What is a platform?

Digital platforms and ecosystems are increasingly contested spaces, especially when it comes to issues of governance, competition, data flows and rights. Policy makers are grappling with harnessing the potential of platforms for wider societal benefit while also mitigating against risks such as loss of privacy or monopolistic behaviour.

In this module we speak to Dr. Yuko Harayama, executive director of Riken Institute in Japan, a leading thinker on public policy and innovation.

Dr. Yuko is a former Executive Member of the Council for Science, Technology and Innovation, Cabinet Office of Japan, and played a key part in the formulation of Japan’s Society 5.0, a key science and technology policy proposal, and former Deputy Director of the Directorate for Science, Technology and Innovation, OECD.

We cover the following topics. You may choose to watch them in the sequence presented or jump straight to any chapter that interests you.
1. What is your understanding of a tech platform?
2. How should we think about public vs private platforms?
3. How do governments formulate innovation policy?
4. Integrating interdisciplinary approaches in policy making in Japan
5. How is Japan managing its digital and societal transformations?
6. How are platforms transforming the structure of economies?
7. Regulations for tech platforms
8. The challenge to regulate cross-border data flows in APAC