Society 5.0 is a human-centered technological concept of society and collaborates with technology (Artificial Intelligence and the Internet of Things) to solve social problems that are integrated in cyberspace and real space. The Japanese government classifies the “Community” period based on its way of life; Society 1.0 is a community that survives by hunting. Society 2.0 is an agrarian (agricultural) society. Society 3.0 is an industrial society, and Society 4.0 is a society in the information age. So basically Society 5.0 is a new era in social life that has been integrated with technology systems such as IoT (Internet of Things) and AI (Artificial Intelligence) that can process big data and analyze the data.

It can be said that the world today is in an era of drastic change. As economic growth, life becomes prosperous and comfortable, energy and food consumption increases, human life becomes longer, and the elderly population increases. In addition, economic globalization is progressing, global competition is getting tougher, and problems such as economic disparity and inequality in various regions arise. Social problems that must be resolved by trade-off for economic development are becoming increasingly complex. Here, various steps become necessary, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing production and reducing crop failure (increasing food production), reducing costs associated with seniors (health facilities), supporting sustainable industrialization, equitable distribution of welfare, and correction of inequality in each region. Achieving economic development and providing solutions to social problems like this at the same time has proven difficult if we don’t change the existing social system.

Based on these problems, it is necessary to conduct research or studies that discuss the importance of innovation in the fields of science and technology in the era of Society 5.0, and be widely publicized. To support this, Universitas PGRI Yogyakarta will hold an international conference and Call for Papers of “The Challenges of Science and Technology Innovation in Society 5.0” on 3-4 November 2020.