The 91st session of the Council for Science and Technology Policy (CSTP) was held at the Prime Minister's Office on July 16, 2010.

At this session, the CSTP decided to adopt the Policy for the Allocation of Resources, Including the Science and Technology Budget for Fiscal 2011, and it also held an exchange of opinions on how to implement the Action Plan for the Implementation of Important Science and Technology Policy Measures after hearing a report on the plan.

In addition, the CSTP discussed after a presentation on the status of deliberations on the 4th Science and Technology Basic Plan. Moreover, it decided to adopt the Assessment of Key National R&D Programs, the contents of which were reported to the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. Lastly, the CSTP decided to adopt the Themes and Fund Allocation Amounts Related to the Accelerating and Strengthening of World-Leading Innovative R&D Programs. Its views on this matter will be conveyed to the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.

The CSTP will also convey its views on the policy for the allocation of resources to the relevant ministers. The science and technology budget will be formulated in accordance with this policy and the action plan.

Prime Minister Kan commented, “As fiscal 2011 is the first year of implementation of the New Growth Strategy, we must pursue the approach of selection and concentration in the budget request process more thoroughly than ever so that we can implement the New Growth Strategy. In addition, as this will be the first budget to be formulated from scratch since the change of government last year, it will be a true test of that change. To implement the New Growth Strategy, it is essential that we vigorously promote science and technology, which are the pillars of this strategy. The action plan, on which we have heard a report today, will be the first step toward reforming the budget formulation process that is intended to ensure the implementation of the New Growth Strategy. During the budget request process, which will start in earnest from now on, it is important for the Council for Science and Technology Policy to eliminate duplication of policy measures by exercising its function as the headquarters for science and technology policy. I hope that through the reform, the CSTP will promote the prioritization and rationalization of the science and technology budget, and exercise its headquarters function so that budget funds will be allocated to areas in which they can really be used effectively. I would like to ask the relevant ministries and agencies to do their best toward the formulation of a high-quality budget based on the action plan that was adopted at this session.”