U.S. Consulates in Japan Grant for Enhancing Cybersecurity Capabilities

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

1.     Priority Region:  Japan

2.     Program Objectives:  

Central Japan is the country’s manufacturing powerhouse, especially in the aerospace and automobile sectors. However, the region remains vulnerable to cyberattacks, even among industries that are critical to global supply chains. To strengthen Central Japan’s cybersecurity capabilities and raise awareness of the importance of cybersecurity is essential for bolstering economic security. Meanwhile, the Kyushu region is an important and growing center of semiconductor design and production. Known by the moniker “Silicon Island”, Kyushu is a crucial link in global supply chains. The region’s top-notch research universities and the small and medium enterprises that support the semiconductor industry, however, need to update and modernize their cyber defenses to protect their role in global supply chains. Crucial to this effort will be modernizing how cybersecurity is taught in Kyushu’s universities.

Raising cybersecurity awareness, improving cybersecurity education, and strengthening cyber defenses in these two regions is a crucial component of improving Japan’s economic security.

This project aims to share information security best practices and strengthen cybersecurity for critical infrastructure, industry, and academia.

The project will involve holding cybersecurity-focused events in Central Japan and in Kyushu that include participation from Japanese leaders in government, academia, the private sector, and civil society responsible for cybersecurity and digital innovation. Possible formats for these events include panel discussions, conferences, and workshops. Panelists/presenters/trainers should include both U.S. and Japanese experts in cybersecurity who can address important themes such as: public-private sector cooperation in cybersecurity, protecting critical infrastructure, cybersecurity education in the United States, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, etc.

Costs for the program include:

·        Round-trip international airfare between Japan and the United States

·        Local transportation and lodging costs

·        Conference venue, consumables, interpreters, and necessary costs to run conferences.

Charging for Cybersecurity Roadshow Events:

The program is not a profit-making opportunity. Grantees are prohibited from charging fees for the events or using them as fundraisers for charitable organizations. 

Fly America Act Restrictions and other flight arrangements: 

All Federal Government-financed international air transportation for the U.S. speakers must be accomplished by U.S. flag air carriers or U.S. code sharing to the extent that service by those carriers is available. For information on other “open skies” agreements in which the United States has entered, please refer to GSA’s website at http://www.gsa.gov/portal/content/103191. Therefore, consider these restrictions when estimating your speaker(s) travel arrangement. 

Media Engagement Plan: 

Applicants should propose a clear media plan in their proposal. This plan should include how the organization plans to promote the project, how and how often they plan to share project experiences, activities, and public media appearances with U.S. Consulates Fukuoka and Nagoya. Applicants should also detail their willingness to work regularly with the U.S. Consulates to shape and amplify their public messaging through the U.S. Consulate’s public engagement platforms.

3.     Participants and Audiences:

Japanese leaders in national and local government, academia, the private sector, and civil society engaged in cybersecurity and digital innovation.

If applying from outside of Japan, we highly recommend potential applicants to collaborate and coordinate with project partners in Japan to implement the requested program successfully.