NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
TOKYO REGIONAL OFFICE
November 18, 2002
The National Science Foundation's Tokyo Regional Office periodically reports on developments in Japan that are related to the Foundation's mission. It also provides occasional reports on developments in other East Asian countries.
Tokyo Office Report Memoranda are intended to provide information for the use of NSF program officers and policy makers; they are not statements of NSF policy.
Report Memorandum #02-10
Requested Projects Rank-ordered by CSTP
The following report was prepared by Kazuko Shinohara of the National Science Foundation's Tokyo Regional Office. Ms. Shinohara may be reached at kshinoha@nsf.gov
The Council for the Science and Technology Policy (CSTP) has completed its ranking of the requested S&T-related projects requested for JFY 2003. Projects (311 total) were categorically ranked as follows:
S: 90 projects (20% of the total requested projects): Very important research projects which should be strongly encouraged to be promoted
A: 129 projects (41% of the total requested projects): Important research projects which should be implemented
B: 65 projects (21% of the total requested projects): Projects that have weaknesses to be addressed before being implemented effectively and efficiently
C: 27 projects (9% of the total requested projects): Those projects whose research content, plan, and promotion methods must be revised.
The rank-orders were made based on the "Guidelines for Science and Technology-related Resource Allocation for JFY 2003, including budgets and personnel (the contents are described below)" compiled by CSTP in June 2002.
Examples of the S-ranked projects in each area are shown below:
Acronyms:
MEXT: Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
METI: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
MAFF: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries
1. Basic Science
Research on Neutrinos (MEXT); COE Program in the 21st Century (MEXT)
2. Life Science
Tailor-made Medicines (MEXT, Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare); Food
Safety (MAFF)
3. Information Technology
EUV (extreme ultra violet) Light Exposure System (MEXT, METI); Quantum Computer
Technologies (Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and
Telecommunications)
4. Environment
Global Warming (MAFF, METI, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport,
Ministry of Environment); Establishment of Recycle-oriented Society (MEXT, MAFF,
Ministry of Environment)
5. Nanotechnology/Materials
Micro-reactor (METI); Measurement/Analysis/Evaluation Equipment (MEXT)
6. Other areas:
Basic Science: Fuel cell/Hydrogen fuel (Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications, MEXT, METI)
Manufacturing Technology: Technology Development on Metal Molds (METI)
Social Infrastructure: Real-time Disaster Prevention Support System, including Earthquake Information (Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications, MEXT, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport)
Frontier: Quasi-zenith Satellite System (Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications, MEXT, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport)
7. Reform of S&T System:
Competitive Research Funds: Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (MEXT); Interdisciplinary Research for Creating Biology-related Industries (MAFF); Industrial Technology Research (METI); Comprehensive Project for Promoting Global Environmental Research (Ministry of Environment)
Industry-University-Government Collaboration: Establishment of Intellectual Property Management Offices at Universities (MEXT); R&D on Creating University-oriented Venture Companies (METI)
The ranking was made based on the following:
1. S&T Minister's and the CSTP members' hearings at ministries/agencies
2. Consideration of specific points:
- Review of detailed individual projects, rather than review of programs.
- For those themes which cross-cut ministries/agencies, the role of each ministry/agency was clarified and cooperation among ministries/agencies was encouraged.
- The projects that contribute to the re-vitalization of economy were reviewed in the context of economic effect, promotion system and participation by the industry sector.
Along with the ranking, CSTP specified the problems with each project as well as how to solve them. CSTP will monitor the ranking results so that they will be reflected in the budgets to be finalized at the end of December 2002 by the Ministry of Finance.
**********
Guidelines for S&T Resource Allocation, including Budget
and Personnel - JFY2003
- Contents only -
Strategically important points:
1.Promotion of basic research
2. Important areas
Life Science
Information Technology
Environment
Nanotechnology/materials
Other areas
Energy
Manufacturing technology
Social infrastructure
Frontier (space, ocean)
Strengthening the promotion of Interdisciplinary areas
3. Fostering and securing of S&T-related personnel
Measures in interdisciplinary areas
Measures for industrialization and internationalization
Fostering/securing of technicians and (other) support staff
Promotion of R&D Projects to Vitalize the Economy
1. Identification of themes for project development
2. Clear statement of project conditions (for example,
industry-government-university collaboration or coordination among ministries
and agencies)
3. Promotion system for recruitment of new projects
Reform of S&T System
1. Reform and expansion of competitive funding
2. Improvement of university facilities
3. Industry-university-government collaboration and university reform
4. Promotion of local S&T
5. Protection and use of IPR
6. Fair and transparent R&D evaluation system
7. Reform of R&D-type corporations
8. Introduction of "Intelligent areas (vitalization of local areas by
industry-university-government collaboration in S&T)" scheme
Streamlining of R&D Projects
S&T Education and Public Understanding of Science and Technology
**********