Introduction

In July 2023, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) established GovTechTokyo, a group of digital experts dedicated to driving digital transformation across Tokyo. GovTechTokyo serves as a central hub for innovation, talent development, and service improvement in the public sector with a vision to “Change the present public services, Change the future from Capital “Tokyo” through the power of digital innovation”.

Why does Tokyo need GovTechTokyo?

Tokyo faces several challenges on its path toward digital transformation:

• Low residents’ satisfaction with digitalization of public services
• Struggle to retain talent and know-how to promote digitalization in municipalities within Tokyo
• Ensuring the quality of increasing digital public services

GovTechTokyo is working to overcome these challenges in collaboration with TMG and its 62 municipalities. The goal is to create a more convenient and comfortable life for Tokyo residents through digital innovation.

Key Activities

GovTechTokyo provides various services in collaboration with TMG as one team:

・Digital Transformation for the TMG:

Supporting digitalization of TMG collaborating in upstream processes such as projects under consideration.

・Digital Transformation for municipalities:

Providing hands-on support for digitalization of all municipalities to help them solve the common issues.

・Infrastructure & Joint-Use:

Leading joint procurement and development of systems and digital tools for joint-use among municipalities.

・Recruitment & Training:

Helping municipalities by providing recruitment support for digital talents interested in public services. Supporting human resource development through training.

・Data utilization:

Operational support of the Tokyo Data Platform, a common data platform for the public and private sectors. Supporting distribution of various open data.

・Public-private co-creation:

Creating new solutions with public and private sectors that contribute to overcoming administrative challenges.

These efforts are guided by a three-year strategy focused on transforming service quality, preventing substandard services, acquiring  in-house development capabilities, transitioning to a hybrid model of outsourcing and in-house development, and establishing sustainable management systems.

Outcomes

GovTechTokyo has already achieved several quick wins:

Improved Service Efficiency:

Improvements in the childcare financial support application process have significantly reduced the time required to complete applications. The "018 Support" program, which introduced a new system leveraging the Individual Number Card, has seen a significant improvement in the percentage of applicants completing the procedure within 10 minutes—rising from 7% under the previous system to 71% with the new system.
For more details on services supporting child-rearing, please refer to the link below.

Supporting Child-Rearing

Expanded Talent Pool:

Over 310 professionals have registered in the GovTechTokyo talent pool system, called “GovTechTokyo Partners,” with already placed in key roles across municipalities.

Cost Savings:

Joint procurement initiatives have saved approximately 2.0 billion yen, demonstrating the financial impact of coordinated digital investment.

 

Looking ahead to the 2040s, GovTechTokyo envisions a Tokyo where over 90% of citizens have a positive perception of digital public services, more than 1,000 digital talents work in the public sector, and high-quality services are adopted nationwide.