The Nippon Foundation Establishes “DX Fund” with $3 Million Donation from Google

The Nippon Foundation has launched the “Digital Transformation (DX) Fund” to advance the digital transition of Japanese NPOs, using $3 million donated by Google’s philanthropic arm, Google.org.

Under the motto of “leave no one behind,” the fund aims to encourage NPOs hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic to accelerate the digitalization of their operations and to empower vulnerable members of the population to take advantage of digital technologies.

At a press conference on December 5, I expressed my deep appreciation for the donation by Google.org, acknowledging that “Japan considerably lags behind other advanced nations in helping children, older people and NPOs to go digital. We need to catch up.”

Mr. Shinji Okuyama, president of Google Japan, said it is an honor for Google to support the fund as part of its ongoing efforts to offer training programs to help people learn new skills and provide a job-matching service where they can access a wide range of opportunities.

“It would be great if the fund could create opportunities for children, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable people to benefit more from digital technologies,” he said.

The press conference was followed by a symposium held under the theme: “Thinking about DX in the social sector－Towards the realization of a society that leaves no one behind.”

In a keynote speech, Mr. Takuya Hirai, the country’s first minister for digital transformation and now chairperson of the Liberal Democratic Party’s Headquarters for the Promotion of a Digital Society, Policy Research Council, said the first thing he did when he took up the portfolio in 2021 was undertake the complete overhaul of the 2001 Basic IT Act, resulting in the enactment of the Basic Act on the Formation of a Digital Society calling for, among other things, establishment of the Digital Agency.

“Google and The Nippon Foundation make the strongest combination,” he said, adding he is hopeful that the benefits of the DX Fund will reach people in social sectors facing difficulties in digitalization.

During the symposium, representatives from three NPOs that were chosen to work with the fund discussed challenges they are facing in introducing digital tools from scratch and working with communities on programs to help older people get online.

I believe that for the foundation, the establishment of the DX Fund is the starting point to achieve concrete results in helping vulnerable persons in going digital while advancing transparency and accountability.

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This is my last blog for 2022.

Wishing you peace, joy and happiness from The Nippon Foundation.

Thank you for your continued support and friendship.

We look forward to working with you in 2023.