Mary Lou Reker:
Good morning.  My name is Mary Lou Reker, and on behalf of the John W. Kluge Center and the Office of Scholarly Programs of the Library of Congress, I welcome you here today to a talk being given by Dr. Yukio Sato, Executive Director of the Japan Science and Technology Agency.  The Office of Scholarly Programs is delighted to sponsor his talk, along with the Library's Asian Division and its Science, Technology and Business Division.

The John W. Kluge Center sees as its role to attract to Washington the best available minds in the scholarly world, and to facilitate their access not only to our own library's remarkable collections, but also in this beautiful setting, to foster a mutually enriching relationship between scholars and political leaders, which is what we are about here today.  

In an age where power and influence depend increasingly on knowledge, citizens and their leaders and their representatives must rely ever more on their wits and their wisdom, more than their weapons, to sustain human and global progress.  All leaders need to tap the wisdom of mature scholars; scholars in both the humanities and in science, whose judgment and whose objectivity are able to bring fresh perspectives to government and to those who govern.

Dr. William Sittig, the Chief of the Science, Technology and Business Division, and Dr. Hwa-Wei Lee, Chief of the Asian Division, are with us here today, along with Dr. Sato, who is the wise one who we will be hearing from.  Dr. Carolyn Brown, who is Director of the Office of Scholarly Programs unfortunately could not be with us, but I'm sure she would be extending a gracious welcome to you all.

Now I would like to present to you Dr. William Sittig of the Library's Science, Technology and Business Division, which is the Library's principle location for fast-moving research in the areas of science, technology and business, and one of the most active divisions in bringing talks like this and renowned speakers in these fields to you.  Dr. Sittig will introduce Dr. Yukio Sato to you, and concluding remarks will be made today by Dr. Hwa-Wei Lee, Chief of the Asian Division.  Dr. Sittig.

Dr. William Sittig:
Good morning.  Thank you, Ms. Reker, for your introduction.  We're so pleased to be cosponsoring this event today with the Kluge Center and the Library's Asian Division.  We're also very grateful for Ms. Victoria Bestor, the Executive Director for the North American Council for Japanese Library Resources, who has arranged for this morning's event, including the wonderful refreshments and the sound system today.  We're also honored to have many distinguished visitors with us.  

I'd especially like to recognize from the Japanese Embassy Mr. Masami Watanabe, the newly appointed Counsel of Science.  Thank you very much for coming, Mr. Watanabe.  And before we begin, I'd also like to take this opportunity to thank Dr. Tomoko Steen, a science reference specialist on my staff who is standing back there, for all her good work in preparing for today's program, and Mary Lou Reker of the Kluge Center, Dr. Anchi Hoh of the Asian Division, and Michelle Wingfield-Miles [ spelled phonetically ] of Special Events for their assistance with all the arrangements.  Thank you.

It is now my great honor to introduce Dr. Yukio Sato.  Dr. Sato currently serves as Director General and professor at the International Research and Educational Institute for Integrated Medical Sciences at Tokyo Women's Medical University.  He has an impressive educational background, having received bachelor's degrees in physics and mathematics from the University of Tokyo, master's degrees in engineering and economic systems and economics from Stanford University, and his Doctoral degree in engineering economic systems also from Stanford.  

He has enjoyed a distinguished career, serving in numerous positions in Japan, including as Deputy Director General of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, Executive Director of the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute, and Senior Advisor for the Ministry of Planning in Saudi Arabia.  Recently he has served as an officer of two OECD bodies; the Nuclear Energy Agency and the Global Science Forum.  The Japan Science and Technology Agency, JST, for which Dr. Sato was an Executive Director and for which he now acts as an advisor, was established in October 2003, succeeding other organizations whose purpose was the implementation of Japan's science and technology policy.  

JST is an independent administrative institute for the promotion of science and technology in Japan, and has five core activities.  One of these activities is also of great importance to us at the Library of Congress; that is, promoting the dissemination of scientific and technological information.  One of the exciting JST projects I am sure we will hear more about this morning is the new Science Links Japan and the S&T portal site.  It is now my great honor to welcome Dr. Sato, who will tell us about Japan's current policy and JST's current and future activities.  Dr. Sato.

[ applause ]

Dr. Yukio Sato:
Good morning, ladies and gentlemen.  First I'd like to thank you for your very precise and very kind, warm introduction of myself, and also I'd like to thank Mrs. Reker for the opening remarks.  This is a great pleasure for me to be able to talk about science and technology policy in Japan and the JST activities, here in this very beautiful room of the Thomas Jefferson building.  On behalf of the Japan Science and Technology Agency, I'd like to express my sincere gratitude to the Library of Congress and various divisions of the organization for the arrangement of this meeting.  Also, I'd like to express my thanks to Dr. Tomoko Steen for her efforts to prepare for this meeting.

Today I will talk about science and technology policy in Japan and JST activities.  First I'd like to introduce many trends we are facing in Japan, then I will briefly talk about the government structure for science and technology policy formation and implementation.  Then I will talk about, third, a science and technology-based plan that started April this year, followed by just the activities.  

First I will touch upon many trends in Japan we are now facing.  The first one is rapidly moving towards an aging society.  Now, first I will show you this figure.  This is a percentage of the population in Japan, ages 0 to 14 and 15 to 64 and 65 or over.  The percentage of 65 or over has reached 21.2 percent in 2005, and the bracket for 0 to 14 age has become 13.5 percent, very low.  But this figure doesn't show [ unintelligible ] of Japanese future so much, so I'll show you another figure.  In 2005, the written percentages of population ages 65 or over.  And just a few days ago in [ unintelligible ], Italy, France and Germany were top three of World Cup 2006.  

But Japan is above these three countries; not in the World Cup, but the percentage of our population age 65 or older.  So this shows you how serious our society is becoming, aging society.  So the aging population and declining birth rate will aggravate the financial situation of the pension system in Japan, which have been -- worked well for the stabilization of the society.  Therefore, increasing productivity will be necessary to maintain total national capacity with the declining labor force for the future of Japan.

The second trend I'd like to mention is our shift away from a uniform and homogeneous society.  Japan, it has been well known that our society is very uniform or homogeneous, but now we are shifting away from a uniform and homogeneous society.  Japanese society is becoming more competitive as deregulation and privatization proceeds.  Sale of medicine at convenience stores and entering into agriculture by private companies are examples of deregulation.  Also, arguments over expanding indifferences such as the income gap have intensified in mass media.  

The third trend I want to cite is a growing concern over safety and security.  More people are concerned about emerging threats such as terrorist attacks and unknown infectious diseases, including global environmental problems.  In the past, visitors of Japan from foreign countries often said how safe Japan is, but now the situation has been changed.  The arrest rate in Japan has dropped 37.8 percent in fiscal year 2004 from 50.6 percent in fiscal year 1999.  Japanese fiscal year starts April 1 and ends March 31 the next year.  I didn't write here fourth trend in Japan, but I have to say that I have to mention one more trend.  In Japan we have experienced, until recently, a prolonged economic stagnation.  The Japanese government is still facing a very severe financial situation.  

Now I'll move on to our government structure for science and technology policy.  We have had a very remarkable change in the frame of scientific and technology policy during the past 10 years.  In 1995 the Science and Technology Basic Law was enacted, but now we are here in the Library of Congress, so maybe it is better to talk a little bit about the background, enactment of this law.  In 1993, Liberal Democratic Party lost power and got out of office.  And at that time Liberal Democratic Party wanted to regain power so that they wanted to have bills in various policy sectors, including science and technology.  At that time -- oh, before that I was writing to Professor Omi, Sako Omi [ spelled phonetically ].  And her father is still a member of the House of Representatives.  

At that time Mr. Omi was responsible for science and technology at the Liberal Democratic Party, and he made a strenuous effort to get science and technology to be promoted.  So I think it's in 1993 or 1994 he proposed to have a bill for the Science and Technology Basic Law.  But in 1994 the Liberal Democratic Party regained power to [ unintelligible ] party, and in 1995 the bill was passed by Congress unanimously.  Usually in Japan bills are proposed or submitted to the Diet by government, but at that time this bill for the Science and Technology Basic Law was submitted by members of Congress, by parties and groups.  That center was Mr. Omi.  Mr. Omi later became Minister for Science and Technology Policy, and still he has been very active in promoting science and technology and implementing for promoting science and technology policy, not only in Japan but also in the world.  

Now Mr. Omi is promoting a very distinguished, very excellent international meeting called Science and Technology in Society.  Every year in Kyoto we are having that meeting, and where distinguished people from all over the world get together in Kyoto.  So, anyway, during the past 10 years the Science and Technology Agency policies are intensified, and we have had a lot of changing science and technology policy.  So, the Science and Technology Basic Law was enacted in 1995.  And there are a lot of clauses and articles in the Basic Law, but among them there is a stipulation that government should formulate a Science and Technology Basic Plan.  And according to that provision, government had their first Science and Technology Basic Plan covering 1996 to 2000.  

In 2001 the second Science and Technology Basic Plan was formulated, but also in 2001 government reformed the national administrative structure so that our framework for science and technology administration was also restructured.  Through that reform the Council of Science and Technology Policy was reformulated, and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology was formed by combining the Ministry of Education and the Science and Technology Agency.  From 2001 through 2005, various national research teams became independent administrative institutes, and semi-governed organizations in science and technology development all have been also transformed into independent administrative institutes.  

Another important event took place in 2004; that is, National University became National University Corporation.  So, National University is not any more a real government structure.  Now National University has more freedom in management.  And this year, April, the third Science and Technology Basic Plan started.  So, the whole scheme of the structure of science and technology policies is shown here.  Council for Science and Technology Policy, CSTP, is responsible for formation of a comprehensive strategy, policy for resource allocation, including budget and human resources, and CSTP is in charge of the evaluation of national [ unintelligible ] projects.  The Council for Science and Technology Policy is chaired by the Prime Minister, and members of CSTP are some Cabinet ministers as well as people from the private sector.  These members from private sectors are experts who are leading fields at universities or head of corporations.  There are eight members from private sectors and seven from Cabinet members.  

And the science and technology-related budget is shown here.  In fiscal year 2006, amount of budget is $3.573 [ unintelligible ] Yen.  In U.S. dollars it's about $32.5 billion.  Out of this budget, MEST has about two-thirds; 64 percent of the budget goes to the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology.  And the second is METI, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.  So the structure shows this.  And the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, MECSST, is in charge of the formulation and promotion of a concrete plan for research and development, and also coordination of relative ministries.  

Our Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communication, or the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and other ministries are also in charge of research and development in their jurisdiction.  And they have also independent administrative institutions under these ministries.  So, coordination in the corporations is very important, and overall coordination will be done by the Council for Science and Technology Policy, as I just described.  MECSST has 64 percent of the total science and technology-related budget.  This shows the breakdown of MECSST's science and technology-related budget; 53 percent, more than half, goes to the National University corporations, and about 30 percent goes to the independent administrative institutions, and some other go to another category of science and technology activities.

Now I'll talk about the Science and Technology Basic Plan.  As I said before, Science and Technology Basic Law urges government to formulate the science and technology basic plan.  The first Basic Plan, which covers fiscal year 1996 to 2000, there are two key points in the first Basic Plan.  The first point is an increase in government [ unintelligible ].  The total budget for government [ unintelligible ] expenditure was targeted [ unintelligible ] Yen.  And actually, this [ unintelligible ] Yen target was realized.  The second key point is the construction of a new [ unintelligible ] system, including increasing competitive research funds, support plan for 10,000 post-Doctoral Fellows, and the promotion of an industry, academic and government collaboration, implementation of an evaluation system.   

And the second Basic Plan, which covered fiscal year 2001 to 2005 emphasized three basic ideas; the first is creation of wisdom.  Maybe this is not easy to understand, but the meaning is to build a nation contributing to the world by creation and the utilization of scientific knowledge.  The second one, here, is to [ unintelligible ] wisdom.  This is also hard to understand, I think, but the meaning is we will establish a nation with international competitiveness, and the ability for sustainable development.  And the third one is a sophisticated society by wisdom.  This is also a difficult thing to understand, but the meaning is Japan will become a nation securing safety and the quality of life.  The key point in the second Basic Plan is a strategic point priority setting in science and technology.  Strategic priority is the promotion of basic research, and the prioritization of research and development of the national social subject.  

Especially for the national social subject, four priority areas are set: life sciences, information and communication technology, environmental sciences and nanotechnology and material science.  Also as key policies, science and technology system reforms are also set.  Here a doubling of competitive research funds is recommended, as well as the enhancement of the industry, academy and government collaboration.  The total budget for the period of the second Basic Plan is set [ unintelligible ] Yen.  

For the formation of a third Basic Plan, which has started this year, there are a lot of reviews and analyses of the past 10 years.  So a lot of analysis has been done for formation of the third plan.  For example, the National Institute of Science and Technology Policy asked 50 distinguished people all over the world how they judge the status of science and technology during the past 10 years.  Also, there are a lot of statistical figures they got, and based on these analyses and reviews our third Basic Plan was formulated.  

So, what has happened?  What was achieved during the past five or 10 years?   I'll show some figures or tables.  This shows the increase of budget during the past 10 years.  The first blue bar shows the initial budget for each year.  But during the first Basic Plan period we had a very severe economic situation, so government decided to have a supplemental budget or additional budget, so science and technology had more budget during the year.  For example, in 1998 we had a lot of supplemental, additional budget.  So that made our target, 17 [ unintelligible ] Yen, realized.

I have to emphasize that the situation during this period following, the government is suffering from severe deficit.  But the budget for science and technology has been much bigger than any other major sector of government activities.  Also, as I pointed out, during the past 10 years competitive research funds are promoted, and the amount of the competitive funds greatly increased during the past 10 years.  I didn't show here the figure of 1995, but the figure of 1995 was about 123 or so.  So, from the budget in 1995 to budget 2000, our competitive fund grew 2.5 times the amount during that time -- I mean, 2.4 times the amount in fiscal 1995 and the budget for 2004.  In fiscal 2005, which was the final year of the second Basic Plan period, the amount was 467.2 billion Yen, and it is 1.6 times the amount in fiscal 2000.  

So, during the past 10 years our competitive research fund in Japan increased a lot, but still the percentage is not so big.  And also, during this period our budget for priority areas increased.  Life science, information and telecommunication technology, environmental science, nanotechnology and material science; these four are priority areas in which the government is providing more money than other fields.  And energy production, technology, society infrastructure [ unintelligible ]; these are areas for promotion.  Out of these eight areas, the budget for four priority areas was 38 percent in 2001, but it became 46 percent in fiscal year 2005.

Also, the first and second Basic Plan urged various sections of the academy, industry to promote industry, academic research collaboration.  And in fiscal 1995 the number of industry, academic research collaboration in Japan was 1,700, but in fiscal year 2004 the number became 9,000; big increase.  And also, this figure shows how venture companies from universities arose.  In 1995, only 98, but in the year 2004 more than 1,000; big increase.  So, based on this analysis of the facts and the review, the third Basic Plan was formulated.  

The third Basic Plan consists of five chapters; Chapter 1, fundamental concepts, Chapter 2 dealing with strategic priority setting in [ unintelligible ] technology, and Chapter 3, dealing with science and technology system reforms.  Chapter 4 is about public confidence on the engagement, and Chapter 5 talks about the mission of the CSTP.  

In Chapter 1, plans set basic stance.  First one is science and technology should be supported by the public, and also should in turn benefit society.  The second stance is to emphasize [ unintelligible ] competitive research environment.  Also, Chapter 1 deals with the setting of policy goals.  Science and technology's contribution to society [ skip in audio ] citizens should be made clear through integration of six priority goals.  Six priority goals [ skip in audio ] set are following the three ideas I mentioned before.  

First goal is [ unintelligible ] discovery in the creation to ensure a bright future.  Second goal is breakthroughs in advanced science and technology; [ skip in audio ] human dreams to become true.  Third goal is economic growth and environmental protection to maintain sustainable development, and the fourth, to realize and maintain strength in economy and industry.  Innovation in Japan is very important.  The fifth, the nation's good health over a lifetime; to make the Japanese nation -- secure the safety and quality of life.  The sixth goal is the world's safest nation Japan should aim to.

Chapter 2, dealing with strategic priority setting in science and technology.  Strategic priority makes the government [ unintelligible ] investment more efficient and effective, and to promote basic research so that Japan will create R&D [ unintelligible ] to breakthroughs.  And [ unintelligible ] resources should be allocated intensively to the primary priority areas; life science and so on, as I said before.  Administration and concentration principles must be thoroughly enforced for R&D in the secondary prioritized areas.  These are four areas of secondary priority areas.

Chapter 3 deals with science and technology system reform, which has been engaged since the first Basic Plan, encouraging young researchers, providing more opportunity to conduct research as an independent principle investigator, and increase grants for young researchers.  Our other system before [ unintelligible ] here is fund opportunities for female researchers, set a target of 25 percent; you implement this, share with female researchers and attract foreign researchers to work in Japan, opportunities for excellent senior researchers to make the research environment more competitive, and so on.  

Chapter 3 also deals with science and technology system reforms, in terms of research, so that system [ unintelligible ] science and technology [ unintelligible ].  Further reform of university system for stronger competitiveness, and enhancement of industry, academia, government collaboration; activation of regional science and technology, mainly conducted by a local university, and so on are listed in this, Chapter 3.

Chapter 4 deals with public confidence and engagement; responsive measures to be taken to resolve ethical, legal or social problems caused by science and technology.  The government and research communities will draw up a set of rules that should be observed by science and technology researchers, and encourage them to conduct research and development activities in compliance with those rules.  Accountability relating to science and technology and improvement of information provision.  The Council for Science and Technology Policy would follow up with the progress which each of the ministries and agency makes for accomplishment of the goals, as well as provides society and the public with relevant information.  So, the role of the Council for Science and Technology would be increased.  

Chapter 5 talks about the mission of CSTP.  [ Unintelligible ] Basic Plan, CSTP [ unintelligible ] science and technology promotion beyond the bureaucratic section [ unintelligible ].  Based on detailed understanding of the science and technology activities performed in independent administrative institutes and national universities, CSTP should request the related ministries to take adequate measures.  So the third Basic Plan, as well as the first and second Basic Plan will be implemented by various ministries and research institutes and universities.  One other implementing institute for science and technology, Japan's Science and Technology Agency, is doing a lot of activities, so now, adapting to this is the activities of the Japan Science and Technology Agency.  

Before going into the details of the activities of the Japan Science and Technology Agency, I would like to briefly touch upon the history of the Japan Science and Technology Agency.  The Japan Science and Technology Agency was constructed by combining two [ unintelligible ] organizations related to science and technology.  One is the Japan Information Center of Science and Technology, abbreviated by JICST, and the Research and Development Corporation of Japan, JRDC.  These two institutes were founded in 1957 and in 1961; so, more than 40 years ago.  About 10 years ago these two organizations together became the Japan Science and Technology Corporation.  In 2003 the Japan Science and Technology Corporation became an independent administrative institute, so the name changed to the Japan Science and Technology Agency.  

The organization chart of JST is shown here.  So, from the name of the department you can see the activities of JST.  And also we have some research institutes; for example, the Research Institute of Science and Technology, RISTEC, for the research of science and technology related to social problem solving.  Other [ unintelligible ], Center for Research and Development Strategies, CRDS.  

So, what happened?  What kind of change has happened since JST became an independent administrative institution?  Well, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports and Science and Technology, MECSST, set midterm objectives for JST.  And JST compiled a plan in order to attain the objectives.  The yearly action plan is made by JST.  The [ unintelligible ] of JST activities is required every year, and the end of midterm evaluation has to be done.  The results of [ unintelligible ] reflected in next year's budget, and a new midterm objective by the next.  And since JST became an independent administrative institution, the autonomy of JST has been increased.  

This shows a budget profile of JST.  More than half of the JST budget goes to activities for creation of advanced technology.  This is basic research, but mission-oriented basic research.  And then the promotion of business using advanced technology, about 15 or 13 percent or so, and promotion and dissemination based on the information, and so on.  The budget of JST has been increased in general during the past 10 years.  

The mission of JST has two [ unintelligible ].  First one is the promotion of research and development from basic research to commercialization, with a particular emphasis on the creation of new technology [ skip in audio ].  So this is just funding agents like NSF, National Science Foundation.  But JST is not only a funding agency, but also an agency for implementing science and technology policies.  So, upgrading infrastructure for the promotion of science and technology, including dissemination of scientific and technological information is our mission of JST.  So, for this, JST acts as an implementing agency.  So JST is a funding agency, and also implements projects by itself.  

There are a lot of activities going on in JST, and these activities can be categorized into five pillars.  The first one is the creation of advanced technology; the second one is the promotion of business using advanced technologies.  This two categories are like funding agency functions.  The third one is the promotion and dissemination of scientific and technology information.  This clearly is an implementing function; promotion of research and exchange, and research support.  In this category, JST acts as a funding agency as well as an implementing agency.  The fifth category is promotion and understanding [ skip in audio ] technology by the public.  And JST acts as an implementing agency.  So, basic research for promoting integration.  For this next designated strategic sector for R&D [ unintelligible ].  For example, in fiscal year 2006, MECSST set strategic sectors, written here.  

For example, [ skip in audio ] established fundamental technology, or creation of next generation basic technology, achieving a high security, high [ unintelligible ] and high performance for embedded systems, and so.  JST set concrete research years responding to the strategic sectors set by MECSST.  JST established the research and development concept for the proposals of experienced researchers, and chooses the most appropriate researchers based on the accounts.  And JST allocates competitive funds to maximize the efficiency of the R&D activities.  This shows the scheme of JST basic research programs.  Some of you know about [ unintelligible ] type, because more than 10 years ago American mission to [ unintelligible ] Japanese R&D system reported that [ unintelligible ] system was very excellent in promoting science and technology, so some of you have heard that.  Now the [ unintelligible ] system is part of these basic research programs.  

Here there are three different kinds of scheme.  The left-hand side is a type of individual research.  The center is a team research type.  The first and second scheme is research oriented, based on the proposal, but the third one is a research director oriented scheme.  That means for the first two we ask a proposal of research; one is individual research, the other is team research, but the third scheme is we choose a research director who is excellent in promoting some strategic program.  And that research director will collect research he likes or she likes, the research director, or recruit by himself to have a research group.  

So, these three schemes are now underway for the JST basic research program.  In this category, JST acted, responded to the Science and Technology Basic Plan.  In the second Science and Technology Basic Plan, strategic priority setting was urged, and also doubling of competitive research funds are urged.  In order to respond to these Basic Plans, JST established the Center for Research and Development Strategy in July 2003, as a think tank inside JST.  This Center for Research and Development Strategy is to design effective R&D strategies and recommend them to the government, as well as to serve for priority setting inside JST.  Also, JST developed a peer review system to correspond to the doubling of competitive research funds, and the JST budget for competitive research has been increased.  

So, now I move to the second [ unintelligible ] activity; that is promotion of business using advanced technology.  Promotion of business using advanced technology is very important.  The first Basic Plan stipulated the importance of the promotion of industry, academy and government collaboration.  In Japan, the Japanese version of the [ unintelligible ] Act, the Industrial Revitalization Law was enacted in 1999.  So, JST changed position so that technology transfer support would be intensified.  JST dispatched patent [ unintelligible ] and promoted information exchange by database and the launch of the industry, academy and government portal site and so on.  So, changing technology transfer circumstances in Japan forced the activities of JST, in this category, to change and shift to more enhancement of industry, university collaboration, and the promotion of technology transfer.  

The third category of activity is the promotion and dissemination of science and technology information.  Probably most of you know very well about these activities.  JST builds and maintains a biographic and factual database to construct the Foundation of Science and Technology activities.  JST makes and disseminates database resources on researchers, research institutes and research [ unintelligible ].  And JST aids the digitization and the publication [ unintelligible ] Japanese academic societies.  Now JST is the major science and technology information dissemination center of Japan, having a lot of good databases.  JST has added a lot of activities corresponding -- based also in this category.  I didn't go into the detail, because you know probably better than I do.  

Here I have to mention just the Science Links Japan homepage.  [ Skip in audio ] to Mr. [ unintelligible ], President of the Japan Science and Technology Agency, asked me or recommended me to talk about Science Links Japan here in Library of Congress.  So, without mentioning the Science Links Japan homepage, I would not be able to go back to Japan.  So I have to explain this Science Links Japan homepage.  Science Links Japan started June this year; just last month Science Links started.  Science Links Japan is a topically arranged directory of online information resources for science and technology in Japan.  The Web site aims to provide easy access to Japan's science and technology information for known Japanese researchers, policymakers and many others who need Japan's science and technology information.  Access from overseas is totally free of charge, so this would be very good for you.  

Maybe I will talk a little bit about Science Links Japan; 550 URLs compiled with a focus on URL resources available in image.  URLs come from the government, universities, R&D institutes and STI institutes.  Major topics such as databases, portal sites, priority areas under the Science and Technology Basic Plan, white papers and science and technology statistics are available.  Also English descriptions for URL in Japanese, so even if you cannot reach the URL in Japanese, you get your rough information there.  This shows an overview of science and technology information [ unintelligible ] database, but I won't go into the detail.  Also I tried to briefly touch upon the JST science portal site in Japanese.  Sorry to say that an English version is not yet available, but soon the English version will be launched.  This is a one-stop site of all the science and technology information [ skip in audio ] in the world.  

The fourth category of our activities of research exchange and research support; for domestic activity we are conducting joint research in regions of Japan for the creation of new technology, but more important is international activities.  We are conducting strategic international cooperation based on the policy of government, so in this program we are supporting joint research based on governmental agreements.  As of May 2006, 51 projects are going on.  With the United States, we have nine joint projects.  For example, we started "Science and Technology for a Secure and a Safe Society" under the Japan-U.S. government cooperation, matching funds with NSF, National Science Foundation.  We have international [ unintelligible ] with the National Science Foundation as well as the Department of Home Security.  So, this program I hope will be increased.

The final category of our activities is the promotion and understanding of science and technology by the public.  Promotion and understanding of science and technology by the public is very important because science and technology cannot be promoted without the support of people in general.  And also, the results of science and technology should be returned to people in general, and to daily life.  So we are doing a lot of activities in this category.  Because of the integration of two ministries in charge of education and in charge of science and technology, JST has shifted its weight from social education to more school education, based on the Basic Plan and reorganization of the government's administrative structure.  There are notable activities, but I'd like to talk about two or three individual activities.  

One I want to mention is the Super Science High School.  JST supports the activities of the Super Science High School designated by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology.  In SSH, Super Science High School, innovative science and technology teaching curricula emphasizes science and math education, such as experiments in cutting edge science technology, collaboration with universities and research institutes are carried out.  The second program I want to touch is the science channel.  JST produces and broadcasts a variety of video programs on science and technology, ranging from very familiar topics to current cutting edge subjects.  That can be disseminated science and technology [ unintelligible ] in an understandable and enjoyable manner.  

Also, we have a program for administration training of science [ unintelligible ].  Finally, I'd like to show you the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation.  JST is running this museum.  Director General of this museum is the Japanese first astronaut, Dr. Mori [ spelled phonetically ].  Probably you have heard his name.  Here in the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation a lot of special activities are going on.  If you have a chance to come to Japan, it's worth visiting; I hope it is worth visiting there.  It's in Tokyo, so you can easily go there.  

Time is running out, I think, so it may be better to conclude my presentation here.  The third Science and Technology Basic Plan was formulated based on thorough review and analysis of the status of Japanese science and technology in the world.  The third Science and Technology Basic Plan is characterized by an emphasis placed on prioritization in the priority areas, and on the return of science and technology to society.  

The first Basic Plan is characterized by the increase of the budget available for science and technology.  The second science and technology is characterized by setting priority areas as the reform of the science and technology system.  The third one is characterized by relation with the public, as well as innovation.  I didn't mention the word innovation.  A little bit I mentioned, but in the third Basic Plan, if you read, the word innovation often appears; maybe 30 or 40 times.  So you can see how important innovation is in Japan; will be important for the future of Japan.  

With respect to research and development activities, the third Science and Technology Basic Plan will create a more competitive situation, which has been promoted since the enactment of the Science and Technology Basic Law.  As I said at the beginning, Japan will become a more competitive society.  I do not know if that will be good or not, but the real [ skip in audio ] is there, I think.  Other major organizations for implementing science and technology policies set by the Science and Technology Basic Plan, the role and activities of the Japan Science and Technology Agency have been expanded, and the JST has structure flexibility, and can respond to policy changes due to the changes in the needs of society.  

So as I explained, changes have occurred from the first Basic Plan to the third Basic Plan, but JST's activities have been expanding, corresponding to the changes set by the Science and Technology Basic Plan.  So organization, the structure of the organization of JST is very flexible, and the role of JST has been very increased, and will increase, I hope.
Thank you very much for your attention.

[ applause ]

Dr. Hwa-Wei Lee:
We are very grateful to the Japan Science and Technology Agency for making these databases available to us and to all the researchers throughout the world.  Again, I want to thank Dr. Sato for your excellent presentation.  We are honored to have you here.  Thank you very much, as well, for your participation of this program.

[ applause ]

[  end of transcript  ]