NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
TOKYO REGIONAL OFFICE

October 29, 2004

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 #04-09

The following report was prepared by Ms. Kazuko Shinohara of the National Science Foundation’s Tokyo Regional Office. She can be reached at kshinoha@nsf.gov

Rating of S&T-related Projects - JFY2005

The CSTP (Council for Science and Technology Policy) reviewed the S&T-related projects proposed within the JFY2005 budget requests made by all the Japanese ministries and agencies. The deadline for the budget requests was the end of August 2004 and CSTP made public their rating results on October 21, 2004. As in 2003, they gave a rating of S, A, B, or C as follows to each of the S&T-related projects.

S: Very important projects and to be implemented proactively
A: Important projects and to be implemented
B: Some problems to be solved but efficient and effective implementation is expected
C: To be reviewed

The unique features of the review made this year are:

+ CSTP reviewed all of the 1,800 S&T-related projects whose budgets were requested, and rated 275 of them, whereas they previously reviewed only those projects whose requested budgets were more than Yen 1 billion (ca. $9.5 million) in 2003 and Yen 2 billion (ca. $19 million) in 2002.

+ The rating includes competitive research projects. Some of the projects in this category are also listed in other categories according to discipline. Thus, in the table below, the duplicate projects are in red letters.

+ Those projects which were run by the ministries/agencies in previous year, but were shifted to be totally managed under independent administrative organizations, are listed for review purposes under their independent administrative organizations. An example is IODP (Integrated Ocean Drilling Project), which used to be ranked “S” under MEXT, is listed this time as one of the projects under JAMSTEC (Japan Agency for Earth-Marine S&T: independent administrative organization).

+ To be specially noted is that CSTP this time reviewed all the projects carried out by independent administrative organizations, inter-university research facilities, jointly-used national university corporations’ facilities, and all the national university corporations. In previous years, they did not rate the projects at these organizations, but made their review results public as comments.

+ They increased the number of outside reviewers who participated in the rating to 61, whereas the number was 25 last year, and made their names public.

+ CSTP established the following groups for S&T-related projects and made a list of projects under each group:

+ As for the competitive research funds, the doubling of the budgets in JFY2005 compared with those for JFY2001 will be achieved as targeted in the 2nd S&T Basic Plan. Whereas the total request amount for already existing competitive funds was Yen 396.2 billion (ca. $3.8 billion), they have rearranged some of the projects to become new competitive funds in an amount of Yen 212.9 billion (ca. $2 billion). Thus the total amount for competitive funds in JFY2005 will be Yen 609.1 billion (ca. $5.8 billion), almost two times of Yen 326.5 billion (ca. $3.1 billion) in JFY2001. To promote competitive research, they continue to encourage the establishment of program officer system and electronic application.

The number of the projects rated as S, A, B, C are as follows:

S: 25
A: 120
B: 105
C: 25

A quick translation of the rated projects is as below.

BLUE letters: part of the funds will be used for the project

RED letters: projects already cited under other categories

(Unit: Million Yen)

　

Ministry

JFY2005 Request

JFY2004 Budget

PROJECT

Yen Million

Yen Million
　

BASIC SCIENCE

　

　

A

COE Program in the 21st Century

MEXT

47,657

36,727

A

Private University Education and Research (S&T-related budget only)

MEXT

175,961

169,694

B

Establishment of operation system of SPring-8

MEXT

12,227

11,427

A

High intensity proton accelerator

MEXT

26,332

19,362

A

ALMA

MEXT

3,039

1,003

LIFE SCIENCE

　

　

S

Post genome research

MEXT

3,500

1,500

A

Tailor-made medical care

MEXT

3,955

2,650

S

Protein 3000

MEXT

10,690

9,050

S

Molecule imaging

MEXT

3,010

0

C

Frontier life science

MEXT

2,220

0

B

Cell- and Bio-simulation

MEXT

760

760

B

Disease-related protein analyses

MHLW

662

662

A

Human genome/regenerative medical care (genetic treatment)

MHLW

2,179

2,179

B

Early-stage frontier medicare research (Toxicogenomics)

MHLW

1,177

1,176

B

Early-stage frontier medicare research (Pharmacogenomics)

MHLW

1,050

0

A

National bioresource project

MEXT

1,880

1,672

A

National bioresource project (rat, fly)

MEXT

420

0

A

Rice genome resource center

MAFF

87

87

B

Comprehensive genome information project

METI

800

0

A

Time capsule for environmental information, including endangered wildlife

MOE

115

115

A

New and recurrent infectious diseases

MEXT

4,500

0

S

HIV/hepatitis/new and recurrent infectious diseases

MHLW

4,921

4,211

B

Tuberculosis Disease Research

MHLW

524

526

A

National Institute of Infectious Diseases

MHLW

7,034

7,309

A

International Medical Care Cooperation

MHLW

460

460

A

BSE and human/animal infectious diseases

MAFF

981

861

B

Regenerative medical care

MEXT

1,380

1,235

A

Human genome/regenerative medical care (regenerative medical care)

MHLW

1,500

933

B

Cancer translational research

MEXT

2,167

1,000

S

Third anti-cancer comprehensive strategic research

MHLW

6,601

4,633

A

Cancer research grants

MHLW

1,850

1,850

A

Cardiovascular diseases research

MHLW

4,500

1,298

B

Cardiovascular diseases contract research

MHLW

710

710

A

immunity/allergy diseases prevention/care

MHLW

1,195

1,105

A

Mental health science

MHLW

2,256

1,756

B

Mental/nervous diseases contract research

MHLW

710

710

S

Bio function measurement using optical technology

MEXT

612

572

B

Early-stage frontier medicare research (nano-medicine)

MHLW

2,403

0

B

Bio function analyses/aid equipment

MHLW

1,900

700

A

Clinical test on pharmaceuticals

MHLW

2,155

1,082

B

Clinical test on basic research

MHLW

1,034

1,034

C

Comprehensive research on human science, including pharmaceuticals

MHLW

2,531

2,528

A

Rice genome: functional analyses of genes

MAFF

723

723

A

Rice genome: Efficient fostering system of new species, using DNA marker

MAFF

420

474

A

Rice genome: Gene map and mutant panel-use type

MAFF

307

307

A

Rice genome: Recombinant-use type

MAFF

152

152

S

QTL gene analyses

MAFF

804

0

A

Diverse genome research

MAFF

1,504

0

A

Genome breeding technology development and proof

MAFF

705

0

A

Brand Nippon: safe and secure foods

MAFF

1,096

1,096

B

Environment-friendly technology, using bio functions

MAFF

354

354

B

Livestock genome research

MAFF

241

187

B

Safe and secure livestock production technology

MAFF

800

0

A

Insect technology research

MAFF

502

502

B

Agri-bio research and industrialization

MAFF

1,504

1,004

A

Technology for producing eel and lobster eggs

MAFF

400

0

B

Contract research for evaluating food effects on human health

CAO

196

0

C

Comprehensive research on medical technology evaluation

MHLW

2,018

1,719

A

Pesticide chemicals in food

MHLW

57

59

B

Pharmaceuticals/medical equipment regulatory science

MHLW

1,610

1,455

B

Food safety

MHLW

1,887

1,482

B

National Institute of Health Sciences

MHLW

3,582

4,734

B

Comprehensive research on food safety and functionality

MAFF

1,241

1,041

B

Development of food safety and security technology

MAFF

100

126

B

Administrative policy research

MHLW

1,277

915

A

Comprehensive research on longevity science

MHLW

2,993

2,063

B

Contract research on longevity medical care

MHLW

260

260

B

Comprehensive research on children and family

MHLW

1,427

1,161

B

Contract research on reproduction cycle medical care

MHLW

260

260

A

Handicapped-related research

MHLW

916

853

A

Research on hard-to-cure disease

MHLW

2,306

2,126

C

Comprehensive research on health sciences, excluding finding in early stage and countermeasures

MHLW

1,252

1,150

C

Comprehensive research on health sciences, focusing on finding in early stage and countermeasures

MHLW

400

0

B

Special research on MHLW sciences

MHLW

350

352

S

Security on recombinant DNA

MAFF

600

497

C

Frontier industrial technology development, including agriculture, forestry and fisheries, and food industries

MAFF

249

375

B

Revitalization of food industries in local areas

MAFF

914

0

B

Highly functional seed production/distribution system

MAFF

18

18

B

Contracts for specific test projects

MAFF

1,079

1,079

A

Elucidation of the change in marine bio resources and development of highly precise prediction technology on the change

MAFF

105

105

A

Comprehensive management technology on harmful chemical substances in the ecosystem in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries

MAFF

450

450

C

Gardening system with efficient productivity

MAFF

800

0

C

Local crop rotation system with efficient productivity

MAFF

250

0

-

Human Frontier Science Program

MEXT

2,179

2,179

METI

1,267

1,279

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

　

　

A

Ubiquitous sensor network

MIC

500

0

A

Asia ubiquitous platform technology

MIC

600

0

A

Ubiquitous network

MIC

3,105

3,105

S

Highly efficient use of electronic tag

MIC

699

699

S

Basic technologies for supporting safe ubiquitous society

MEXT

600

0

A

Rationalization of supply chain with electronic tag

METI

3,160

3,000

A

Autonomous move support project

MLIT

500

480

C

Public transportation real time system

MLIT

13

0

S

Next-generation backbone network for internet

MIC

2,000

0

C

Networking of digital home appliances

MIC

300

0

B

Shift of internet to IPv6

MIC

1,752

1,752

A

Joint use of high-level electric wave in mobile communication system

MIC

11,288

0

A

Basic research in wireless communication system with 6-30GHz

MIC

11,288

0

A

Wireless communication system with 30GHz and up

MIC

11,288

0

B

Narrower band for radar

MIC

11,288

0

B

Joint technologies for satellite communications and other communications

MIC

11,288

0

B

Next-generation wireless communication measurement technologies

MIC

11,288

0

A

Consolidation of digital information home appliances

METI

2,500

0

B

Advanced network identification technologies

MIC

1,100

1,040

A

Early-stage caution for computer security

METI

1,350

0

B

Company/individual security countermeasures

METI

1,800

0

B

Next-generation image contents production/distribution

MIC

380

0

C

Environment-friendly image expression technologies

MIC

107

0

A

Basic software for e-Society

MEXT

1,100

1,100

A

Industry-university cooperation software engineering

METI

1,200

932

A

Advanced social infrastructure software

METI

1,000

0

B

Verification of mutual usability of medical information system

METI

600

0

B

Asia OSS (Open Source Software)

METI

500

0

B

Network human interface: multi language voice translation system

MIC

850

730

B

Network human interface: Effect of optical stimulus on human body

MIC

850

730

A

Network human interface: Network robotics

MIC

850

730

A

Detective robots at Nuclear/biological/chemical accident sites

MIC

200

200

B

Urban earthquake disaster mitigation special project

MEXT

1,334

1,246

A

IT-supported system development

MLIT

158

158

B

IT program: Supercomputer network

MEXT

502

752

B

IT program: Experiments on supercomputer network

MEXT

502

752

C

IT program: Large-scale system, using IT

MEXT

502

752

A

Super high-speed computer network project (National Research Grid Initiative)

MEXT

1,950

1,950

S

Technologies for future supercomputing

MEXT

2,000

0

A

Innovative simulation software

MEXT

1,600

0

A

Business grid computing

METI

2,600

2,501

A

World advanced IT nation (IT program)

MEXT

1,998

2,747

B

Manufacturing technologies for advanced integrated circuits, including EUV (extreme ultra violet) light source

MEXT

1,083

1,140

B

Next-generation high-speed communication equipment

METI

2,700

2,325

B

Advanced personnel fostering with Industry-university cooperation: Intensive, advanced personnel fostering

MEXT

1,703

0

ENVIRONMENT

　

　

S

Global environment R&D

MEXT

1,020

0

A

Personnel/nature/earth coexistence project

MEXT

3,827

4,127

A

Antarctic observation

MEXT

11,323

7,129

S

Earth observation system

MEXT

1,702

0

A

Earth observation system with satellites

MEXT

6,238

1,406

B

Efficient transport of natural gas in economy-transient countries

MOE

150

0

A

Carbon dioxide detachment and collection technologies

METI

700

350

A

Next-generation super eco ship

MLIT

164

564

C

Energy-saving type low temperature natural cooling/freezing equipment

MOE

400

0

A

Environment-friendly processing technology, using highly efficient oxidization catalysts

METI

150

0

C

Competitive funds for market-directed global warming countermeasures

MOE