Japanese S&T policy minister visits U.S.

The most apparent innovation in Japan’s science and technology policy is the appointment of a fireball minister with a sense of humor. Iwao Matsuda, Japan’s Minister of State for Science and Technology Policy, explained Japan’s third basic plan for science and technology at a briefing at the American Association for the Advancement of Science headquarters in Washington this morning.

Acknowledging the lessons from the United States, Matsuda said that Japan intends to do more to develop young researchers, give them opportunities to do their own research, and create a competitive research environment. The forces driving changes in Japanese policy are its dependence on imported energy, the aging of its population, and the need to address global problems such as food production and climate change. According to Matsuda, this will require “a quantum jump in discovery and creation,” increased emphasis on sustainable development, and life sciences research focused on lifetime good health.

Japan expects to spend 25 trillion yen (about $208 billion) during the five-year plan from 2006 to 2010. The government will be increasing S&T funding even as the overall budget declines. Top research priorities will be life sciences, information technology, environment, and nanotechnology and materials. Second-tier efforts will focus on energy, manufacturing technology, and social infrastructure to ensure security. When asked about Japanese spending on defense and security, Matsuda said they cannot afford to spend much in that area, so that they plan to maintain their strong friendship with the United States.

Matsuda ended by saying that the government’s goal was to establish the world’s center for S&T creativity in Japan—as well as the United States. In the 1980s many U.S. technology policy analysts looked to Japan for ideas about how government could be an effective catalyst for innovation. Matsuda made it clear that Japan views the United States as its model for S&T policy.