During the meeting, discussions took place on the science and technology-related budget for fiscal year 2007, including strategic prioritization by means of selection and concentration for budget formulation, work toward improved science and technology-related budgets, and so on. It was decided to proceed with formulation of the science and technology-related budget for fiscal year 2007, and the Council's views were presented to the Prime Minister and the ministers concerned.
Discussion also touched on the building of world-leading centers for science and technology. Suggestions presented by the executive members of the Council were considered, and it was decided to examine the situation in further depth with a view to building open centers where the leading 'brains' from around the world can gather.
In concluding the meeting, Prime Minister Abe summarized the discussion as follows: "In order to build such centers, no doubt comprehensive improvement for research will be important. I want to concentrate steadily on the work of building an environment that will attract more and more top-flight talent from overseas. It is also quite clear that budgets for the science and technology sectors and the innovation sector really do represent investments in tomorrow. We must, therefore, keep a good balance between these as we put together a science and technology budget that we can be proud of. We definitely must put our energy into these sectors."