July 17, 2024
Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International (ATR)
Corporation Araya
Keio University

In the " Freeing oneself from physical limitations by extending physical and perceptual abilities " (Project Manager: Ryota Kanai, Representative Organization: Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International (ATR), hereafter referred to as "Moonshot"), a Moonshot Target 1 R&D project led by the Cabinet Office of the Government of Japan, the "Brain Tech Guidebook vol. 2" has been released. (Kanai Project) has now released the " Brain Tech Guidebook vol. 2," which lays out requirements for businesses to consider when developing and marketing brain tech products for general consumers and using them in their businesses.

＜Project Manager's Comments
The Moonshot Kanai Project aims to create a world in which the general public can use brain tech with peace of mind under the slogan "Building Trust in Braintech. To this end, it is essential for businesses to provide products and services responsibly, but until now there have been no guidelines or standards. The Brain Tech Guidebook vol. 2 is not intended to be a set of rules or standards, but is a comprehensive compilation of points that businesses should consider when developing and marketing products and services.
The Brain Tech Guidebook vol. 1.3 (updated June 23, 2023) and Brain Tech Evidence Book vol. 1.3 (updated March 29, 2024), which were previously published, can be read together to fully understand the current status, issues, and potential of this field. The book is intended to help you fully understand the current status, challenges, and possibilities of this field. We hope that a correct understanding of Brain Tech will be deepened and that a world in which many people can benefit from the spread of sound products and services will become a reality.

This project has published the "Brain Tech Guidebook vol. 1 " to help consumers better understand the Brain Tech products available on the market, and the " Brain Tech Evidence Book ver. 1 " that summarizes the scientific evidence on the efficacy and safety of Brain Tech. These results have been internationally recognized. These achievements have been highly evaluated internationally, and the guidebook and evidence book were introduced in the "Neurotechnology Toolkit" published by the OECD in April 2024Note ¹⁾, and Kanai, the project manager, was selected as a member of the UNESCO's rule-making committee for neurotechnology. ⁽ Note 1).
In the process of working to build trust in brain tech in this way, we realized that the same guidelines and standards apply to brain tech products for general consumers as to general consumer electronics and health devices. However, since brain tech reads and works on information from the brain, a special organ that controls thought and personality, greater consideration must be given to the safety and impact on the human body and mind. On the other hand, too strict regulations that are not commensurate with the risks of the product may lead to increased development costs and delays in sales, and may hinder the opportunity for consumers to use beneficial, low-risk products and the development of the field of brain science through new scientific knowledge gained from these products. Considering flexible rules that are appropriate to the mechanism and intended use of the product is essential for the healthy development of the field and building trust.

This guidebook summarizes the requirements that businesses should consider when developing and marketing Brain Tech products for general consumers and using them in their businesses. Specifically, the guide includes items such as "compliance with various laws, regulations, and guidelines," "ensuring safety," "scientific validation," and "easy-to-understand information disclosure to consumers," and provides guidelines for businesses to develop brain tech products on their own responsibility while placing the highest priority on compliance with relevant laws, regulations, and guidelines and the protection of consumers. The content of this document, however, is not intended to be a standard or regulatory document.
Please note, however, that the content of this document is not intended to replace standards or regulations, nor is it intended to certify products. It is our hope that this publication will stimulate discussion about standards and specifications for consumer-oriented brain tech products and promote the healthy development of this field.

Note 1: The Neurotechnology Toolkit, published by the OECD in 2024, is a set of guidelines to support responsible innovation in the field of neurotechnology. The Toolkit provides concrete actions and international examples to help policy makers promote technological innovation while addressing ethical, legal, and social challenges. The Brain Tech Guidebook and Evidence Book are featured in the PUBLICATIONS AND OTHER RESOURCES section at the end of the book, which presents advanced examples from various countries.Neurotechnology Toolkit
(Last retrieved on July 17, 2024 from https://www.oecd.org/content/dam/oecd/en/topics/policy-sub-issues/emerging-technologies/neurotech-toolkit.pdf)

(Note 2) In order to prepare recommendations on the ethics of neurotechnology, UNESCO established a study committee with 24 expert members from various fields such as neuroscience, law, and ethics, and held its first meeting in 2024. In recognition of our activities in producing the Brain Tech Guidebook and Evidence Book, Kanai, the project manager, was selected as a member of the expert committee.
Ethics of neurotechnology
(Last retrieved on June 11, 2024 from https://www.unesco.org/en/ethics-neurotech/expert-group?hub=83294 )

＜For inquiries regarding this matter, please contact
For general inquiries regarding press coverage
Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International (ATR)
General Affairs Team, General Affairs Department
TEL: 0774-95-1176
FAX: 0774-95-1178
Email: pr@atr.jp

Inquiries about the contents of the Guidebook
Brain Tech Guidebook Development Committee Secretariat
E-mail: info_guideline@brains.link

Inquiries about R&D projects in general
Ryota Kanai
ARAYA Inc.CEO
E-mail: pmo@brains.link

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