The government of Japan has promoted science and technology (S&T) under consecutive Science and Technology Basic Plans. The 4th Basic Plan, covering the latest five-year period from fiscal 2011, provides for "integrated development of science, technology, and innovation (STI) policy" under which policies concerning both S&T and S&T-based innovation are carried out comprehensively. As the interrelationship between S&T and society becomes even more complex, it is necessary to carry out STI policy with more understanding, trust and engagement from the public in order to ensure that it will produce outcomes beneficial to society and the public good. Toward this end, we need to realize more rational policy making process and exercise greater accountability to the public by planning and promoting policies based on objective evidences such as assessment of societal impacts of STI.

Against this background, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) has promoted "Science for RE-designing Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (SciREX)" program since fiscal 2011, which aims to prepare a system and foundation for the realization of ""evidence-based policy formation"": proposal of policies effective in addressing different challenges, based on multifaceted analyses and assessments of social and economic impacts from STI.