LATEST UK–JAPAN REPORTS
Educational Talks Aim to Strengthen Links The University of Bristol welcomed 90 academics from a Japanese university in the biggest international symposium of its kind held in the UK to date, the Times Higher Education reported on 8 January. During the two-day event—sponsored by the Engineering and Physical Sciences
UK Leads in Benefits Poll The UK spends six times more on disability benefits than does Japan, according to an Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) survey issued on 27 December. The UK spends 2.4% of its gross domestic product (GDP) on disability benefits, compared with Japan’s 0.4%. The average amount spent by each of the 34 member states of the OECD is 1.3% of GDP, with only Norway and Iceland spending more: 2.8% of GDP. Some 3.2mn people in the UK claim Disability Living Allowance, which helps them pay any extra outlays associated with their respective conditions. The allowance provides recipients with up to £120 a week, and costs taxpayers more than £13bn per year.
Research Council’s Building Global Engagements in Research programme— delegates from Kyoto University discussed how both institutions might share knowledge, resources and links with industry. Attended by Keiichi Hayashi, the Japanese ambassador to the UK, and the mayor of
Belfast Ties Boost A group of Japanese business delegates have visited Northern Ireland to strengthen bilateral trade, inward investment and tourism between the two countries, the Belfast Telegraph reported on 21 January. On the two-day trip, the delegation— which included Keiichi Hayashi, the Japanese ambassador to the UK—held meetings with firms, stakeholders, representatives from universities and colleges, as well as members of five Japanese-owned firms. According to a survey by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment Export, over the past two years Northern Ireland has exported about £32mn worth of goods and services to Japan. Manufacturing businesses, meanwhile, reported that sales in Asia had totalled £416mn for the 2011–2012 period.
Car Facility Wins Special Award
McLaren’s new manufacturing plant can hold three jumbo jets or 2,569 Formula 1 cars.
8 | BCCJ ACUMEN | FEBRUARY 2013
McLaren Automotive’s new £800mn McLaren Production Centre received a special prize at the British Construction Industry Awards, the London Press Service reported on 16 January. McLaren, which has expanded its retail network to 22 countries around the world, recently opened a showroom in Tokyo. About 4,000 sports cars will be built annually at the facility, which was designed by architects Foster + Partners and opened by the prime minister, David Cameron, last November.
Bristol, George Ferguson, the symposium was driven by many goals. These included building on the achievements of existing projects, developing new relationships, sharing practices to support innovation, providing opportunities to attract outbound investment, and setting up staff and student exchanges.
User-friendly Phone to Be Launched
Fujitsu Limited is planning a UK release of an android phone for older users, the Asahi Shimbun reported The Raku-Raku on 28 December. smartphone is designed for easy At present, the Rakuoperation. Raku (easy-to-use) smartphone is only available in Japan. Designed for easy operation, the handset’s display has larger fonts; a simplified interface; an ambient noise cancellation function to improve voice communication clarity; and a voice-slowing application to better understand callers who speak too fast.
Survey Reveals Wealth Helps
Japan was in 25th position, while the UK took the 27th spot in the Economist Intelligence Unit’s quality-of-life index, The Daily Mail reported on 2 January. The index shows which country can be expected to provide the best opportunities for a healthy, safe and prosperous life for babies born in 2013. Compiled based on calculations conducted by the sister firm of The Economist, it links the results of subjective life-satisfaction surveys to objective determinants of the quality of life across countries. The index took 11 statistically significant indicators into account, including geography, demography, social and cultural characteristics, public policy, the state of the world economy and anticipated per capita income. The findings show that being rich helps the most.