Japanese Cabinet Office and BMBF intensify Japanese - German research cooperation

Japanese Minister of State for Science and Technology Policy, Takemoto, Naokazu, welcomes the research cooperation: “Automated driving has great potential to create new values in society through the digital transformation by utilizing information and communication technology and big data. International collaboration is an essential part to deploy the automated driving with these technologies.
I very much welcome the start of the collaboration between Japan and Germany in the area of safety assurance and cybersecurity related to automated driving. SIP-adus, a Japanese cross-ministerial R&D Initiative, has conducted FOTs with German OEM and parts suppliers, which is a great opportunity for us to validate the safety assurance and cybersecurity.
Through this collaboration, I expect the acceleration of the deployment of the automated driving technology to further contribute to the solution of social challenges such as reducing traffic accidents, provide greater mobility to the elderly and vulnerable road users as well as responding to driver shortages in transport services.”

Anja Karliczek, German Federal Minister of Education and Research, also states:
“Autonomous driving is one of the most promising new technologies in the field of mobility. This technology is a growth market of significant economicrelevance for our automotive industry and a relevant step for the future.
We are in close cooperation with Japan regarding this topic. I welcome the intensification of the German-Japanese research cooperation for more safety and security concerning autonomous driving. Together we have launched two new research projects to further increase the confidence in the reliability and security of self-driving vehicles.”

1. Background

The research cooperation is based on a joint statement signed in 2017 by the Japanese Cabinet Office (CAO) and the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), which is intended to facilitate scientific exchange and the implementation of joint research work in the field of automated driving.

At annual joint expert workshops, potential research and development topics for cooperation in the fields of science, technology and innovation were discussed. In January 2019, the collaboration was pushed forward by establishing a Steering Committee and thus formalising the structure of the collaboration, consisting of the Steering Committee, expert workshops, regular meetings at working level and a coordination secretariat.

2. Outline of the project ideas selected

(1) Safety Assurance

Due to the highest safety requirements on autonomous driving, reliable and efficient test procedures are necessary. The complexity of electronic systems and software requires virtual testing procedures to ensure safety. The project develops respective evaluation methods for validation, modelling and simulation.

(2) Cyber Security

The vulnerability of modern vehicles is increasing due to the increasing degree of networking of vehicles on one hand and the growing complexity of their automation and autonomy on the other. The project develops methods to detect and eliminate potential security threats of modern autonomous vehicles at an early stage, starting already in the development process.

For inquiry:

For Germany

• Division in charge:
• Federal Ministry of Education and Research
• Division LS21 “Press; Social Media; Internet”
• Tel.:+49 30 1857 5050
• presse@bmbf.bund.de

For Japan

• Division in charge:
• SIP-adus,
• Bureau of Science, Technology and Innovation,
• Cabinet Office
• Tel: +81-3-6257-1314 (direct)
• Fax: +81-3-3581-9969

Press release of BMBF (German)

Press release of Cabinet Office (Japanese)