Science and Innovation Policy of the Japanese Government

Occupation: Head of the Japanese Economy and Politics Group, Center for Asia-Pacific Studies
Affiliation: Primakov Institute of World Economy and Eastern Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Address: Russian Federation, 23, Profsoyuznaya Str., Moscow, 117997

Journal name

Problemy Dalnego Vostoka

Edition

Issue 2

Pages

34-48

Abstract

Japan has developed institutional infrastructure designed to exercise government support for research activities, including those in the private sector. This infrastructure includes government agencies which formulate and implement science and technology policy; a system of official plans and programs to support and fund research, as well as legal entities set up by the government to control the use of funds allocated for this purpose.

Government infrastructure facilitating research is supplemented by research and analysis units of private companies, which account for more than 80% of total R&D expenditures. A significant role in organizing R&D belongs to universities, including associated research centers and institutes.

Legal framework for science and technology policy is provided by the Law on Science, Technology and Innovation. Goals and actual tasks of this policy are formulated in five-year "basic plans", while government’s vision of it is specified in regularly updated official “innovation strategy”. Supra-ministerial "cross-cutting" programs to support most promising research and innovation are used as a tool of science and technology policy and a part of its institutional infrastructure. Another new policy tool, apart from traditional government funding of scientific and educational institutions, is the formation of a favorable research environment by eliminating intersectoral and interdepartmental barriers to information flows, setting up national databases and digital platforms for researchers.

General philosophy and main task of science and technology policy have been shifting from universal support for research with regard for official priorities, to targeted search and funding of projects promising maximum contribution to attaining long-term economic and social goals. Fostering research and innovation is increasingly seen as a key link in implementing national development strategy and economic and social policy related to it. At the same time, support is not linked to specific industries but targeted on fostering “ability to conduct research that push the boundaries of knowledge and create new value” in the form of new products and markets. The main problem for institutions stimulating research and innovation is the lack of reliable objective criteria and methods of assessing effectiveness of financial and organizational support and the quality of environment created for these activities.

Keywords

Japan, development strategy, science and technology policy, support for research and innovation, institutional and information environment

Received

09.02.2022

Publication date

19.04.2022

Number of characters

40733

Cite

GOST	Shvydko V. Science and Innovation Policy of the Japanese Government // Problemy Dalnego Vostoka – 2022. – Issue 2 C. 34-48 [Electronic resource]. URL: https://pdv.jes.su/S013128120019303-4-1 (circulation date: 24.03.2025). DOI: 10.31857/S013128120019303-4
MLA	Shvydko, Vitaly G "Science and Innovation Policy of the Japanese Government." Problemy Dalnego Vostoka 2 (2022):34-48. DOI: 10.31857/S013128120019303-4
APA	Shvydko V. (2022). Science and Innovation Policy of the Japanese Government. Problemy Dalnego Vostoka (2), pp.34-48 DOI: 10.31857/S013128120019303-4

100 rub.

When subscribing to an article or issue, the user can download PDF, evaluate the publication or contact the author. Need to register.

Number of purchasers: 0, views: 1014

Readers community rating: votes 0

1. Pronichkin S.V. Podderzhka nauki v YAponii: organizacionnye formy i finansovye mekhanizmy (The Support of Science in Japan: Organizational Forms and Financial Mechanisms). Vestnik MGIMO-Universiteta. 2016. No. 5 (50). Pp. 115 —127. DOI: 10.24833/2071–8160–2016–5–50–115–127 (In Russ.)

2. Shvydko V. G. Izmeneniya v sisteme gosudarstvennoj podderzhki nauki i innovacij v YAponii (Changes in the System of Government Support for Science and Innovation in Japan). Mezhdunarodnyj nauchno-issledovatel'skij zhurnal. 2015. No. 9 (40). Part 1. Pp. 76 —79. (In Russ.)

3. Jibu M. and Osabe Y. Japan. In: the race against time for smarter development. Paris, UNESCO Publishing, 2021. ISBN: 978–92–3–100450–6. Pp. 641–661. URL: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000377433 (accessed: 14.01.2022).

4. Sato Y., Arimoto T. Japan. In: UNESCO Science Report: towards 2030. Paris, UNESCO Publishing, 2015. ISBN: 978–92–3–100129–1. Pp. 642–659. URL: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000235406 (accessed: 14.01.2022).

5. AI戦略2019 (Artificial Intelligence (Development) Strategy 2019). URL: https://www.kantei.go.jp/jp/singi/ai_senryaku/pdf/aistratagy2019.pdf (accessed: 14.11.2021).

6. 科学技術イノベーション基本法(Basic Law on Science, Technology and Innovation). URL: https://elaws.e-gov.go.jp/document?lawid=407AC1000000130_20210401_502AC0000000063 (accessed: 14.11.2021).

7. 2020年 (令和2年) 科学技術研究調査結果 (Findings of the 2020 Survey of Science and Technology Research). URL: https://www.stat.go.jp/data/kagaku/kekka/kekkagai/pdf/2020ke_gai.pdf (accessed: 14.11.2021).

8. 統合イノベーション戦略 2021(General Strategy for Innovation 2021). 令和３年６月 1 8 日閣議決定. URL: https://www8.cao.go.jp/cstp/tougosenryaku/togo2021_honbun.pdf (accessed: 14.01.2022).

9. 科学技術要覧　令和元年版 (Indicators of Science and Technology 2020). URL: https://www.mext.go.jp/b_menu/toukei/006/006b/1413901_00003.htm (accessed: 14.11.2021).

10. ムーンショット型研究開発制度に係る戦略推進会議の進め方等について (On the activities of the Council to promote the implementation of the "Integrated Innovation Strategy" on the organization of the "Moonshot" research and development support system) 発行：内閣府政策統括官（科学技術・イノベーション担当）未来革新研究推進担当/令和２年１２月２５日. URL: https://www8.cao.go.jp/cstp/moonshot/senryakusuishin/3rd/paper1.pdf (Accessed 14.11.2021).

11. 革新的研究開発推進プログラム（ImPACT）終了時評価報告書 (Report on Implementation Results of the Program to Promote Disruptive R&D (ImPACT)) 発行：総合科学技術・イノベーション会議/令和２年１月２３日. URL: https://www8.cao.go.jp/cstp/sentan/hyokahokoku.pdf (accessed: 14.11.2021).

12. SIP（戦略的イノベーション創造プログラム）2020～日本発の科学技術イノベーションが未来を拓く (SIP (Program for Creating Strategic Innovation) 2020: Science and Technology Innovations in Japan Open the Future) 発行：内閣府政策統括官(科学技術•イノベーション担当）/令和2年9月. URL: https://www8.cao.go.jp/cstp/panhu/sip2n020/sip2020.html (accessed: 14.11.2021).

13. 第６期科学技術・イノベーション基本計画（令和３年３月26日閣議決定）(Sixth Basic Plan for the Development of Science, Technology and Innovation). URL: https://www8.cao.go.jp/cstp/kihonkeikaku/6honbun.pdf Р.64 (accessed: 14.11.2021).