Chapter 3 Reforming the Science and Technology System

1. Developing, securing and promoting the activities of human resources
        Maintaining and strengthening the future of Japan's Science and Technology and global competitiveness ride on the abilities of actively working people developed by our country. As well as creating an environment in organizations that accurately responds to the new era in which diverse and versatile individuals from young researchers to female researchers, foreign researchers and brilliant senior researchers can exhibit their motivation and talent, the government will strive to secure quality and quantity of human resources in the midst of the accelerating aging of the population and declining birthrate by implementing consistent comprehensive human resource development measures from elementary and secondary education to development of researchers.
   
   (1)Creating an environment where individual human resources thrive
   (i)Ensuring fair and highly transparent personnel systems
        Since creating new value through unconventional creative ingenuity requires the promotion of sound competition and the security of fairness in personnel affairs, as a leading rule, extensively ensure a fair and highly transparent personnel system based on a merit system by boosting the competitiveness, mobility and diversity of human resources in our country's Science and Technology activities.
        Specifically, in recruiting researchers, the government will promote each organization carry out a competitive screening regardless of gender, age or nationality by extensively seeking candidates. As for the treatment of researchers, it will actively reward outstanding efforts by evaluating the abilities and achievements fairly.
        Universities and public research institutions are required to implement reforms and improvements by appropriately positioning the personnel system in self-inspection and evaluation while keeping in mind their respective characteristics. Responding adequately to ensure the reform and improvement of personnel systems is also desired in third-party evaluation implemented on universities and public research institutions. Furthermore, the government promotes the activities of universities and public research institutions by using the status of personnel system reform as an indicator of examination for the competitive support system for organizations.
   
   (ii)Supporting the independence of young researchers
        In aspiring to create a vibrant research environment by providing young researchers with independence and the opportunity to be active in a competitive environment based on a fair and transparent personnel evaluation, the government will promote the introduction of a mechanism of providing young researchers with independence and the opportunity to be active through measures including the tenure track system (a mechanism of allowing young researchers to gain experience as an independent researcher in fixed-term employment before obtaining a steadier job through stringent screening), while taking into consideration the improvement of personnel mobility and the conditions of the fields particularly in universities that are aiming to become global research and education centers. Moreover, universities need to secure “jo-kyo” (could be translated to assistant professor or research associates) and prepare the playing field for them to further promote the activities of young researchers.
        The government will support universities that systematically engage in environmental improvement for this purpose (providing startup funds, improving the research support system, and securing research space), and use the status of activities of universities as an indicator for examining the competitive support system for the organizations. The government will also promote management of facilities of universities so that young researchers can secure their research space.
        Furthermore, the government will encourage young researchers to actively apply for competitive funds in general, as well as selectively improve the support for young researchers in striving to improve competitive funding. In so doing, the government will pay attention to setting up a program that takes into account the startup timing, and improving the program in which sufficient funds are paid to the young researcher to allow him/her to carry out the research at the head of a research organization. Through these undertakings, it will aim to raise the research funding to young researchers to a respectable degree.
        Concerning the eligibility for competitive funding for young researchers, the government will take into consideration the diverse careers including child birth/rearing, and experience as a full member of society, and promote system improvement according to the respective purport of the system by establishing a system that evaluates the applicant on their research background rather than uniform age discrimination.
        In addition, since the achievement of the plan to support 10,000 young researchers, especially post-doctorals, post-doctoral fellows are contributing greatly to the active development of Japan's research activities now, but there has been criticism about the uncertainty of the career path after reaching the post-doctoral stage. As such, the government will support post-doctorals who are aspiring to become researchers while positioning them as the preliminary step to young researchers who can carry out research independently, and promoting the transparency of the recruitment process and supporting the independence of young researchers. Moreover, as well as promoting the activities of universities and public research institutions to advance career support for post-doctorals including career paths other than academic research positions, the government will expand the opportunity for post-doctorals to come in contact with private enterprises.
        Moreover, so that young researchers and post-doctorals can accumulate international experience and be in friendly competition with foreign researchers, the government will continue to improve measures to increase the opportunities for carrying out research in foreign research organizations and the opportunity of interacting with foreign researchers.
   
   (iii)Improving the mobility of human resources
        From the perspective of improving the mobility of human resources and creating a vibrant research environment, universities and public research institutions are to continue to strive for the extensive establishment of the fixed-term system. Moreover, if a young researcher finds a steady job through a fixed-term position, he/she is expected to devote him/herself to research activities. To sustain the vigor of those activities, the government will promote employment through a fixed-term system that allows for reappointment, and a review system in which the aptitude, qualifications and ability are regularly examined. In improving the fixed-term system, although the conditions differ by fields, as it is necessary for mobility to improve as researchers in general including private researchers, a simultaneous transition to a fixed-term system by several universities and the improvement of mobility in private research organizations are required.
        In placing a researcher in a steadier job, it is desirable to choose those who have changed organizations, i. e. , university, or major at least once after graduating from a faculty under a fair and transparent personnel system (promotion of “General One-transfer Rule for Young Researchers”).
   
   (iv)Suppressing the rate of teachers working for their old schools and faculties
        Creating a research environment where diverse human resources can exhibit creativity and work hard together while being intellectually stimulated is essential in creating new research areas and sustaining the dynamism of research organizations. Given this fact, although the percentage of teachers working for their old schools and faculties may rise as a result of recruiting truly brilliant human resources fairly and with transparency, its excessively high percentage is undesirable. As such, each university is to pay due caution to the percentage of teachers from the same schools, and universities with an excessively high percentage are expected to work on reducing that percentage. The government is to disclose the percentage of teachers from the same schools in each school by positions.
   
   (v)Promoting the activities of female researchers
        So that female researchers can fully exhibit their abilities, the government will expand the measures that take into account the balancing of research and child birth/rearing by acknowledging a fixed period of respite or postponement following child birth/rearing in receiving competitive funds based on the perspective of gender equality.
        Universities and public research institutions are expected to not only implement general improvements, but are also required to steadily implement activities including consciousness reform by providing support for the balancing of research and child birth/rearing in the action plan to be formulated and implemented based on the Law for Measures to Support the Development of the Next Generation.
        The government will provide support for research institutions that are implementing efforts that others should follow. From the perspective of promoting the activities of diverse and talented researchers, universities and public research institutions are required to actively recruit through fair screening after openly seeking female researchers and candidates. Moreover, it is also desirable to actively promote female researchers for advancement and participation in policy-making bodies as well as for recruitment.
        Concserning the percentage of female researchers, the objectives, philosophy, and realities of female researchers differ by organization, including in terms of institutions and specialties. However, there is hope that efforts will be made to promote the active recruitment of female researchers by each organization by setting a numerical target for the recruitment of women, making efforts to achieving that target, and disclosing the status of achievement, while taking into account the percentage of women in the doctorate courses of the relevant fields. Judging from the percentage of women in doctorate courses now, the prospective recruitment target of female researchers for natural science as a whole is 25 percent (physics 20 percent, optics 15 percent, agronomics 30 percent, healthcare 30 percent).
        The government will grasp and disclose the status of efforts related to the promotion of activities of female researchers in universities and public research institutions, and the percentage of female researchers by job classification.
        Furthermore, in the efforts to expand the horizons of children who like science and mathematics, the government will promote the provision of information such as familiar examples that could be useful for women to go into the Science and Technology field or become role models, and reinforce the efforts that contribute to arousing the interest of girls.
   
   (vi)Promoting the Activities of Foreign Researchers
        In S&T activities, there is a need to prepare the conditions to enable many brilliant human resources including world class researchers regardless of nationality to gather and be active in the research community of Japan.
        In order to promote the appointment or recruitment of talented foreign researchers in universities and public research institutions, the government will support the building of organizational preparations of acceptance that take into account the living conditions such as securing of housing and children's education, as well as the research environment. Universities and public research institutions that are aiming to become global research and education centers are expected to formulate an action plan for promoting the activities of foreign researchers, and the government will grasp and disclose the status of their activities.
        Furthermore, in order to facilitate the acceptance of foreign researchers, the reviews and improved administration required on the role of immigration control system and visa issuance are to be promoted further. The securing of housing for foreign researchers is expected to be improved by universities and public research institutions working in partnership with local authorities to sponsor foreign researchers.
        On the other hand, to help talented international students to establish themselves in Japan, the government will carry out improved administration to enable international students who have acquired a doctorate in Japan to apply smoothly to a foreign post-doctorate invitation program. Moreover, universities and public research institutions are expected to prepare the conditions to make it easy for foreign researchers to apply for positions by ensuring that announcements are published in English and by accepting applications in English when recruiting researchers.
   
   (vii)Utilizing the abilities of talented senior researchers
        Holding on to the seniority system and extending the term of employment easily without ensuring the merit system could deprive young researchers of a chance to be recruited and sap the vigor of the research scene. On the other hand, it is very important for the improvement of the standards of Science and Technology in Japan for researchers who have been recognized as being truly excellent by international standards to continue to work and achieve results. The government will urge universities to facilitate such researchers in some way even after their retirement to continue their work by utilizing competitive funds and external funds. It will also promote activities in which retired researchers can fully utilize their abilities and knowledge so that they can work extensively for the promotion of Science and Technology in a non-official capacity.
   
   (2)Enhancing the human resource development function in universities
   (i)Human resource development in universities
        In order to develop human resources with a broad perspective and a flexible mindset who are highly creative and can exhibit leadership globally in the creation and utilization of knowledge, promote the enhancement of the human resource development function in universities, which is pivotal for that endeavor.
   At the faculty stage of universities, the improvement of liberal arts education as well as the development of diverse and quality education that ensures the organic partnership of liberal arts education and specialized education by clarifying the individuality and attributes of the individual is expected.
        In so doing, education that develops a broad perspective and flexible intellect on a firm foundation such as the establishment of a unique curriculum that combines major and minor subjects of study, and the introduction of a teaching method that enables students to learn deeply through practice, which emphasizes developing the ability to research challenges.
        Each university is expected to work on improving its staff's ability to educate and provide research guidance, and actively introduce evaluation on educational activities as well as on research activities.
   
   (ii)Drastic enhancement of graduate education
        Quantitative improvements have been made steadily, as indicated by the growth of the number of graduate school students, which more than doubled in the last ten years by the dramatic improvement of graduate school education and the improvements that have been made by graduate schools to date. However, in the future, efforts will be made to dramatically improve the quality of graduate school education.
        Universities are expected to provide an education that cultivates the ability to utilize and apply professional knowledge including the capacity to deal with interdisciplinary fields by striving to provide graduate school education that enables students to acquire a high degree of expertise and a broad perspective, and by developing rudimental education in relevant fields in addition to acquiring advanced professional knowledge.
        Universities are to work on reforms that focus on enhancing the systematic development of educational courses, so that they can ensure the management of the process that leads students to receive degrees by organizing a systematic educational program that leads to degrees after clarifying the objectives of graduate courses, while taking the needs of society into consideration. The government will devote itself to the improvement of graduate school education by providing information on the examples of outstanding undertakings for society, as well as developing on a full scale a competitive and intensive support system for the organizational efforts of an appealing graduate school education.
   
   (iii)Formulating the activity plan on the reform of graduate school education
        In reforming graduate school education, there is a need for comprehensive efforts that include the creation of global centers, the establishment of graduate school evaluation, and the improvement of the financial base. As such, the government will formulate a systematic and intensive activity plan (platform for the promotion of graduate school education) for the next five years in graduate schools based on the feedback from the Central Education Council, and develop measures based on this plan. This plan should be formulated as a part of the structural reform of graduate schools based on the systematic positioning of education. However, since graduate schools, which are the core organizations for advanced science and technology related human resource development and the leaders of research activities, form an important basis for the promotion of science and technology, the government will formulate the plan by paying due attention to the compatibility with the Science and Technology basic plan.
   
   (iv)Improving financial aid for doctorate course students
        Making improvements to enable human resources with excellent qualities and abilities to proceed to higher education without unduly fearing the financial burden that accompanies the advance to doctorate courses is necessary from the perspective of ensuring talented researchers, and contributes to expanding the diversity of career paths for post-doctorals. For these reasons, financial aid for doctorate course (latter stage) students will be improved using as reference the United States, in which nearly 40 percent of graduate school students are reported to be receiving aid that is equivalent to their living expense. Specifically, we will strive to enable 20 percent of doctorate course students to receive an amount equivalent to their living expenses by increasing the fellowships and competitive funding which pays for research assistants while fully ensuring the competitiveness of selecting exceptional human resources. Concerning the scholarship loan program that is expected to play an important part from the perspective of human resource development, promote the effective operation of a system of exempting outstandingly performing students from repayment based on relevant nomination by each university. Furthermore, the government will take appropriate measures that enable individual students to determine their eligibility for financial aid at the earliest possible time before sitting the exams for the doctorate courses in selecting their course.
   
   (3)Developing human resources that meet the needs of society
   (i)Human resource development by industry-university partnership
        As the improvement of the quality of education in universities and graduate schools brings direct benefits to the industrial world, and since there is a limit to the self-reliance of human resource development that emphasizes in-house training after recruitment rather than university education, it is necessary for industries and universities to engage in the development of human resources by building cooperative ties more than ever. For this reason, industries and universities are to support the new building of a quality long-term internship system, focusing on engineering, premised on establishing credits at the graduate school stage, and promote its dissemination. In addition, proceed with improving the opportunities for graduate school students and post-doctorals to participate with a certain degree of responsibility in the development or implementation of university-based educational programs by industry-university partnership, or collaborative studies with the industrial world under the appropriate guidance and supervision of guiding instructors.
        Through such activities and direct dialogue between industry and university, the business world is required to specify its needs for universities and graduate schools, and universities and graduate schools are required to make constant improvements of their educational programs precisely based on such needs.
   
   (ii)Promoting the activities of doctorals in the industrial world
        Based on the standpoint that doctorals are those who should play active roles in leading and supporting an advanced knowledge-based society in various areas of society, enhance the development of doctorals that would play active roles in various areas of society by promoting the reform of graduate school education and industry-university collaboration in the aspect of human resource development. The industrial world is required to actively provide flexible and varied conditions for talented doctorals.
        Furthermore, students as well as universities and the industrial world are expected to have a common view that it is desirable for doctorals to play active roles not only in academic research professions, but also in various areas of society. Since it is extremely important for each university to know the information about the career paths of the doctorals and utilize it in improving the quality of its education, each university is required to work on continuing to get such information.
   
   (iii)Development of diverse human resources that would be responsible for utilizing and returning knowledge to society
   
   (Development of human resources that would be involved in managing intellectual properties and technology)
        As there is a demand for both quality and quantity of human resources that could support Japan's creation of innovation such as those that could strategically obtain and utilize science and technology results as intellectual properties, and those that could effectively give R&D a market value by understanding both technology and management, independent efforts of universities involved in intellectual property and technology management education are to be promoted. In particular, from the perspective of development human resources with advanced and specialized vocational skills that would lead Japan's economy and society, we will support the qualitative improvement of professional graduate schools.
   
   (Development of Science and Technology communicators)
        The development and activities of human resources that have the role of promoting communication between researchers, engineers and society, i. e. conveying S&T to the general public in an easy to understand manner, or providing feedback on society's awareness of the issues, will be promoted on a local level as well. Specifically, the area of activities as profession will be created and expanded by development science and technology communicators, promoting the outreach activities of researchers, promoting the activities of exhibition planners and commentators, securing research funds of national and public research institutions and spending for Science and Technology communication activities in R&D projects.
   
   (Development of human resources that respond to new needs)
        Promote the development and securing of mobile human resources in information and telecommunications such as software security technology, S&T that contributes to social safety such as measures against emerging and reemerging infectious diseases and terrorism, the integrated fields of natural science, humanities and social science in which the social needs are evident, and the rapidly developing fields of bioinformatics and technology.
   
   (Development of engineers)
        Engineers with advanced professional skills who support Japan's technical bases play a crucial role in achieving a sustained progress built on Japan's manufacturing and technology that create high added value. However, there has been fear in recent years concerning the aging of skilled engineers and the disassociation of young people from manufacturing.
        International competition is intensifying including the rise of Asian countries in the manufacturing field, and since the baby-boomers will be gradually reaching retirement after 2007, the development of engineers for sustaining and securing the core competency of manufacturing that has been developed by the knowledge and know-how of the baby boomers in the manufacturing and building scenes has become the urgent task. For this reason, private enterprises are expected to proceed with an active human resource development that utilizes systems such as the human resource investment-promoting taxes for securing the human resources for manufacturing required in the manufacturing scene, and human resources for manufacturing that create high added value, and the smooth succession and dissemination of skills through the utilization of near-retirement human resources with outstanding skills, by relevant industries unifying and coordinating with education at schools. The government will support the intellectual production activities of engineers by organizing and widely providing elemental technology related to design and manufacturing processes, and past examples as knowledge or data.
        Universities, colleges of technology and special training schools are to proceed with practical education for the development of engineers including future human resources for manufacturing. Moreover, as well as disseminating and promoting the application of the engineer certification system of professional engineers, the government will promote the building of an ongoing skill development system for engineers by various entities, the development and provision of educational materials for online learning, and the entry and reentry into graduate schools by adults to further enhance the opportunities of reeducation to meet adults' desire to study.
        As well as promoting learning related to manufacturing techniques such as the enhancement of hands-on learning on manufacturing in elementary, junior high and high schools, and social education facilities, the government will implement efforts in industrial high schools and colleges of technology in partnership with local businesses.
   
   (4)Expanding the horizons of human resources that will be the leaders of future Science and Technology
   (i) Developing children with exuberant intellectual curiosity
        In order to develop children with exuberant intellectual curiosity by expanding the horizons of children who love science and mathematics, it is necessary to have an environment where children can familiarize themselves with and study Science and Technology from the stages of elementary and secondary education. For this reason, as well as expanding the chance for children to see the faces of the researchers by talented researchers visiting schools to talk to children and their parents, the government will improve the opportunities for hands-on and problem-solving learning such as observations and experiments by supporting the efforts of motivated teachers and volunteers, and the schools' partnership with universities, public research institutions, businesses, science museums and museums. Concerning the grossly insufficient and antiquated laboratory instruments and facilities of elementary, junior high and high schools, their improvement and upgrading will be actively implemented. In addition, as well as developing and providing child-friendly digital educational materials and programs, the government will promote the holding of S&T competitions by various entities.
        Moreover, for training and improving the quality of teachers who can plainly teach subjects such as science, mathematics and industrial arts with advanced content, and conduct interesting classes, the government will review and improve the educational contents and methods of teacher training courses especially in universities with a central focus on teacher-training universities. Furthermore, as well as promoting the activities of teachers for obtaining advanced certificates, it will consider the application and role of the professional graduate school system in the training teachers who can exhibit a high degree of professionalism and carried out their practical leadership. In addition, it will continuously promote practical activities to schools from kindergartens to high schools attached to teacher-training universities in collaboration with universities, such as providing science and mathematics education that incorporates the results of research in universities concerning the educational contents and methods.
   
   (ii)Developing the individuality and abilities of talented children
        There is a need to develop the individuality and abilities of children who are interested in science and mathematics through effective science and mathematics education, and to develop outstanding human resources in S&T. For these reasons, the government will promote the participation of talented children in various international S&T competitions, as well as improve the support system for high schools that emphasize science and mathematics education.
        In addition, the government will proceed with the linking of high schools and universities; in other words, the improvement of the high school-university link so that the individuality and abilities of talented children can be developed regardless of the influence of university enrollee selection. Specifically, it will make it possible for students who achieved remarkable results in high school to obtain appropriate evaluation by methods such as Admission Office (AO) Entrance Exam, or have high schools organize a special curriculum for the development of S&T related human resources with the help of universities. Furthermore, it will promote initiatives and improvements by carrying out activities of providing high school students the opportunities to come in contact with university-level education and research by accepting high school students into universities as non-degree students or having university instructors teach in high schools.
   
   
2. Creating scientific development and persistent innovation
        The government will strive for S&T that passes on the results to society and the nation by creating intellectual and cultural value through scientific development by making Science and Technology related resources work effectively, and reinforcing the efforts for manifesting the results of R&D as social and economical value through innovation. In so doing, it is not only important to work on reforming the R&D system, but also on resolving the institutional and operational bottleneck for smooth Science and Technology activities and the passing on of results.
   
   (1)Developing a competitive environment
        Although competitive funds did not reach the goal of doubling set in the second basic plan, their improvement has progressed to a respectable degree, and there was a steady progress in the efforts for the development of a competitive environment coupled with the progress of systemic reforms. There is a need to further the efforts to revitalize research activities by setting the principle of competition in motion in more aspects in the future.
   
   (i)Increasing competitive funds and indirect costs
        The government will continue to strive to increase the competitive funds such as Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research, which contribute to creating a competitive R&D environment, by expanding the breadth and freedom of the selection of researchers' research grants.
        Concerning indirect costs in which a fixed percentage of the research grant is allocated to institutions that employ the researchers who have won the competitive funds, the government will achieve a 30% allocation in all systems as early as possible.
   Indirect costs will be devoted to the expenses required for the management of research institutions in implementing the research, and they will be used, in principle, based on the decision of the institution. Among them all, competitive funds are expected to be used for preparing a research environment such as the departments and agencies that employ the researchers awarded with competitive funds, providing financial benefits for such researchers, and enhancing the administrative system that supports smooth application by researchers.
   
   (ii)Developing a competitive environment in organizations
   (Revitalizing research activities through competition)
        Competitive funds have the effect of promoting competition among organizations that employ researchers through the promotion of competition between researchers and measures for indirect costs. Accordingly, it is necessary to promote the competition involved in securing human resources such as in universities by increasing the competitiveness and mobility for human resources, while further revitalization of research activities is also expected.
        Just as it has been carried out in the world's top class research institutions, universities in Japan are also required to create a virtuous cycle of attracting brilliant researchers by devoting themselves to improving the research environment such as the competitive funds and indirect costs acquired by such brilliant researchers, while securing brilliant researchers by working on building an appealing research environment and providing benefits to the researchers.
   
   (Effective combination of fundamental funds and competitive funds in universities)
        In universities in Japan, fundamental funds (national university budget subsidy, facilities improvement grants, and financial aid to private educational institution) play an important part in supporting the existence of the organizations that form the foundation of education and research (securing of human resources, preparing of education and research environment), and there is also a research system in which competitive funds support varied and excellent research plans. Fundamental funds and competitive funds both have specific functions, and they play important parts. As such, examine an effective combination of fundamental funds and competitive funds in improving the overall governmental R&D expenditure.
        In addition, since the whole of the national university budge subsidy is not something to be allocated according to the number of teachers in each university, and as it is important for allocated costs to be applied most effectively and efficiently coupled with competitive funds or external funds, from the perspective of developing a competitive environment including the president's discretionary allocation, while respecting the independent and autonomous in-school allocation, the government will promote such endeavors.
   
   (iii)Promoting the systemic reforms on competitive funds
        In order to fully exhibit the effects of each competitive fund system, carry out systemic reforms by clarifying the purport and objectives of the respective systems, so that the scale of the research funds, the research duration, the research system, the evaluation method, and the promotion measures can be optimized according to the purport of the system.
   
   (Establishing a fair and highly transparent screening system)
        As for the allocation of competitive funds, since the screening for a fair and highly transparent research subject that emphasizes the contents of the research and the capacity for implementation irrespective of the position or the title of the researcher is essential, the government will work to dramatically improve the screening system.
        Concerning each system, the government will proceed with the reforms, i. e. , increase of the number of judges, improvement of the research plan, and review of the screening standards, while streamlining the operation of screening. Particularly with increasing the number of judges, the research community is expected to actively cooperate on its own responsibility. In addition, concerning each system, the government will make an effort to recruit young researchers and foreign researchers as judges to secure fairness in screening from various perspectives.
   
   (Feedback on the screening results)
        Since communicating the details of the screening results and the views expressed at screening in as much detail as possible is believed to secure the transparency of screening, the government will improve the quality of research, and contribute to improving the quality of researchers including young researchers, and promote detailed disclosure so that the screening results will be fed back appropriately to the researchers in each system that relates to competitive funds.
   
   (Enhancing the functions of the distributing agencies)
        On the basis of transferring the allocation functions of competitive funds to independent distributing agencies, the systems with established policies will proceed with a steady transferal, and those with no established policies will respond appropriately by drawing a conclusion promptly while taking the reality into account.
        As for the program officer (PO) and program director (PD) that support each system, the government will give consideration to the benefits so that those with qualities appropriate for these professions can be secured in a quantity that corresponds to the scale of the system. In addition, it will turn PO and PD into full-time positions as early as possible, mainly with large systems. Furthermore, the research community as a whole is expected to adequately evaluate the job experience of POs and PDs so that they can be positioned as part of the career paths of researchers.
        As the improvement and enhancement of POs and PDs, as well as the research analysis functions for supporting their activities, and the operational functions related to screening, granting and managing are essential in the distributing agencies, the government will steadily carry out their system improvements by securing a percentage of the competitive funds. In addition, distribution agencies will strive for the training of competent POs and PDs by improving overseas training and seminars in Japan.
   Moreover, in allocating competitive funds, it is necessary to take budgetary measures appropriately while taking the purport and objectives of the competitive funds into account to enable an efficient and flexible management of the competitive funds such as carrying over the funds of the year, and multiple applications per year.
   
   (2)Enhancing the competitive edge of universities
        In an age when the creation and application of new knowledge is dramatically increasing in importance, the enhancement of the global competitiveness of universities is extremely important, and will create universities that will lead the world's Science and Technology. We are also in an age when it is essential for each university, be it national, public or private, including local universities, to enhance its competitive edge by utilizing its uniqueness and characteristics. With this understanding, fundamental funds that support the foundation of education and research will be provided responsibly.
   
   (i)Creating universities that lead the world's Science and Technology
        Universities with global competitiveness cannot be created without sound competition between universities. For this reason, the government will further promote the development of a competitive environment, and the improvement of the mobility of human resources in universities, be it national, public or private. Furthermore, in order to actively develop the creation of universities that rival other universities in the world, and lead the world's Science and Technology, it will promote the further enhancement of intensive investment under the principle of competition for organizations aiming to become the world's top class research and education centers.
        The 21st Century COE Program is currently being developed as a part of structural reforms of universities through national, public and private universities, but it is fitting to plan for further development in a more full and evolved way by implementing a stricter selection of focus based on the evaluation and validation of the program. In so doing, it is important to secure perspectives such as the revitalization of the development functions of talented researchers, and the improvement of the basic research standards, as the primary mission of universities. As such, it is appropriate to establish a wide range of disciplines as the scope and maintain the basic concept from the perspective of securing the diversity of fundamental research, and creating new areas, rather than placing a disproportionate emphasis on specific research areas.
        While developing measures for securing the diversity of such fundamental research, in creating innovation, concretize the intensive investment for creating research and education centers by focusing on specific advanced research areas, while obtaining the cooperation of the business world from the perspective of creating research areas that may lead the world, as doing so will be extremely effective.
        Through these undertakings, the government will aim to create research centers that will be positioned as the world's top class centers, i. e. , centers with a by field thesis citation index of 20 or less, in universities in Japan, and ultimately create about 30 such centers through various evaluation indexes on research activities.
   
   (ii)Revitalizing universities that utilize uniqueness and characteristics
   (Developing universities open to the community)
        Local universities are important intellectual and human resources for the community, be it national, public or private, and they should contribute further to the progress of the overall community as an entity open to the community. With the understanding that it is indispensable for local authorities to perceive and utilize such universities as partners in community regeneration, active support is anticipated.
        For instance, it would be desirable to create a virtuous cycle of creation of knowledge and human resources, and community vitality through local universities by the community working together with the universities with the support of the government, such as a community contribution type industry-academia cooperation undertaken by universities in the creation of technological opportunities and new technologies of indigenous industries or traditional industries, and the promotion of human resource development in partnership with those industries.
        As a part of community regeneration through the revitalization and utilization of local universities, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, the Regional Generation Center and the Council for Science and Technology Policy will promote the “Regeneration Program for Local Knowledge Centers”, which incorporates support measures and general improvements for the independent efforts of the community in partnership with universities.
   
   (Utilizing the research education functions of private universities)
        Private universities have been developing diverse and unique education and research activities based on the unique spirit on which their schools were founded, and it is indispensable for the government to utilize the human resource development functions and research functions of private universities from the perspective of securing the improvement and diversity of the Science and Technology standards of Japan as a whole. On the other hand, since even private universities that are aiming to become global research and education centers have insufficiencies, in comparison with national universities, in their research environment in terms of human resources and facilities, there is a need to improve on those aspects.
        For this reason, we will strive to make considerations for private universities, i. e. , offer preferential indirect costs for private universities after achieving 30% application of indirect costs as early as possible for all the institutions in managing the competitive funds, as well as selectively improve the aid from the perspective of enhancing the research functions. In addition, necessary condition ordering will be carried out for promoting the introduction of various private funds.
   
   (3)Enhancing systems for creating innovation
        In order to effectively link the innovative R&D results, including the results of outstanding fundamental research created by universities and public research institutions, to innovation continuously, industries, universities and government will unite to enhance the system that creates innovation to fully exhibit Japan's potential.
   
   (i) Maintaining the various research fund systems according to the development stage of R&D
        The government will further define the purport of the research fund systems, the anticipated outcome, the evaluation method, and the promotion measures according to the development stage and the characteristics of the R&D, and adequately maintain and operate the various systems from fundamental research to innovation creation.
   
   (Efforts towards high-risk research in fundamental research)
        The system that supports fundamental research is improving in quality and in quantity by the past reforms of the competitive fund system and the research standards are improving steadily. As the competitive fund system that supports fundamental research is based on what is called pure review screening, ensure its improvement.
        On the other hand, just operating pure review screening uniformly may make it difficult to spot high-risk research (research that may create highly innovative results based on the fresh ideas of the researcher). For this reason, the government will take high-risk research into account by establishing a mechanism that flexibly selects the challenges by assessing the originality and possibility of the ideas of the researcher in the part of the system that supports fundamental research.
   
   (Enhancing competitive research for innovation creation)
        From the perspective of promoting the passing on of results to society and the nation, there is a need to enhance R&D that takes on the challenge of creating innovative technology so that scientific and technological discoveries created in fundamental research are linked to creating social and economical value without ending as mere articles. For this, an appropriate management of research is required so that the research does not end as a mere extension of the researcher's intellectual curiosity. For this reason, the government will enhance the management system for competitive funds that promote the target fundamental research and applied research for innovative technology that leads to creating new value by establishing innovation-oriented goal setting or putting in place a program officer (program manager) with responsibility and discretion in carrying out research progress management.
   
   (Creating advanced interdisciplinary research centers)
        Innovation is frequently created from new interdisciplinary research areas, and such areas are effectively created by active involvement for business solutions based on socioeconomic needs. For this reason, the government will selectively create research education centers in universities that focus on advanced interdisciplinary research areas that will enable Japan lead to the world by getting the active participation of the business world. The following points must be respected in creating these centers (advanced interdisciplinary innovation creation centers)
   (i)They are research and human resource development centers genuinely created by industry/academia collaboration,
   (ii)They carry out research from a fundamental stage with commercial viability in mind.
   (iii)They are centers that are open nationally and internationally.
   (iv)They have the clear commitment of the business world such as the provision of research resources.
   (v)They carry out innovative organizational operation and system reforms that facilitate the abovementioned points.
   
   (Reforming the research fund system beyond office and ministries)
   -Enhancing the appropriate management that correspond to various systems-
        By carrying out appropriate management according to various research fund systems results visible to the nation are produced.
        For this reason, the government will promote the enhancement of management for producing results by checking to see if appropriate institutional design and operation are implemented based on the anticipated results, according to the developmental stage and characteristics of the subject R&D on the various research fund systems such as competitive funds and project research funds.
   
   -Building a mechanism that link outstanding research results to practical application beyond office and ministries-
        As the research fund system of each office and ministry, and R&D in industry-university-government research institutions range widely from the stages of fundamentals to practical application, the government will strive to build a mechanism for advancing R&D without interruption beyond systems and institutions, and link it to practical application for research that is about to produce outstanding results, and those that have the potential to develop to create innovation. The Council for Science and Technology Policy will promote such undertakings by each office and ministry.
        As for research fund systems, which are expected to lead research to the next level, the government will introduce a mechanism that enables for the research of outstanding projects to be continued without interruption by implementing an evaluation at an appropriate time before the completion of the research. In addition, it will incorporate it into the research fund system or the collaboration between industry-university-government research institutions beyond office and ministries. Specifically, it will promote the efforts such as the prompt transmission of interim assessments and ex-post assessment results in various research fund systems and their utilization in other systems and institutions, the information sharing of advanced research trends and results, and R&D strategy and roadmaps through workshops between distributing agencies and research institutions, the building of a database that extracted and collected the information on the potential for the application of the results, and the enhancement of the functions of extensively studying other research results in planning R&D in distributing agencies and public research institutions.
   
   (ii)Building a sustainable and progressive industry-university-government collaboration system
        As a country that must create persistent innovation from its own unique research results amidst global competition, industry-university-government collaboration is an important means for realizing such a creation, and Japan will build a sustained and progressive industry-university-government collaboration system.
   
   (Expanding into a full scale industry-university-government collaboration)
        With the view that efforts must be made to expand into a more full-scaled industry-university-government collaboration, in addition to the technological transfer of traditional collaborative research that utilizes brilliant seeds of universities, the government will promote a strategic and systematic collaboration that could boost the effects of the collaboration by getting the industries, universities and government to hold a dialogue from the stage of establishing the research project, and working on collaborative research that sees through all aspects from fundamentals to application from a long-term perspective. The government will aim to create research centers that carry out world-class research and human resource development under industry-university-government collaboration, as a part of such a collaboration.
        In addition, from the standpoint of promoting improvement of competitiveness of regions, and the regional contribution of universities and public research institutions, the government will promote regional-contribution type collaborative research undertaken by universities on the technological opportunities and new technology creation of local industries including small businesses. Through these efforts, the government will aim to substantially increase the amount of research funds from private businesses for universities.
   
   (Sustainable development of industry-university-government collaboration)
   -Developing industry-university-government trust-
        Mutual understanding between businesses and universities is essential for sustainable industry-university-government collaboration. For instance, there is a need to develop trust by solving problems through thorough discussions after both parties have understood the differences regarding the considerations towards the characteristics of the collaborative research results, flexible and prompt response to corporate needs, thoroughness of awareness towards confidentiality, and characteristics of the university, which is a non-responsible organization involved in the joint invention. As well as providing opportunities for both parties to communicate, and information on best practice, the government will promote the independent formulation of rules by presenting guidelines where required.
        As for the indirect costs that will be required for the collaborative research or sponsored research with businesses in universities and public research institutions, the government will promote appropriate provisions, as it is important to secure the costs in the relevant research funds based on thorough discussions by both parties.
   
   -Promoting the autonomous efforts of universities-
        Universities are required to appropriately position the activities of industry-university-government collaboration in their respective operation policies, and engage proactively in collaborative activities by perceiving social contributions including industry-university-government collaboration, as well as education and research, as important missions. Universities are also expected to appropriately evaluate the achievements of researchers who are actively engaged in industry-university-government collaboration. In addition, they are also required to improve the mechanism that properly manages the conditions of conflicting interest that occur with the progress of collaborative research. The government will strive to give incentives to universities that are actively engaging in the activities of industry-university-government collaboration.
   
   -Revitalizing and enhancing the collaboration of university intellectual property centers and technology licensing organizations (TLOs)-
        In order for the activities of industry-university-government collaboration to achieve sufficient results, it is necessary to further revitalize the activities of university intellectual property centers and TLOs and make them more effective.
        Intellectual property centers in universities that carry out strategic creation, management and utilization of intellectual property are a vital presence for universities to achieve their mission of passing on their research results to society, and the government will support their efforts while seeking the initiative of universities and management collaboration. As for TLOs that carry out technological licensing projects for the private sector, the government will strive to enhance the technological licensing system of other TLOs and universities by disseminating the success factors of TLOs that are achieving great results and support their launch.
        Universities will further enhance collaboration between their intellectual property centers and TLOs from the perspective of fully utilizing the knowledge and know-how on technological licensing accumulated by TLOs and clarify their external contact by defining the relationship between their intellectual property centers and the TLOs.
   
   -Developing smooth intellectual property activities-
        The government will promote the efforts of organizations to properly secure the costs for intellectual property activities such as the costs of patent application in universities within organizations. In doing so, active utilization of indirect costs in competitive funds is expected. The government will also adequately aid the costs of overseas patent applications from the perspective of enhancing Japan's global competitiveness and improve the support for competitive R&D for promoting the passing on of research results produced in universities to society.
   
   (iii)Promoting the utilization of new technologies in the public sector
        Promoting the utilization of new technologies through public procurement is important not only from the standpoint of improving the functions of the activities of the public sector and increasing efficiency, but also from the standpoint of promoting the passing on research results to society. For these reasons, the government will promote the coordination and collaboration of the public sector's needs, and the R&D seeds in R&D such as for S&T and advanced equipment research that contribute to safety. With S&T that contributes to safety, the government will strive to build a network of research information.
        Furthermore, the public sector's creation of advance initial demand for new technologies for which demand is high or market scale is still small has major significance not only in contributing to the policy goals of each sector but also for forming new markets and stimulating private-sector innovation. The public sector is expected to actively consider the introduction of new technologies to the business scene by actively utilizing private contracts on the premise of securing transparency and fairness, and utilize bidding systems that emphasize technical capabilities such as the integrated evaluation bidding system.
        In addition, as it is important for R&D type ventures to have their products procured by the public sector to boost the creditworthiness of their companies and secure income at the inception stage, the government will take procurement from R&D type ventures into consideration in the introduction of new technologies by the public sector.
   
   (iv)Promoting the entrepreneurial activities of R&D ventures
        R&D type ventures including ventures initiated by universities are a presence that ought to play an active part in creating new industries, reforming the industry structure, and passing on the research results of universities to society, as the engine for innovation. For these reasons, the government will enhance the comprehensive support measures for R&D type ventures in the aspects of technology, funding, human resources, and demand creation, and promote general improvements on entrepreneurial activities. Particularly with regards to ventures initiated by universities, the government will competitively provide support to create ventures that grow and develop, and continue to support the creation of such activities.
        In addition, since R&D type ventures can actively respond to the demands of the client due to their high motivation for taking on new businesses, the government will actively consider the utilization of capable R&D type ventures in R&D carried out by competitive funds for creating innovation, and R&D carried out by national and public research institutions on commission. Furthermore, the government will support the creation of a network between venture supporters, and strive to work on the facilitation of risk money supply to the ventures through developing entrepreneurial support type venture capital that utilizes fund contributions, promoting the investment activities of private investors such as the expansion of the utilization of the fax system for Angel, and promoting efficiency in government organizations' system of lending.
        In addition, as there is criticism of the weakness of entrepreneurship in Japan by international standards, it is essential to create a thick layer of human resources, i. e. , potential entrepreneurs that are motivated to take on challenges that may lead to commercialization in promoting essential entrepreneurial activities. For this reason, the government will encourage the efforts of promoting such entrepreneurial activities as the support of such activities by students, the creation of entrepreneurial opportunities through human interaction, and the improvement of quality such as business promotion related courses in universities.
   
   (v)Promoting R&D by private enterprises
        Since it is private enterprises that create market values in the form of new products from the results of R&D and industry-university-government collaboration, leading them to ultimately achieve innovation, it is important to revitalize private sector R&D. As a nation, Japan will strive to utilize tax measures that contribute to the promotion of R&D activities, and improve the technological development programs that reduce the risks of R&D up to commercialization to boost their motivation on the basis of the self-supporting efforts of the private sector. In addition, with regards to small businesses that support the foundation of Japan's industrial competitiveness, the government will support efforts towards the enhancement and development of manufacturing technologies after taking the vulnerabilities of the financial base and managerial resources into account.
        Moreover, amidst the increasing tendency towards the manufacturing of in-house products by the utilization of external R&D capacity and results, there is a need to build a cooperative relationship that mutually develops in a sustainable way in the private sector by positioning universities and public research institutions as their partners for innovation from a long term perspective to accelerate the creation of innovation by the nation as a whole.
   
   (4)Building regional innovation systems and creating vital regions
        As the promotion of S&T in regions contributes to building regional innovation systems and creating vital regions, thus enhancing the sophistication and diversification of the Science and Technology of Japan as a whole, and the competitive edge of the innovation systems, the government will actively encourage such promotion. Moreover, the government will promote broad-ranging activities as something that will contribute to achieving safe, secure and quality lives for local residents, and producing creative and appealing regions and culture.
   
   (i)Forming regional clusters
        Formation of regional clusters not only needs R&D by industry-university-government collaboration, but also requires various activities such as facilitation of finance, support of new business creation, development of the market environment and building of cooperative networks. As such, the government will proceed with long term efforts based on the strategic initiative of regions and the collaboration of relevant organizations.
   The government will continue to provide competitive support for cluster forming activities carried out under local initiatives. In so doing, the government will provide selective support to regions that have the potential to develop as world-class clusters, by assessing the global competitive edge of each region according to the progress of cluster formation and develop clusters across Japan with strengths that utilize regional characteristics, however small in scale.
   
   (ii)Developing smooth Science and Technology policies in regions
        In promoting regional Science and Technology policies, the government will expect local authorities to fulfill an active role and enhance inter-ministerial coordination by eliminating vertical divisions between ministries.
        Since the enhancement of the functions of coordinators is crucial to promoting industry-university-government collaboration in regions, the government will develop the support system for them and support the building of coordinator networks. In addition, the government will promote the development of human resources through collaboration of local universities and industries by methods such as internships.
        Moreover, national public research institutions in the regions are expected to meet the needs of local industries while collaborating with local universities, and create and disseminate the seeds themselves. Although of local authorities are carrying out technological developments and technical guidance that meets the needs of local industries and scenes, they are expected to play an effective role for regional industry-university-government collaboration, while choosing and converging in operations that utilize the respective characteristics and strengths, and planning extensive collaboration between regions by taking the effectiveness of past results into account.
   
   (5)Effective and efficient promotion of R&D
   (i)Effective utilization of research funds
   (Thoroughly eliminating waste in research fund allocation)
        Illogical overlap of research fund allocation and excessive concentration of research funds that exceed the relevant efforts of individual researchers (allocation of time that an individual engaged in research is involved in various operations such as research, education and administration) must be thoroughly eliminated.
        For this reason, the government must build a cross-ministerial joint database for implementing inspections on overlap by sharing information between the competitive fund systems among all ministries as early as possible based on the e-Government Building Program.
        Meanwhile, the Council for Science and Technology Policy will also proceed with preparing the database on research funds besides competitive funds such as project research funds by building a government R&D database to contribute to effective and efficient allocation of resources such as eliminating overlap by grasping the complete picture of the status of allocation of research funds as a whole including funds other than competitive funds. The government will promote cross-ministerial utilization after making sufficient adjustments with the cross-ministerial joint database and the government R&D database. Through its utilization, ministries will improve their database by introducing a mechanism that enables researchers to input data, as well as appropriately fulfill the responsibility of providing explanations on allocation decisions by implementing inspections on overlap.
        In addition, the government will rigorously respond by imposing limitations on the application eligibility for researchers for dishonest receipt or wrongful use of research funds.
   
   (Managing the efforts of researchers by universities and public research institutions)
        Universities and public research institutions should secure the time for implementing R&D through research funds researchers obtain externally by managing the efforts of researchers. In particular, universities aiming to become global research and education centers will work on early establishment of proper effort management. Moreover, they will ensure the description of efforts of researchers in the application form under the acknowledgement of the organization in applying for a research fund system such as competitive funds and project research funds.
   
   (ii)Emphasizing the development and utilization of human resources in research funds
        In view of the importance of the development of human resources in engaging in R&D, and stricter selection of focus on human resources that comes with the prioritization of R&D, developing and utilizing human resources should be further emphasized in research funds such as competitive funds.
        Therefore, the government will carry out necessary system improvements by working on putting research funds into the development and utilization of human resources in each research fund system. Through this, the government will promote the independent formation of research institutions by young researchers by developing young researchers through providing funds equivalent to the living expenses of doctorate course students, and providing staff costs for post-doctorals, research supporters, and external research human resources.
        At the same time, through ensuring application premised on the shared use of general purpose research equipment, and promoting the use of common spaces, the government will do its utmost for the effective utilization of the facilities as a whole.
   
   (iii)Reforming the evaluation system
        R&D evaluation is extremely important in planning the creation of a flexible, competitive and open R&D environment, the selective and efficient promotion of R&D and improvement of quality, the improvement of the motivation of researchers, and the formulation of better policies by fulfilling the responsibility of providing explanation to the nation. The government will implement such evaluations according to specific policies that set out the evaluation methods by office and ministries in line with National Guidelines.
        Furthermore, from the perspective of further developing Japan's evaluation systems, the government will review the National Guidelines where required based on the implementation of R&D evaluations.
   
   (Direction of reforms)
        The government will make efforts to ensure that evaluations do not become unnecessarily bureaucratic from the perspective of evaluation, to boost motivation by taking the difficulty of the task taken on by the researchers into consideration, and train and secure assessment personnel with a talent for spotting and cultivating unique and outstanding researchers and R&D, so that the evaluations encourage researchers to take up the challenge of being creative and inquire into the outcome.
        The government will work on choosing appropriate survey analysis methods and evaluation methods according to the subject, timing and objectives of evaluation in implementing evaluations, developing and reforming evaluation methods, training evaluation personnel, including young personnel, and improving their evaluation ability (experts of respective fields skilled in evaluation, staff of ministerial organizations, researchers specializing in evaluation), so that evaluations will be reliable and of international standard. The government will work on clearly and specifically establishing the evaluation objectives after fully recognizing that evaluations are important means of aiding strategic decision-making, and clarifying how and by whom the evaluation results will be utilized beforehand, so that they can be utilized and promote reform.
        Furthermore, concerning evaluations of R&D measures from the perspective of the evaluation subject, the government will further establish and improve follow-up evaluations from the standpoint of implementation timing by taking its implementation into account.
   
   (Operating an effective and efficient evaluation system)
        From the perspective of avoiding unnecessary duplication of evaluations, maintaining the continuity and uniformity of evaluations, and operating effective and efficient evaluation systems as a whole, the office, ministries and organizations that implement R&D will improve the evaluation systems by appointing personnel responsible for the operation of the evaluation systems, and implementing improvements of the system and foundation for the mutual coordination and utilization of the evaluations, and assessment. In so doing, they will secure the budget for evaluation, train and secure evaluation personnel, and build and manage the database.
   
   (Promoting evaluations based on policy targets)
        Evaluations are implemented by establishing appropriate items of evaluation and evaluation standards according to the characteristics of R&D. However, in so doing, the government will work on establishing the items of evaluation and evaluation standards based on the policy targets related to the relevant R&D so that the results can be passed on to society and the nation effectively.
   
   (6)Resolving the institutional and operational bottleneck for smooth science and technology activities and passing on of results
        In promoting science and technology, an active interaction of human resources, a smooth implementation of research activities, the promotion of industry-university-government collaboration, and the improvement of institutional environment that supports the smooth passing of research results to society are important matters for increasing the effects of human and material investments for science and technology. Although there has been remarkable progress in such areas as the research exchange system, the fixed-term system of researchers, the independent organization system, the national university system, and the intellectual property system, there is much criticism that various institutional bottlenecks still remain, including, for example, immigration controls on foreign researchers, working environment of female researchers in relation to child birth/rearing, treatment of pensions and retirement benefits associated with personnel change, promotion of utilization of contract authorization for research funds, the clinical study environment, the employment environment for research supporters, and various tax systems.
        For this reason, the Council for Science and Technology Policy will actively deepen its involvement in the boundary area of S&T policy and other policies, and work together with relevant ministries, agencies and councils for resolving the institutional bottlenecks that hinder the promotion of Science and Technology, and for resolving the various obvious issues in operating the systems in the research scenes. In addition, they will provide their opinions where required and carry out follow-ups on their implementations.
   
   
3. Reinforcing the foundation for promoting Science and Technology
   (1)Systematic and prioritized improvements of facilities
        Promoting the improvements of such facilities as universities and public research institutions is essential for promoting the development of talented world-class human resources, creative and advanced R&D, and becoming a creative Science and Technology nation, and such improvements need to be implemented by order of priority in public facilities as well.
        In so doing, as universities are particularly required to turn out such outstanding human resources as researchers that will lead the next generation, they are required to develop an environment and atmosphere fitting for a place of creative learning and research.
   
   (i)Improvements of facilities such as national universities and public research institutions
        Although the restrictedness of facilities that have been worked on by priority through the “Five-Year Program for Emergent Renovation and Building of Facilities of National Universities, etc. ” have been improved as planned, improvements on deteriorated facilities have been gotten behind, and as a result they have increased in correlation with the demands for improvements because of deterioration by aging. Moreover, there have been new education and research needs such as responses to graduate schools newly established after 2001, responses to securing space for education and research activities of young researchers, and responses to the training and practice associated with the development of new diagnostic and treatment techniques.
        The deterioration of such facilities as national universities built in large numbers from the 1960s to 1970s is continuing, and as they are not only unable to respond to the new educational and research needs in terms of function, but as there are also safety issues such as earthquake resistance and the aging of key facilities, the government will take particular budgetary steps for systematic improvements from a long-term perspective by positioning the regeneration of the aging facilities as a high-priority issue.
        The dimensions of improvements required in national universities have reached approximately 100 million square meters. The government will support systematic improvements by formulating a facilities improvement plan that incorporates facilities that require urgent improvements during the five years of the third basic plan from the perspective of carrying out the regeneration of deteriorated facilities as a high-priority for outstanding research centers, and basic facilities that emphasize human resource development functions.
        Moreover, for university hospitals and nationally-run specialist medical centers that are implementing improvements through long-term borrowings, the government will support steady systematic improvements so that they can continue to fulfill their pioneering roles in advance medical care.
        National universities are required to promote facilities improvements through new methods based on self-help efforts such as enhancing the collaboration with the business world and local governments, to utilize long-term loans and the private finance initiative (PFI), further enhance facilities management systems such as facilities operation and maintenance, and secure flexible and mobile space from an all-campus perspective. In order to promote efforts for such reforms by national universities, the government will carry out necessary review of the systems, and carry out prioritized distribution of resources after actively assessing the efforts of national universities.
        The government will also improve facilities to meet the needs of the times to produce outstanding R&D results, and develop talented human resources in public research institutions such as independent administrative agencies. In particular, the government will carry out the regeneration and refurbishment of facilities preferentially and systematical for public research institutions established before mid 1950's, as there are many remarkably deteriorated facilities.
        Furthermore, the government will consider a long term improvements plan per organization for public research institutions, such as Tsukuba Science City, that have facilities with a risk of a simultaneous occurrence of deterioration issues in the future.
   
   (ii)Development of facilities of national universities and public research institutions
        The importance of laboratory facilities and advanced research facilities has dramatically increased with the advances in basic research. As the use of those facilities in abstract research has an important role to play, the government will support national universities to enable them to intentionally develop their research facilities including large scale facilities from a long-term perspective.
        National universities and public research institutions will promote effective and efficient use of research facilities, such as shared use beyond the framework of organizations, reuse of facilities after completion of competitive fund supported research, as well as effective use of existing facilities by actively making efforts to share the use of the facilities within organizations.
   
   (iii)Developing the facilities of public universities
        With regards to education and research facilities of public universities that are playing a major role as centers of education and research in regions, it would be best for the government to strive to improve the financial measures based on the decision of local authorities, which are the establishers.
   
   (iv)Developing the facilities of private universities
        Selective development of private university facilities are important in boosting Japan's research capability and promoting the sophistication of education and research. However, given that the development of private university facilities are not exactly sufficient, the government will improve financial aid to private educational institutions so that development of research facilities in private universities can be actively carried out by raising the grant rate for research facility development, and increasing such budgets as facility maintenance costs.
   
   (v)Promoting the development and shared use of advanced large-scale public research facilities
        As advanced large-scale public research facilities such as ultrahigh-speed super computers and next-generation radiation sources require vast expenses for development and operation, and sharing them extensively would lead to producing results of the world's best standard, rather than treating them as projects of specific research institutions, the government should take the responsibility for promoting their development and shared use by choosing the best organization from the various industry-university-government organizations to implement the development and shared use fairly and efficiently.
        For this reason, the government will build a mechanism for integral promotion of development and operation of these facilities including the development of laws for promoting shared use. Moreover, the government will carry out intentional and continuous development by giving priority to large-scale research facilities such as Inter-University Research Institute Corporation after carrying out rigorous evaluations in selecting the specific advanced large-scale shared facilities.
   
   (2)Improving the intellectual infrastructure
   (i)Strategic and selective development of intellectual infrastructure
        Amidst rising dependency on knowledge of socioeconomic activities as a whole by the advances in research and development activities, the government will proceed with the selective development of the intellectual infrastructure(materials for research such as biological resource, measurement standards, methods of measurement, analysis, testing and evaluation, relevant advanced equipment, and related database) that supports these activities at large, aiming for the highest global standards by 2010, while proceeding with selection and concentration by reviewing the intellectual infrastructure developments plan so that developments that use the qualitative perspective, i. e. , the level of response to user needs and usage frequency, as a guideline, as well as the quantitative perspective can be carried out.
        In addition, with regards to advanced equipment, given that equipment development in itself has the nature of leading advanced research, the government will carry out selective development of key elemental technology and system integration technology for equipment that are essential in research of important areas, and those that are being caught up by other countries despite Japan having a comparative advantage.
   
   (ii)Building a framework for promoting efficient development and use
        Aiming for development of user-friendliness and the integral operation of various intellectual infrastructures, the government will plan to turn public research institutions into centers by designating and developing them as core centers for various areas of intellectual infrastructure. Core centers are required to grasp the needs of the users, and reflect them in the development and operation of their intellectual infrastructure. Their common functions are: collaboration with relevant organizations, accumulation and transmission of the location of the intellectual infrastructure and technical information, and considerations on intellectual property.
        Public research institutions and universities are required to build the framework that is required by securing full time personnel that will play a part in the development of the intellectual infrastructure, and position the required framework aptly in their respective operation policies so that the level of contributions to the development on the intellectual infrastructure of the researchers and engineers can be evaluated. The government will strive to improve the social visibility of this area by commending researchers and engineers that have contributed to the development of the intellectual infrastructure.
        Moreover, public research institutions and universities are expected to clarify the importance of digital archiving for accumulating R&D results, and the storage of materials for research in their respective operation policies, and work on their intentional accumulation by formulating a research plan including the costs required in obtaining such research funds as competitive funds.
        As it is believed that giving and receiving materials for research will be carried out frequently in the future, the government will continue to work on development of regulations on intellectual property with public research institutions and universities. In so doing, the abovementioned core centers are expected to contribute to the improvement of Japan's response capability towards issues related to intellectual property through sharing the results of considerations with other organizations.
        In addition, they will actively participate in measurement standards development and biological resource development particularly in Asia by continuing to rigorously participate in international endeavors related to the development of measurement standards.
   
   (3)Creating, protecting and utilizing intellectual property
        In order to produce creative and innovative R&D results, and pass them onto society and the nation, it is essential to revitalize the intellect creation cycle that effectively uses the results of intellect creating activities by adequately protecting them as intellectual property by stimulating and activating the intellect creating activities. The government will promote measures on the creation, protection and utilization of intellectual property for the promotion of Japan's Science and Technology and the enhancement of global competitiveness.
   
   (Improving the intellectual property systems in universities)
        Development of systems of intellectual property and formulation of rules including the institutional consolidated management of inventions are being implemented in universities. The government will support the system development of university intellectual property centers and TLO for the development of future full-scale intellectual property activities, and promote the efforts for carrying out a prompt and flexible business operation by responding to various problems associated with intellectual property management and contract.
        In addition, since conflicts on intellectual property that universities are involved in are coming to the surface, the government will support system development in universities so that they can respond properly to resolve such conflicts.
   
   (Promoting intellectual property activities)
        It is important to utilize outstanding R&D results that become the source of global competitiveness by effectively obtaining the rights particularly as basic patents in Japan and abroad.
        The government will encourage businesses to switch the emphasis of their patent strategies from quantity to quality so that they lead to obtaining high-quality basic patents. As it is important for universities to utilize great intellectual property by obtaining the rights properly regardless of nation, the government will support the strategic efforts of universities. The government will also carry out the development of search systems for patent information so that outstanding quality research results can be obtained.
        In addition, with regards to the various issues of intellectual property advanced technology areas such as life science have, i. e. , smooth usage of other's patents in testing and research in universities, the government will make considerations that take into account the appropriate balance with the level of freedom of research in universities, and develop the intellectual property system and its operation as needed.
   
   (Developing regions through intellectual property)
        Universities, which are the creation centers of intellectual property are expected to produce new intellectual property that leads to the development of regions as the core of regions. The government will support the efforts of promoting the creation and utilization of intellectual properties that match the needs of regions by reinforcing collaborations of universities with local businesses, local authorities and local research institutions, and encouraging the security and utilization of advisors on intellectual property in regions.
   
   (4)Actively responding to standardization
        It is important to actively respond to standardization to disseminate R&D results, and as such, relevant organizations including the government will provide effective support while the business world proactively takes on the activities of standardization.
        The government and public research institutions will engage in the activities of standardization by positioning intellectual property strategy as well as standardization strategy clearly in the R&D plan in implementing R&D projects. Moreover, in order to strategically gain global standards produced in Japan, the government will promptly and effectively participate with consistency by exhibiting leadership through producing an international standardization proposal in areas with technical advantage, and further reinforce collaborations between relevant office and ministries, and industry-university-government collaborations for the activities of international standardization organizations such as the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the International Electro technical Commission (IEC) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Furthermore, in striving for international standardization, the government will speed up the deliberations of domestic standards so that they can be utilized strategically as a step towards international standards.
        In addition, the importance of human resources that can accurately respond to the activities of standardization, i. e. , take on the role of international secretary in the activities of international standardization, has increased. As such, the government will reinforce the framework of training standardization experts through improving the training and educational programs including the production of teaching materials on standardization, utilizing the experts of public research institutions, and improving support for participation in the activities of international standardization.
   
   (5)Improving the research information infrastructure
        Research information infrastructure has a quality as a sort of lifeline essential in research activities, and the government will always go ahead of advanced information and telecommunications technology and global trends to particularly improve host computers and high-speed networks.
        In addition, the government will carry out effective and efficient operation of research information infrastructure by promoting the systematic collection, storage and effective transmission of research information such as essential research paper journals in research institutions, and the collaboration and efforts between researchers and research institutions.
        Specifically, as well as achieving a flexible and efficient research information network through the introduction of the latest technologies, and a user-friendly computing environment, the government will reinforce global collaboration. In addition, the government will carry out comprehensive and strategic efforts for foundational software development that reinforce the hardware and their organic coordination including the building of a system that encompass them, and the securing of human resources.
        Moreover, in order to advance the usage environment of research information, the government will improve the integrated search system of bibliographic information and patent information such as articles, enhance the system of collecting and storing research paper journals, and promote function reinforcement and coordination of university and national libraries, while introducing the latest information and telecommunications technologies.
        Furthermore, the government will support digital archiving of research paper journals so that Japan's accumulated research information can be sent out at home and abroad as assets.
        In addition, for the purpose of disclosing the results obtained by researchers in research under public financial support, we expect to be able to peruse research papers published in journals online without charge after a certain period of time.
   
   (6)Promoting the activities of academic societies
   (Role of academic societies)
        Academic societies support Japan's research activities beyond research institutions such as universities, as places for presenting research results, exchanging knowledge, and communicating and coordinating with researchers and academic societies at home and abroad. In order to improve the international position Japan's Science and Technology, there is a need to enhance their functions by promoting reforms through self-help efforts of such academic societies.
        Moreover, academic societies are expected to carry out broad activities such as active communication with society on science and technology, support for children's participation in international Science and Technology competitions, and contribution for ongoing ability development of engineers, while being aware of their social role. As a country, the government will actively provide support sot that such activities can be carried out briskly.
   
   (Enhancing the global competitiveness of academic societies)
        Academic societies in Japan have seen a fall in their information transmission abilities compared to European and American academic societies that outpace capital strength by the rapid globalization of the transmission and distribution of research information through journals by the dissemination of the Internet, and there is concern that the presentation of research results is shifting away from academic societies at home and abroad.
        For this reason, academic societies are expected to carry out infrastructure development for boosting the abilities of collecting, analyzing, transmitting and distributing research information using information and telecommunications, and enhancing information transmission by using active interaction of human resources such as bringing in foreign researchers to revitalize workshops. Furthermore, from the perspective of reinforcing the global competitiveness of research paper journals, academic societies are expected to promote globalization in the editing and referencing of research paper journals, and utilize information telecommunications technologies under their self-help efforts for independence and progress, including the integration with research paper journals of relevant areas. The government will provide competitive and selective support for strengthening their functions by promoting such reforms of academic societies.
   
   (7)Promoting R&D in public research institutions
        The mission of public research institutions is to achieve policy objectives, and they carry out selective R&D focusing on basic and pioneering research that lead to the improvement of Japan's science and technology, and systematic and comprehensive research with specific targets that conform to policy needs. In so doing, they are required to strengthen their functions so that they can effectively disseminate the research results produced, put them to practical use, and pass them on to society by fully exhibiting their potential ability for creating innovation, while reinforcing their ties with universities and the business world.
        Many public research institutions have evolved as independent organizations, but each organization is expected to engage in self-governing and self-active operation and reforms such as to introduce flexible operation of research funds, and fair and highly transparent competitive personnel and payroll systems through their own managerial efforts under the discretion of their director. In addition, from the perspective of improving the functions of organizations, they are encouraged to carry out R&D by obtaining competitive funds. However, it is important first to have the necessary expenses for achieving the organizations' mission to be provided without fail through operating expense subsidies.
        Furthermore, in order to increase competitive funds and promote strategic and selective Science and Technology, the government will take measures so that there will be no immediate budgetary restrictions for competitive fund distributing organizations, and those that are properly involved in strategic and selective science and technology, just for being independent organizations.
        Tsukuba Science City and Kansai Science City will work on R&D collaborations and integration that utilize their advantage of having a concentration of several public research institutions within the city.
   
   
4. Strategically promoting international activities
        From now, Japan needs to not only stay with the perspective of merely globalizing the activities of science and technology, but to implement them strategically. In so doing, the government will make efforts towards achieving the following objectives while using the approaches of competition and harmonization, cooperation and support according to the condition of the counterparts based on sufficient research and analysis of global trends.
   
   • Utilize Japan's science and technology abilities to respond to the solving of international challenges, and the international imperatives and expectations from other countries to raise the trust towards Japan.
   • Contribute to formulating international standards and rules on science and technology through Japan's initiatives.
   • As well as cultivating Japan's researchers as world-class human resources, strengthen Japan's S&T abilities by improving the diversity of research and standards of research through accepting outstanding foreign researchers.
   
   (1)Systematic efforts of international activities
        With regards to the bilateral and multilateral frameworks in the international cooperative activities of Science and Technology, the government will carry out systematic efforts for international activities of science and technology, while keeping in mind the existence of mutual complementarities of Science and Technology activities and common challenges between Japan and our counterparts
        Among those undertakings are:
   (i)Forming of a multilayered network (government, research institutions, academic societies, researchers), (ii) Extracting of common challenges that must be worked on jointly including Japan, and the implementation of R&D and technological development for solving such challenges (iii) Promotion of the creation of a seed bed of new international cooperation. In addition, the government will work on developing human resources that will lead in future international activities.
   
   (2)Cooperating with Asian nations
        As well as continuing to improve the prior international frameworks, and cooperation and collaborations with European nations and the United States of America, the government will strengthen the ties of science and technology with Asian nations to fulfill the role that is expected of Japan from both inside and outside the country, in view of international situations, i. e. , the geographical and environmental accessibility, the rapid improvement of the science and technology standards, and the increasing closeness of economic relations. For this reason, the government will strengthen the collaboration of science and technology. As such, the government will implement a policy dialogue called “Asian Ministerial Meeting on Science and Technology” (tentative name) at a high level including ministers involved in Science and Technology policies with Asian nations, based on the existing government-to-government dialogue and interaction by researchers.
        In parallel with this dialogue, the government will strengthen the science and technology community with Asian nations through network formation and responses for common challenges in the Asian region by promoting interaction with researchers from Asian nations.
   
   (3)Promoting general development for reinforcing international activities, and acceptance of talented foreign researchers
        In order to forcefully promote international activities, the government will strengthen the infrastructure that supports such activities, including the reinforcement of the administrative system that leads the international activities in universities and public research institutions, the effective promotion of overseas base activities of relevant organizations and the promotion of collaborations, and the development of the systems that systematically collect and analyze overseas Science and Technology trends. In addition, in order to improve the international ratings and visibility of Japan's science and technology activities, the government will support the active transmitting of information on research results, researchers and research institutions overseas, mainly for overseas centers, and the forming of the network of officials including those with research experience in Japan. Moreover, the government will continue to develop and improve the Tsukuba Science City and the Kansai Science City as international R&T centers open to all.
        In order to promote the acceptance of foreign researchers and expand their activities, the government will further promote necessary reviews and operational development on the future of immigration control systems and visa issuance. Specifically, the government will proceed with efforts for the extension of period of stay for foreign researchers, the relaxation of restrictions on permission of permanent residence, the relaxation of restrictions on issuance of short term stay via with multiple-exit, and the simplification and acceleration of various procedures, and put forward suggestions on the issuance of APEC business travel cards (ABTC) to researchers at APEC related meetings.