[Provisional Translation]

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held a meeting of the Intellectual Property Strategy Headquarters at the Prime Minister's Office.

During the meeting, the Intellectual Property Promotion Plan 2017 was approved.

Following the approval, the Prime Minister said,

"We have just approved the Intellectual Property Promotion Plan 2017.
In order to be the first in the world to offer solutions to various challenges we face by utilizing big data and artificial intelligence, we will establish the systems that will form the foundation of Society 5.0, including the formulation of guidelines for data use agreements and developing measures to prevent the inappropriate use of data.

As a way to catalyze regional vitalization, we will protect and cultivate the globally-viable technologies of regional small- and medium-sized enterprises as intellectual property, and transform the agriculture, forestry and fishery industries into industries on the offensive by protecting agricultural products with high added value through product registration and geographical indications, and increasing their brand value.

We will also strive to establish education consortiums on intellectual property creation that support educational institutions through industry-academia-government cooperation in every prefecture by FY2020, so as to foster creativity and an intellectual property mindset from elementary school.

In order to communicate the appeal of Japan and attract tourists from all over the world, we will promote initiatives such as creating new sightseeing spots by facilitating visits by animation fans to places that have been featured in works of animation, and fundamentally strengthen measures to promote the film industry, such as by providing assistance for on-location filming. We will create a work schedule towards building digital archives that collate Japan's intellectual and cultural assets.

Intellectual property is a valuable resource of Japan that anyone can create and use. The Government will work as one to promote our intellectual property strategy, so as to increase Japan's international competitiveness through innovation and attractive content. Thank you."