Q&A
The followings are questions frequently asked regarding the ETV Project and answers to them:
Question List
- What is the Environmental Technology Verification (ETV) Project?
- What is “verification”?
- What are third party organizations that conduct verification tests?
- How target technology fields are selected?
- How individual target verification technologies are selected?
- Who bear the costs of the ETV Project?
- How the results of verification tests are treated?
- How patent rights are treated?
Questions and Answers
What is the Environmental Technology Verification (ETV) Project?
Advanced environmental technologies, even though they are commercial-ready and considered to be useful, have not necessarily been pervasive widely because objective assessments on environmental conservation effects, etc., have not been made and end users such as local governments, companies, and consumers cannot use it without anxiety.
The Environmental Technology Verification Project is a project in which third-parties objectively verify the environmental conservation effects, etc., of these advanced technologies that have not spread yet. (This project had been implemented as a pilot project from fiscal 2003 to 2007.)
It is expected by implementing this project that the spread of environmental technologies developed by venture companies, etc., is promoted and economic activities are stimulated through environmental conservation and the development of local environmental industries.
What is “verification”?
Under this project, "verification" means the process by which objective data based on tests, etc., for the environmental conservation effects of an environmental technology, as well as its secondary environmental impacts and other important aspects of performance from environmental perspective ( “environmental conservation effects”), are indicated by third parties who are neither developers nor users of the technology. "Verification" differs from "certification," whereby certain evaluation standards are established and then compliance is judged based on those standards.
What are third party organizations that conduct verification tests?
Open invitations for and selection of target technologies, and verification tests are conducted by “Verification Organizations” selected through open invitations. The Verification Organizations include local governments, public corporations, and nonprofit organizations.
How target technology fields are selected?
Ministry of the Environment selects technology fields to become the targets of the verification project based on the discussions of the Advisory Committee on the ETV Project and working groups, and from the following viewpoints:
- (1)
- Technology fields for which a verification need exists in developers and users (local governments, consumers, etc.)
- (2)
- Technology fields for which technology verification would be effective in spreading and promoting the technologies
- (3)
- Technology fields for which technology certification or recognition has not been implemented yet under other programs (excluding the technology field for which technology certification or recognition has already been implemented under a program of a local government, etc., but the program may become more effective if Ministry of the Environment assists it).
- (4)
- Technology fields for which verification is feasible
a) Technology fields for which verification is feasible from viewpoints of budgets, implementation systems, etc.
b) Technology fields for which it is feasible to establish a Protocol for verification tests - (5)
- Technology fields for which utilization of information relating to the technology fields would facilitate government administration (from national perspective) of environmental affairs
How individual target verification technologies are selected?
“Verification Organizations” issue open invitations for target technologies for each technology field, and developers, venders, etc., which desire verification apply. Verification Organizations select target technologies based on discussions in the Advisory Committee on the ETV Project, etc., and obtain the approval of Ministry of the Environment or Verification Management Organizations.
Who bear the costs of the ETV Project?
The project is implemented based on the “Environmental Technology Verification Project Implementation Guidelines” of that fiscal year, and is operated under two types of systems: the government-sponsored system and the fee-based system.
Under the government-sponsored system, Verification Applicants bear the costs required for delivery and installation of the target technology at the test facility, operation of the target technology in cases where the verification test is conducted in-situ, and removal and return of the target technology after completion of the test; Ministry of the Environment bears the costs of measuring the environmental conservation effects of the target technology, etc.
Under the fee-based system (for a technology field where a verification system has been established), in addition to the above costs borne by Verification Applicants, the applicants bear, through the payment of fees, the costs associated with implementation of verification tests (costs arising at Verification Organizations, including costs of measurement and analysis, etc.; personnel costs; costs of supplies; and travel costs).
How the results of verification tests are treated?
Ministry of the Environment issues a Logo and a verification number to the applicant after approving the verification test result reports. Regardless of the results of verification tests, all verification test result reports are released to the public on the ETV website
How patent rights are treated?
A patent right, etc., obtained as a result of a verification test will be held by the Verification Organization or the Verification Management Organization so that the result is utilized effectively.