IC cards are based on electronic IDs on the Internet designed to prevent forgery, alteration and falsification.

Now, a variety of network environments as well as the Internet, and convenient devices such as smartphones and tablet PCs are in widespread use, which has made our lives and works extremely convenient. On the other hand, attacks on networks or devices and spoofing cases are increasing. In order to maintain the environment where these devices can be safely used, defense at any cost is a must. Otherwise, a terrible disaster could well occur.

In this situation, the Next generation IC Card System Study group (NICSS) has focused on IC cards that provides strict identity verification based on sophisticated authentication techniques and has been involved in activities oriented toward diffusion and promotion of IC cards. The NICSS was founded on December 9, 1998 and has been devoted to activities toward diffusion of the basic resident register card, as well as interacted with Europe, Asian organizations to grasp the movements in foreign countries and offer information on the situation of IC cards in Japan. From year 2016 on, we have poured our main effort primarily in diffusion of the my number card from behind in our activities. From fiscal 2001, we have exchanged information on secure chips including IC chips and IoT (Internet of Things) with related organizations both in Japan and abroad. In spite of the aforementioned activities, the stage has not been reached yet where IC cards are used across the whole nation and serves a variety of scenes to protect individual rights. This is due to insufficient use cases where every person owns his/her IC card and feels convenience. We are of the opinion that creation of further use cases and maintenance of the use environment are necessary.

IC cards are based on electronic IDs on the Internet designed to prevent forgery, alteration and falsification. To put it differently, an IC card used by an individual is capable of securely perform authentication and encryption of information in various networks on behalf of the person so as to protect his/her right. In other words, the IC card is a tool used to primarily identify individuals and protect their rights. On the other hand, IoT is growing aiming to streamline transportation and provide the security of objects or devices by identifying several objects or devices and investigating their properties by way of IC chips attached thereto. The NICSS aims to become a useful information source for a large number of people, businesses and organizations, for the purpose of further diffusing and promoting IC cards through aforementioned efforts. I would like to ask for deeper understanding and support of related parties.