A joint board was established between four Ministries of the Japanese Government to promote and facilitate the uptake of the QZSS (Quasi-Zenith Satellite System) programme: MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology), MPHPT (Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Post and Communications), METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry) and MLIT (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport).

Prerequisites:

• Identify and build relationships with ministries likely to be using or requiring PNT data

• Lead agency & budget

• Procurement pathway

• Partner support as needed

Cost:

• Ballpark: USD 50k–250k  

• Includes: inter-ministerial consultations and workshops, mapping of existing funding mechanisms and grant programs, financial/legal review of eligibility and access, documentation and reporting, dissemination of opportunities

Timeframe:

• Overall: 6–18 mo

• Phase: scoping & stakeholder mapping (2–4 mo), review of funding instruments & eligibility (3–6 mo), inter-ministerial alignment & reporting (3–6 mo), integration into national space programme planning (3–6 mo)

Pros:

• Maximizes Funding Opportunities - Tap into complementary initiatives across ministries to increase total available resources for space applications.

• Fosters Inter-Ministerial Collaboration - Promote policy alignment, break silos, and address diverse stakeholder needs through a joint board.

• Encourages Broader Application of Space Assets - Leverage interest from ministries like MLIT or METI to expand satellite applications in transport, agriculture, and industrial innovation.

• Improves Programme Uptake and Political Buy-In - Enhance legitimacy, visibility, and long-term support by involving multiple ministries.

• Stimulates Diverse Use Cases - Inspire creative, multi-sector applications of space capabilities through varied ministerial priorities.

Considerations:

• Coordination Complexity - Align agendas, timelines, and budgets across ministries—often a slow and intricate process.

• Diluted Accountability - Clarify roles and responsibilities to avoid blurred leadership and decision-making delays.

• Funding Fragmentation - Prevent resource dilution and duplication by establishing a central strategy.

• Potential for Conflicting Priorities - Balance diverging goals (e.g., economic vs. scientific) to avoid strategic misalignment.

• Administrative Overhead - Sustain joint boards and coordination mechanisms despite added administrative load