Euronews Debates: How can digital innovations regenerate a region?

Many of Japan’s regional communities are at a crossroads. Major change is on the horizon, as the government has announced its intention to tackle widespread issues such as depopulation and ageing populations through an innovative revitalisation plan.

Bringing new digital technologies to the towns and villages in need of regeneration is at the heart of the strategy, encompassing everything from 5G provision to developing infrastructure that can support future services such as automated driving and dynamic traffic control, along with satellite offices.

Euronews is bringing together a group of influential and experienced policymakers and industry insiders to debate best practices in regeneration. They will be discussing case studies including Kamiyama, Ina and others outside Japan, along with the broader themes of successful regeneration through digital technology.

You can watch the debate live in this article on March 1 at 11.00 CET.

On the agenda for the debate are these key questions: How do you define a successful revitalisation scheme? What are the key ingredients? How can we ensure regeneration doesn’t alienate the existing population by pushing up prices?

Our panel will address these topics and more, in a 60-minute debate hosted by Euronews moderator Damon Embling. The conversation will be followed by a 15-minute Q&A session in which viewers will have the chance to put their questions to the group.

Announcing the new policy in a recent speech, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said:

“It is the regional areas that play the leading role in a new form of capitalism. We will vigorously promote a Vision for a Digital Garden City Nation and resolve issues common to these local areas while also realizing bottom-up growth, from the