will take an interest in local small-scale companies, etc., and consider cooperation and support for promising businesses."
9.4 By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes, with all countries taking action in accordance with their respective capabilities
It is about upgrading infrastructure and retrofit industries for sustainability. Where the Japanese text reads "industry improvement," the English text reads "retrofit industries." Here, I would like to interpret this as an improvement in sustainability through improvements in the "retrofit industry."
Retrofit refers to improving and tuning up by replacing parts with new ones instead of throwing away old machines and tools. For example, older cars are often less fuel-efficient than newer cars and produce more pollutants in their exhaust fumes. By replacing the engine, exhaust muffler, etc., or by modifying it, it is possible to make it a car with good fuel efficiency and clean exhaust gas that is comparable to a new car. In recent years, it seems that the business of selling an electric car by putting an electric motor on an old classic car that does not run the engine has started.
Retrofit is expected to make it possible to use new technology while reducing waste by keeping the parts of old machines that can still be used and updating only the parts that are necessary.
As a company, it will be necessary to investigate what can be done with retrofit, positively consider the retrofit business as a business, and consider compatibility with retrofit when developing new products.
9.4 Draft Course of Action
・"We will positively consider the retrofit business as a business, and consider compatibility with retrofit when developing new products."
9.5 Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries, in particular developing countries, including, by 2030, encouraging innovation and substantially increasing the number of research and development workers per 1 million people and public and private research and development spending
How to promote innovation is an eternal issue for nations and companies. Investing in R&D is a form of gambling. Fundamentally, perhaps the only way to promote science and technology is to give budget, tools, and time to talented people and let them do as they please. There is no guarantee that an increase in the number of researchers and the budget will promote innovation. Unreasonable increases in personnel and budgets can significantly reduce the cost-effectiveness of research and development.
Rather, what is important is whether companies, society, or nations have a climate that accepts innovation and a willingness to actively incorporate it. Even if researchers create new technologies, the world will not improve unless society uses them. On the other hand, if new ideas are adopted prematurely and big troubles occur in society, we will be in trouble. In addition to an environment in which research and development can be carried out freely, a three-step system of testing ideas in society and, if successful, actively disseminating them, will be important for the promotion of innovation.
As a company, we will cooperate with the national government and universities in research and development, create an environment where research and development can be done freely, try out the ideas that have been created in society, and if they are good, create a system that can be actively disseminated. will be required as a future strategy.
9.5 Draft Course of Action
・"In research and development, we will cooperate with the government and universities to create an environment where research and development can be done freely. At the same time, we will try out the ideas that have been created in society, and if they are good, we will create a system that can be actively disseminated."
9.a Facilitate sustainable and resilient infrastructure development in developing countries through enhanced financial, technological and technical support to African countries, least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing States
Here is written about the promotion of infrastructure development in developing countries.
As a company, when expanding overseas, it is important to understand the state of infrastructure development in the region and, if necessary, contribute to the promotion of infrastructure development in that region in some way.
9.a Draft Course of Action
・"When expanding overseas, we will grasp the status of infrastructure development in the region, and if necessary for business development there, plan and implement some kind of contribution plan to promote infrastructure development in that region."
9.b Support domestic technology development, research and innovation in developing countries, including by ensuring a conducive policy environment for, inter alia, industrial diversification and value addition to commodities
Here it is written about technology development, research and innovation as a support for developing countries.
It is not uncommon for companies to seek "cheap labor" when expanding into developing countries. Certainly, it would be easier to make a profit by building a factory in a developing country and mass-producing with a "cheap labor force" rather than producing with a "high labor force" in a developed country. As a company in a developed country that has expanded into a developing country, you may want to maintain "cheap labor" all the time in order to continue to make a profit.
In fact, it seems that some companies in developed countries are trying to maintain low wages by lobbying politicians in developing countries to prevent their educational and living standards from rising. In response, politicians in developing countries sometimes try to keep the wages of their citizens low in order to attract companies from developed countries.
For companies entering developing countries seeking only "cheap labor", this target would conflict with their interests. However, with such a way of thinking, expanding into developing countries in search of only "cheap labor" is not itself "sustainable" and may need to be reviewed in the future.
When entering a developing country, it is important not only to seek "cheap labor", but also to focus on local marketing and human resource development, and to create a target plan with the aim of contributing to the industrial development of the country.
9.b Draft Course of Action
・"When expanding into a developing country, rather than just seeking a 'cheap labor force', focus on local marketing and human resource development, and formulate a target plan with the aim of contributing to the industrial development of that country."
9.c Significantly increase access to information and communications technology and strive to provide universal and affordable access to the Internet in least developed countries by 2020
Here it is written about access to information and communication technology as part of assisting the least developed countries.
As a company, when expanding into a least developed country, it would be a good idea to ascertain the state of information and communication technology in the country and, if necessary, make some kind of contribution to improving it.
9.c Draft Course of Action
・"When entering a least developed country, we will grasp the situation of information and communication technology in the country and, if necessary, make some kind of contribution to improve it."
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