World News
World News
2021年07月29日
+STI Policy News from Japan - July 2021
This page is for STI policy news from Japan for July 2021 picked up by the SciREX Center. News from other countries is being collected by the Center for R&D Strategies (CRDS) to be posted later.
Strategy for Comprehensive Knowledge
https://www8.cao.go.jp/cstp/gaiyo/yusikisha/20210715/siyro1.pdf
The Council for Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (CSTI) is discussing Japan's Strategy for Comprehensive Knowledge that means various stakeholders with their own disciplines try to solve social issues. An example is: to attain the carbon neutral goal in 2050, science and engineering fields challenge technological breakthrough in new energy and energy saving; law and economic fields reform the social systems, including carbon tax; and social and psychological science fields try to change citizens' behavior. CSTI plans to complete a scenario within JFY2021 to reflect it on various STI ministries' policies.
Quantum Technology
https://sci-news.co.jp/topics/5127/
The Diet Members' Association for Promoting Quantum Technology held a Q-Summit meeting participated by industry-university-government to share information on the use of the technology in wide areas, including material, medical, and life sciences, as well as confirming the importance of increasing the budget for the technology. Mr. Yoshimasa Hayashi, Chairman of the Association said that the government budget is not enough to pursue the effort and international cooperation would also be necessary as exemplified by MEXT signing an agreement of cooperation with the U.S. DOE.
The 5th Experts' Meeting for Yen 100 trillion Fund
https://www8.cao.go.jp/cstp/tyousakai/sekai/5kai/5kai.html
Discussions are going on for the Yen 100 trillion fund to make Japanese universities world-class research universities at the Council for Science, Technology and Innovation (CSTI)'s Committee for World-class Research Universities and its Working-level Experts' meeting (refer to https://scirex.grips.ac.jp/en/topics/archive/210428_2665.html and https://scirex.grips.ac.jp/en/topics/archive/210527_2675.html). Its 5th Experts' Meeting included Dr. Richard C. Levin's (former President of Yale University) presentation, covering the points of: How can the University Endowment Fund be used to leverage the reforms needed to improve the international competitiveness of Japan's top universities?; How might funds be allocated over time to produce maximum impact? How many world-class universities can be supported with US$100 billion? CSTI will come up with the detailed plan for the fund management and operation after fall 2021. Also, a plan for various university reforms will also be made public by December 2021.
Research Projects at Japanese universities viewed from JSPS grants
https://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-grants/12_frontline/index.html
JSPS published a booklet, introducing large-scale research projects newly adopted in JFY2020, under "Specially Promoted Research" and "Scientific Research (S)", carried out by a single researcher or a relatively small number of researchers, and "Transformative Research Areas(A/B)", carried out by multiple researches or a research group. (For detailed information of these categories, see "Types of Grants Programs".) It is hoped that this booklet will help to enhance understanding of research activities at universities and other research institutions in Japan.
