Title: INT 97-27 NSF/Tokyo Report: JAPANESE GOVERNMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY BUDGET Fiscal Year 1997 Exposure: Public Date: 6/30/97 The National Science Foundation's offices in Tokyo and in Paris periodically report on developments abroad that are related to the Foundation's mission. These documents present facts for the use of NSF program managers and policy makers; they are not statements of NSF policy. JAPANESE GOVERNMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY BUDGET Fiscal Year 1997 I. OVERVIEW On July 2, 1996, the Japanese government approved the Basic Plan for Science and Technology to implement the Science and Technology Basic Law enacted in November 1995. The goal of the Basic Plan is to restructure Japan's S&T system to make it more innovative, cost-efficient, and improve the research environment for scientists and engineers. In support of these objectives, the Basic Plan called for the government to spend 17 trillion yen during the 1996-2000 time frame on R&D, about 155 billion dollars at 110 yen to the dollar. The total of the FY 1997 S&T-related budget is 3,002.8 billion yen (about US$27.3 billion). This represents an increase of 191.8 billion yen (US$1.7 billion) or 6.8% over FY 1996 initial budget of 2,810.7 billion yen; a rate of increase apparently falling short of the requisite level of increase (about 11% or more per year on the average) to achieve the 17 trillion-yen goal. However, according to the Science and Technology Agency (STA), an additional 157 billion yen was provided as part of the supplementary budget for FY'96, which could be regarded as a sort of front-loading of government budgetary commitments for this fiscal year. The total, 3,002.8 billion yen, represents 3.88% of the aggregate total of Japanese government budget for FY'97 (77,390 billion yen), as compared to 3.74% in the previous fiscal year. The table below shows an agency-to-agency comparison of FY'97 S&T budget of the Japanese government (in million yen). Ministries and Agencies JFY 1996 JFY 1997 % of total --------------------------------------------------------- Min.of Education, Sci. & Culture 1,241,241 1,288,963 42.9% Science and Tech. Agency 692,800 734,486 24.5% Min.Int'l.Trade&Industry 421,349 472,380 15.7% Defense Agency 165,279 175,340 5.8% Min.Agri.,Forestry & Fish. 94,944 100,881 3.4% Ministry of Health&Welfare 75,146 91,512 3.0% Min.of Posts & Telecom. 47,198 57,677 1.9% Ministry of Construction 33,716 38,933 1.3% Ministry of Transport 23,147 23,120 0.8% Environment Agency 17,017 17,985 0.6% Ministry of Foreign Affairs 12,080 12,987 0.4% Ministry of Labor 3,744 4,338 0.1% Ministry of Finance 1,859 2,170 0.1% Ministry of Justice 1,437 2,014 0.1% National Police Agency 1,439 1,516 0.05% Science Council of Japan 1,177 1,350 0.05% Economic Planning Agency 1,008 1,065 0.04% Ministry of Home Affairs 758 771 0.03% National Diet 564 592 0.02% National Land Agency 379 473 0.02% Hokkaido Development Agency 169 211 0.01% --------------------------------------------------------- TOTOAL** 2,810,452 3,002,762 100.0% ** Note: The sum of the individual budget figures slightly exceeds the total because funds for the Japan Key Technology Center are double-listed in the budgets for the Ministry of International Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Posts and telecommunications. II. TO FOLLOW THROUGH THE BASIC PLAN FOR S&T The Basic Plan for Science and Technology suggested several specific goals for the government to meet over the next five or ten year period. Described below are some of the actions being taken with funds allocated in this fiscal year. 1. Increasing Mobility of Researchers Whereas the Basic Plan for Science and Technology specifically called for a) improvement in researcher mobility between the government, private and university sectors; and for b) launching a tenure system into the government laboratories and national universities, the Personnel Authority recommended to the government in March 1997 a plan to 1) "invite" some of those senior scientists who have already demonstrated outstanding research capabilities to serve as a research leader in a government laboratory for a fixed term of 5 years at preferential pay scale, and also 2) to recruit much younger researchers to engage in such research activities as useful in further enhancing their research career for the future again for a fixed-term of 3 years in principle. Based on these recommendations, a bill was passed on May 28, 1997 to permit government laboratories to hire researchers for fixed terms and to set up preferential pay scales for them. While this particular law is applicable only to those to be hired in government laboratories, another bill was passed last week (June 13, 1997) to permit national universities also to establish similar "fixed-term appointment" systems, although specifics such as the exact terms of appointment and other conditions for employment are left to be decided by each university concerned. With the enactment of these new laws, mobility of researchers is likely to increase between government, industry and universities, or even within the same sector. Monbusho has set aside 409 million yen in FY'97 budget to finance part of research expenditures and other associated costs for those to be hired under the fixed-term appointment system, although their salaries are paid out of funds allocated to each university for personnel expenditures. Along the same line, STA has set aside 371 million yen in the FY'97 budget to provide special research funds for those individuals (about 20 individuals including both the senior and the younger researchers, to begin with in 1997) who will be hired by government laboratories under the new "fixed-term appointment system." 2. Expansion of "New Systems" for R&D Support Another goal called for by the Basic Plan for Science and Technology was to develop new competitive systems for funding R&D. Last year several ministries launched the so-called "New Systems for Supporting Basic Research." In the past, construction bonds were used almost exclusively for funding infrastructure projects like roads and bridges. Arguing that investing in R&D is analogous to infrastructure investments, i.e., future generations are the primary beneficiaries, Japan's R&D community successfully lobbied to have certain categories of R&D treated as "investment expenditures" so that they would be eligible for deficit funding by "construction bonds." When this was approved for the first time last year (FY'96), six ministries/agencies launched new programs for financing basic research projects with funds raised by "construction bonds." While most of the new programs under this scheme are to solicit research proposals from individual researchers or groups of researchers for open competition, the "Research for the Future" program of the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture (Monbusho), which is implemented by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), is designed to have committees decide research themes as well as the groups of researchers to be supported. To follow the six programs started last year, two other agencies have announced this year to launch similar programs for competitive research support in areas of their missions. They are: 1) the new program for research support in areas of transportation systems, sponsored by the Ministry of Transport, and 2) a new program for supporting basic research on "the environment for the future" with funds provided by the Environment Agency. The table below shows a summary of the 8 R&D support systems noted above: New Programs for Basic Research FY'96 FY'97 -------------------------------------------------------- 1) Core Research for Evolutionary (In million yen) Science and Technology - CREST 15,000 24,000 (JST/STA) 2) Research for the Future Program: 11,000 20,600 (JSPS/Monbusho) 3) Program for the Promotion of Basic Research in Health and Medical Care: 1,016 2,957 (Organization for Drug ADR Relief/ MHW) 4) Basic Research for the Creation of New Agricultural Technologies and Industries: 1,982 3,723 (MAFF/BRAIN) 5) Innovative Industrial Technology R&D Promotion Program: 2,650 4,700 (MITI/NEDO) 6) Systems for Basic Research in the Field of Info-Communications: 480 800 (MPT/TAO) 7) Promotion of Research on Land-, Sea- and Air-transport Systems, Facilities and Equipment: 0 300 (MOT/Transp. Facilities Corp.) 8) Promotion of Basic Research in Areas related to Environmental protection (Environment Agency) 0 200 -------------------------------------------------------- Total: 32,128 57,280 (In million yen) 3. R&D Review Systems Another goal suggested in the Basic Plan for Science and Technology was to develop "impartial" and systematic review procedures for R&D. - Although a number of individual research institutes or agencies have their own research review systems, often with experts from outside participating in the review processes, the Prime Minister's Council for Science and Technology established a sub-committee in October 1996 to develop a set of guidelines for the government to use in having government-financed R&D projects reviewed by impartial reviewers. Upon completion of the subcommittee deliberations, the Prime Minister's Council will submit a formal recommendation to the government. - To support this effort, STA has allocated 37 million yen (0 in 1996) in FY'97. - Also, MITI has allocated 700 million yen in FY'97 (0 in 1996) to initiate its own programs to develop systems for fair and impartial evaluation of its R&D projects. 4. To Increase the Number of Foreign Researchers in Japan Encouraging more foreign researchers to participate in Japanese R&D was another goal suggested in the Basic Plan for Science and Technology, and several agencies are taking actions to pursue this goal. - Monbusho has proposed to increase the number of foreign participants in the so-called "Monbusho Summer Program" under the Monbusho Research Experience Fellowships for Young Foreign Researchers, four-fold to 80 this year from 20 in 1996. In response, 74 foreign graduate students (17 from Germany, 16 from U.K., 2 from France and 29 from U.S.A including 24 recommended by NSF/NIH/ARC) have been selected to participate. - JSPS fellowships for foreign researchers are increased to 680 in total in FY'97 (from 420 fellowships in 1996). - Likewise, STA fellowships for foreign postdoctoral fellows have increased to 410 in FY'97 (from 340 fellowships in 1996). 5. Information Highway Upgrading the information highway and database capabilities of the universities and national laboratories was another important goal suggested in the Basic Plan for Science and Technology. - IM-Net: In 1994, STA initiated an experimental project to develop an "Inter-Ministerial Network for R&D in Science and Technology," nicknamed "IM-Net," to explore the possibility of connecting computers and databases of various government agencies and research institutes for mutual access and utilization. As of January 1997, this experimental project was re-started as a regular inter-agency R&D network service, with the Japan Science and Technology Corporation (JST) assuming its operational responsibility. To this end, 937 million yen (431 million yen in 1996) was allocated in FY'97 budget. - Besides the IM-Net project noted above, JST continues all other information service projects initiated by its predecessor organization, the Japan Information Center of Science and Technology (JICST), while developing and expanding a variety of new R&D databases and other information "contents" for distribution through its computer networks. 6,072 million yen was allocated in FY'97 for these activities (5,626 million yen in 1996). - As regards information network service for university scientists, the National Center of Science Information Systems (NACSIS) of Monbusho continues to be the central organization in Japan. NACSIS develops and operates the NACSIS Science Information Network Service for all the universities and academic research institutes in this country, including abstracting and indexing services of scientific journals, S&T database services, as well as inter-library lending service through computer network for access to books and journals maintained in major university libraries in Japan. For these activities, 7,024 million yen was allocated by Monbusho. (5,752 million yen in 1996). - As for use of high performance computers for scientific research in universities, Monbusho has already established 7 large-scale computer centers, 23 general information processing centers, and 49 information processing centers; all in national universities or inter-university research institutes. In FY'97, a supercomputer in Tohoku University's large-scale computer center will be upgraded to a new supercomputer. Monbusho will also establish two new "general information processing centers," one in Yamanashi University and the other in Yamagata University. Also, Fukui Medical College will have its "information processing center" established this fiscal year. To support these projects, 23,284 million yen was allocated in 1997 (21,374 million yen in 1996) - Another project being promoted by Monbusho is the development of digital libraries in universities. For example, in FY'97 Monbusho will support digital library projects in 3 national universities; Nara Institute of Science and Technology (NAIST), University of Tsukuba, and Kyoto Univeristy. Monbusho's budget for this purpose in FY'97 is 261 million yen (170 million yen in 1996). - MITI continues to support its Real-World Computing (RWC) Project in order to explore new generation information processing technologies for the 21st century. 6,077 million yen was allocated in FY'97 (6,012 million yen in 1996). 6. Government-Industry-University Cooperation Whereas the Basic Plan calls for the promotion of greater cooperation between private and public sector R&D, several measures are being implemented under the FY'97 budget: - STA will launch a new program to support large-scale joint research projects between local industry, universities and government, so as to help develop "centers of excellence" at local regional levels. To this end, 1,829 million was allocated. (0 in 1996). - MITI's Innovative Industrial Technology R&D Promotion Program, which was started last year as one of the new initiatives of the government to promote basic research by way of utilizing funds raised by construction bonds, is uniquely designed to promote cooperation of universities, government laboratories and private companies. As already noted, MITI has allocated 4,700 million yen for this program in FY'97 (2,650 million yen in 1996). - MITI has allocated 1,300 million this year (0 in 1996) to assist local governments in establishing cooperative research facilities at local regional levels so as to promote research cooperation of universities, government laboratories and private industries. - MITI has established a "Committee for the Promotion of Industry-University Cooperation" to develop an effective scheme for increasing research cooperation between universities and industry. To this end, 25 million yen was allocated in FY'97 (25 million yen in 1996). - MITI has allocated in FY'97 a total of 2,036 million yen (0 in 1996) to support such research projects as vital to local economy, through R&D consortia to be established by universities, companies and government laboratories in the region. - MITI will help establish so-called "Welfare Techno Houses" at various locations throughout the country as "cooperative research facilities" for researchers from universities, private companies and government laboratories to work in joint projects in the specific area of medical and welfare equipment R&D. - Monbusho has been supporting establishment of "university-industry cooperative research centers" at national universities ever since 1987, and in FY'97 two new centers will be added, one at Hirosaki University and another at Kyushu Institute of Design, to bring the total number of such "centers" to 49. - Monbusho expects the number of "contract research projects" to be carried out by university faculty members under contract with private companies or other external organizations will increase significantly in FY'97 in view of the fact that many of the research projects supported under the "New Systems for R&D" (ref. section II.2 above) of various other ministries and agencies will also be carried out by university scientists as commissioned research. According to Monbusho, the total amount of funds to be expended by university scientists for such commissioned research (including contract research for private companies) will increase to 41,853 million yen in FY'97 (from 28,784 milion yen in 1996). - Monbusho has allocated 531 million yen in FY'97 (496 million yen in 1996) to permit researchers from private companies to get graduate-level research training in national universities. III. PROGRAMS FOR MULTIPLE-AGENCY SUPPORT As noted above, many programs targeted for major budget increases this year are those designed to meet the specific priorities set forth in the Basic Plan for Science and Technology. However, there are other "priority programs" identified as important for several agencies to share support. Examples are as follows: 1. Brain Research Given that brain research is considered critical in elucidating, preventing, and curing neural and mental diseases, and also in utilizing the information from brain studies for possible application in the development of new information processing technologies, the Science Council of Japan recommended in April 1996 the promotion of studies in brain science. In view of their recommendation, and also because of similar recommendations from STA's own study committee, an integrated brain research program has been launched primarily by STA with collaboration of several other ministries/agencies. The total government expenditure planned for FY'97 for R&D in brain science areas amounts to 14,949 million yen (3,700 million yen in 1996). Of this total, 9,943 million yen (2,508 million yen in 1996) is financed as part of STA's budget, including 7,337 million yen (2,508 million yen in 1996) for the construction of a "brain research center" in the Institute for Physical and Chemical Res! earch (RIKEN). 2. Research on Global Environmental Changes Elucidation of the mechanisms responsible for global climate change is expected to lead to the development of effective countermeasures to cope with climatic changes as well as to help prevent natural disasters and promote efficient use of limited resources. This notion underlined the recommendation issued in July 1996 by the Panel on Global S&T under the Council for Aeronautics, Electronics and Other Advanced Technologies, calling for government strategies to study global-scale phenomena. In response to this recommendation, a new program has been started to develop the so-called "Earth simulator," which is a new supercomputer system and software to be developed for numerical simulation studies of various global-scale phenomena, at computational speeds of as much as 1000 times the speed of existing supercomputers in Japan. This project will be implemented jointly by the National Space Development Agency (NASDA) and the Power Reactor and Nuclear Fuel Development Corporation (PNC). (PNC is involved due to its interest in environmental implications of nuclear wastes). To start this 5-year project, 1,629 million yen (0 yen in 1996) has been allocated in FY'97. The total project cost is estimated at about 40 billion yen over 5 years. - In addition, STA has launched a new "Global Research Frontier System" for global change prediction studies with scientists participating from both within and outside Japan. The studies will be focused on basic and interdisciplinary research on air-sea interactions, and implemented through the Japan Marine Science and Technology Center (JAMSTEC). The FY'97 budget for this new program is 1,395 million yen (0 in 1996). - MITI supports R&D on "innovative global environmental protection technologies through the Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth (RITE), and has allocated 9,706 million yen in FY'97 (9,074 in 1996). Included in this program are studies on "biological CO2-fixation and utilization," "development of environmentally friendly catalysts," and others. - MITI also spends 860 million yen in FY97 (790 million yen in 1996) to develop new CFC-alternative materials to replace the ozone-layer destructive CFCs, and also spends 117 million yen in FY97 (135 million yen in 1996) to develop technologies for decomposing specific CFCs in such a way as to prevent discharge of any harmful substances during the CFC-disposal processes. - Another project to be supported by MITI is the development of technologies useful in recycling resources in ways "friendly" to the environment. To this end, MITI has allocated 9,479 million yen (8,567 million yen in 1996). [Note: The total government-wide "environmental protection" related S&T budget is estimated at 583.6 billion yen in FY'97 (as compared to 568.8 billion yen in 1996) including the following: FY'96 FY'97 -------------------------------------------------- Global environmental protection- related expenditures: 131.8 134.0 R&D on satellites and other telecommunications: 48.3 55.2 Energy-related counter-measures: 388.8 394.4 -------------------------------------------------- Total: 568.8 583.6 (in billion yen) ] 3. Cancer Research For cancer research, the combined total of FY'97 funds allocated by the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MHW), STA as well as funds for universities under Monbusho, the so-called "10-year Anti-cancer Strategies" of the government, amounts to 18,982 million yen in FY 1997 (21,424 million yen in 1996) as follows: FY'96 FY'97 ----------------------------------------------- (1) Special projects on priority research themes: 9,316 10,530 (2) Improvement of research systems for cancer research: 8,827 5,247 (3) Training of young researchers: 0 248 (4) Promotion of international research cooperation: 782 793 (5) Improvement of research supporting systems: 904 738 (6) Integrated support system for cancer medical care: 1,358 1,427 ------------------------------------------------------ Total: 21,424 18,982 (In million yen) 4. Expansion of Postdoctoral Fellowships: The number of research fellowships funded for doctorate or postdoctorate research continues to increase in FY 1997, as one measure to achieve the goal of at least 10,000 fellowships to be made available by the year 2000. Whereas the majority of fellowships are provided by Monbusho through JSPS, fellowships are also provided by STA and MITI. The table below shows the total number of fellowships provided by the three agencies in FY'96 and FY'97: No. of Fellowships: FY1996 FY1997 FY2000 -------------------------------------------------- Monbusho (and JSPS): 4,556 5,701 ? STA: 1,168 1,566 ? MITI: 214 375 ? -------------------------------------------------- Total: 6,028 7,642 10,000 5. Human Frontier Science Program The international Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP) was established in 1989 to help promote basic research in brain science and molecular biology. Over the past 7 years, 277 international research groups have been supported with HFSP research grants, and 935 individual scientists have been awarded long-term fellowships. Japan contributes 80% of the total annual costs of this program, as financed jointly by MITI and STA. To this end, MITI and STA have allocated budgets as follows: FY'96 FY'97 ------------------------- MITI 1,439 1,599 STA 2,123 2,399 ------------------------- Total: 3,562 3,998 (In million yen) IV. STA BUDGET As stated before, the total FY'97 S&T budget of STA is 734.5 billion yen, or 24.5% of the total S&T budget of the government. Besides being the S&T policy coordination agency for the government (except for university research), STA is also responsible for supporting R&D in three big science areas, 1) nuclear energy, 2) space development and 3) ocean development. Also, in recent years, STA has been active in promoting materials research, life sciences, and so forth. Described below are examples of some of the major programs supported by STA. 1. Space Development In the area of "space development," 185,956 million yen has been allocated by various agencies in total including the following: (Note: Funds for space scientific studies under Monbusho budget are NOT included). Agencies: FY 1996 FY 1997 Change -------------------------------------------------------- NASDA 172,999 175,883 1.7% National Aerospace Laboratory 4,323 2,732 -36.8% Other STA-related programs 455 746 64.0% Environment Agency 820 906 10.6% AIST/MITI 84 48 -42.7% Japan Meteorological Agency 4,740 5,092 7.4% Inst. of Electronic Navigation 6 11 92.4% Communication Research Lab. 2,530 3,348 32.3% -------------------------------------------------------- Total: 185,956 188,767 1.5% As shown above, NASDA continues to be the primary Japanese agency responsible for space R&D, with its annual budget accounting for 93% of all the government budget for space development activities. NASDA's FY'97 projects include the following: * Development of Satellites: (1) Communication-broadcasting technology satellite: 4,730 million yen in 1997 (10,713 million yen in 1996); for launching in FY 1997 (2) Technology testing satellite, VII: 11,946 million yen (9,817 million yen in 1996), for launching in FY 1997 (3) Tropical rainfall measuring mission satellite: 5,646 million yen (3,630 million yen in 1996), for launching in FY 1997 (4) Environmental observation technology satellite: 12,946 million yen (9,896 million yen in 1996); for launching in FY 1999 (5) Data relaying technology satellite: 2,382 million yen (1,589 million yen in 1996), to be launched in year 2000 (6) R&D on equipment to be installed on "mission demonstration" satellites: 110 million yen (82 million yen in 1996) (7) Optical inter-orbit communications engineering test satellites: 3,451 million yen (2,554 million yen in 1996), to be launched in 2000 (8) Development of unmanned winged transfer and return vehicle: 10,478 million yen (8,519 million yen in 1996), to be tested in 2000 (9) Improved high performance microwave radiation measuring systems: 293 million yen (0 yen in 1996) (10) Land area observation technology satellite: 1,831 million yen (1,117 million yen in 1996), to be launched in 2001 (11) Engineering test satellite, VIII: 248 million yen (84 million yen in 1996), to be launched in 2002 * Development of launching rockets (1) Re-ignition tests of the upper stage for H-II rocket system: 1,450 million yen (842 million yen in 1996) (2) H-IIA rocket (2,055 -> 11,743 million yen) * Space Station project: 36,043 million yen (44,286 million yen in 1996) 2. Ocean Development JAMSTEC continues to serve as the primary agency responsible for R&D in ocean sciences. JAMSTEC's FY'97 budget is 24,030 million yen in total (20,507 million yen in 1996). JAMSTEC will take over the new oceanographic research vessel "Mirai", in September 1997 when the ship's conversion from a nuclear-powered experimental vessel will be completed. JAMSTEC will also carry out various other research projects utilizing its deep-sea submarine "Shinkai 6500", the deep-sea research vessel "Kairei" and the unmanned 10000-meter-depth underwater explorer "Kaiko" as follows: * JAMSTEC'S Major Projects: (1) R&D by use of deep-sea submarines: 7,102 million yen (5,482 million yen in 1996) Deep sea studies by the deep-sea research submarines, "Shinkai 2000", "Shinkai 6500" and the unmanned explorer "Kaiko" and their mother ships) (2) Ecological studies on living organisms and microorganisms in deep-sea environment: 410 million yen (403 million yen in 1996) (3) Research on the Kuroshio current: 143 million yen (143 million yen in 1996) (4) Oceanographic observation studies: 6,777 million yen (6,921 million yen in 1996) The total FY 1997 budget for ocean development programs (excluding those of university-based research supported by Monbusho) will be 24,030 million yen (as against 20,507 million yen in 1996), as shown below: Agencies: FY 1996 FY 1997 Change -------------------------------------------------------- STA 19,903 23,485 3,581 Environment Agency 353 320 -33 MAFF 131 138 7 MITI 73 59 -14 Ministry of Transport 46 28 -18 --------------------------------------------------------- Total: 20,507 24,030 3,522 (In million yen) 3. Nuclear Energy R&D STA's total budget related to "energy" in FY 1997 amounts to 320,000 million yen (319,619 million yen in 1996), primarily for R&D for peaceful utilization of nuclear energy, as follows: (1) Strengthening of nuclear safety measures - 50,774 million yen (49,926 million yen in 1996) (2) Increasing people's understanding on nuclear energy - 29,948 million yen (26,958 million yen in 1996) (3) Measures for nuclear non-proliferation - 6,700 million yen (6,682 million yen in 1996) (4) Development of technologies for establishing Japan's nuclear fuel cycle - 135,791 million yen (139,077 million yen in 1996) (5) Participation in International Thermonuclear Fusion Experiment Reactor (ITER) Project, and promotion of R&D on new oil-alternative energy resources - 32,863 million yen (35,699 million yen in 1996). 4. Development of New Generation Structural Materials STA has launched new R&D project to develop "super-strength" structural materials based on steel, to achieve twice as much strength and material life as any existing steel structural materials. To this end, a new "Frontier Structural Material R&D Laboratory" will be established within the National Research Institute for Metals (NRIM) in Tsukuba. In this project, studies will be carried out through collaboration of researchers from government, universities and private companies for integrated research on related technologies such as fine structural control, bonding optimization, and high-resistance surface processing technologies. In FY'97, 2,126 million yen was allocated for the first year ( 0 yen in 1996). 5. Super-sonic Air Transport System Development Development of a new generation super-sonic air transporter to replace the current "Concorde" for commercial air service will have to be started as an international project as early as at the turn of the century. So that it will be possible for Japan to make more positive technical contribution in such an international project, the National Aerospace Laboratory (NAL) will start an R&D project on a small-sized experimental aircraft with super-sonic engines. The first-year budget for this project is 1,662 million ( 0 yen in 1996). 6. Spring-8 Project To provide a powerful tool for studying the structure of matter and various physical, chemical, and biological processes, an 8-GeV synchrotron radiation facility has been under construction at Harima in Hyogo Prefecture since 1987 as a joint project of RIKEN and the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute (JAERI). It is expected that this facility, called "Spring-8" (Super Photon Ring 8 GeV) will be ready for commissioning later this year for use by scientists not only from within Japan but broadly from the world over. FY'97 budget for this project is 19,260 million yen (16,683 million yen in 1996). 7. Earthquake Research The National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Prevention (NIED) of STA continues its "Earthquake Frontier Research" program for research on earthquake mechanisms through studies on crustal deformations and other precursor phenomena as it was allocated 1,441 million (as against 1,238 million yen in 1996). (Note: Monbusho has separate funds for universities to pursue basic research related to earthquake prediction and earthquake engineering.) V. MONBUSHO BUDGET The FY'97 S&T-related budget of Monbusho amounts to 1,289 billion yen (about 11.7 billion US dollars) which accounts for nearly one half (42.9%) of the entire government R&D budget for this year. Of this total, 74.8% or 964.8 billion yen was allocated under the so-called Special Account for National Universities and Schools, in which funds are provided primarily as formula-based expenditures of universities, inter-university research institutes, and other national educational/research facilities. The remaining 324.1 billion yen (8.7%) was allocated under the so-called "general account" budget, including funds for subsidies for proposal-based competitive research grants, subsidies to JSPS for supporting a number of international scientific programs. 1. Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research Perhaps the most important in terms of Monbusho's research support for individual academic researchers is its program of "grants-in-aid" for scientific research. The total Monbusho budget for research grants amounts to 112.2 billion yen in FY 1997; an increase of 10.2% over the previous year's level of 101.8 billion. All the research grants are made based on proposals to be submitted by individual researchers or groups of researchers for competitive screening. For 1997, for example, 76,664 proposals were received in total. Of them, 24.6% or 18,846 projects were adopted for support. According to Monbusho, 46.7% of all the proposals adopted are in biological and medical sciences, 42.9% in physical and engineering sciences, 8.0% in humanities and social sciences, and 2.3% in interdisciplinary sciences. 2. Space Sciences Monbusho's Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) continues to develop several scientific satellites as follows: (1) Scientific satellite No. 18 (for study of Martian atmosphere) to be launched in 1998. (2) Scientific satellite No. 19 (for X-ray astronomy) to be launched in 1999. (3) Scientific satellite No. 20 (for engineering tests to collect data on asteroids) to be launched in 2001. (4) Scientific satellite No. 21 (for the observation of the early universe) to be launched in 2002. For these projects and other space science projects, 21,970 million yen was allocated to ISAS in FY'97 (22,072 million yen in 1996). 3. International Ocean Drilling Project Monbusho continues to support participation of Japanese scientists in the International Ocean Drilling Project (ODP), to study long-range global changes, and changes in deep-sea crustal formations by ocean-bottom core sampling analysis, utilizing the American deep-sea drilling vessel, "JOIDES Resolution." To this end, Monbusho has allocated 316 million yen in FY'97 budget (286 million yen in 1996) to make Japan's annual contribution of $2.95 million to ODP/NSF. 4. Earthquake Prediction and Volcanology In Japan, basic studies for the prediction of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are carried out by universities as well as by Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), Geographical Survey Institute (GSI), NIED, and others, based on research plans mapped out by the Geodesy Council of the government. In FY'97, Monbusho allocated 2,660 million yen (2,506 million yen in 1996) for earthquake prediction studies in universities, and 557 million yen (643 million yen in 1996) for volcanic eruption studies. 5. New Research Institutes (1) Since its establishment in 1971, the National Laboratory for High Energy Physics (KEK) in Tsukuba Science City has served as the primary center for Japan's elementary particle physics and accelerator sciences. However, in order to help further advance the frontier of science in elementary particle physics, nuclear physics, synchrotron radiation studies, and materials research, a decision was made to re-establish KEK and the Institute of Nuclear Studies of the University of Tokyo into an integrated new research institute named "High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK)," effective as of 4/1/97. The new "KEK" will have a "Laboratory of Particle and Nuclear Physics Research" and a "Laboratory of Structure of Matter." KEK's B-factory project will be made part of the new KEK. Monbusho has allocated 7,024 million yen for KEK in FY'97 (7,042 million yen in 1996.) (2) The National Institute for Fusion Science (NIFS), the center for nuclear fusion studies by university scientists will have a large-scale helical apparatus completed in FY'97 after 8-years of construction works. In FY'97, 18,885 million yen (17,779 million yen in 1996) was allocated to NIFS. (3) Astronomical Observatory in Hawaii: A new astronomical observatory with an 8-meter infrared telescope has been under construction on the top of Mt. Mauna Kea in Hawaii, at a total cost of 40 billion yen. In FY'97, 4,527 million yen (5,024 million yen in 1996) was allocated to the National Astronomical Observatory (NAL) in Tokyo for this project. 6. Antarctic Research Since 1956, Japan has dispatched researchers every year to Japan's research station in Showa Base in Antarctica. Currently, 40 members of the 38th overwintering team are working at the Showa Base. Again in FY'97, the 39th Antarctic Research team of 58 members will be sent. In addition, 3 Japanese researchers will be dispatched to foreign polar stations for cooperative research. Besides routine meteorological and oceanographic observations in the Antarctica, special studies will be conducted this year to examine evolution of lithosphere in Eastern Antarctica. This fiscal year's total budget for Japan's antarctic research program will be 3,978 million yen (3,953 million yen in 1996) including costs for the icebreaker "Fuji" to transport researchers to the Showa Base. 7. Area Studies Integrated cultural and social studies of various areas and regions in the world are expected to deepen man's understanding on many aspects of natural environment as well as ways of life of people in those areas studied. A Center for the Planning and Information Exchange on Area Studies was established in 1994 in Monbusho's National Museum of Ethnology in Osaka. In FY'97, 125 million yen was allocated (94 million yen in 1996) to increase research data and other informational resources for use in area studies. 8. Research Cooperation with Industry Whereas Monbusho supports various forms of research collaboration between university scientists and their counterparts in private companies, the total Monbusho budget for university/industry research cooperation is 100,871 million yen (87,675 million yen in 1996). Included in this total are: 5,504 million yen for joint research projects, 41,853 million yen for commissioned research, 531 million yen for accepting researchers from companies for advanced training, and 200 million yen for establishing 4 new "university-industry cooperative research centers." 9. Subsidies to JSPS Whereas in the past the primary function of JSPS was to support international scientific cooperation between Japanese university researchers with their counterpart foreign scientists through various types of fellowships and travel grants, the scope of activities was expanded last year so as to include the new "Research for the Future" program. Last year, JSPS adopted 117 projects under the new program and this year again, about 90 new projects are expected to be adopted for support (plus continuation of last year's 117 projects). The table below gives a summary of FY'97 budgets for various program categories of JSPS. Program Categories: FY'97 ---------------------------------------------- 1) Research for the Future Program: 20,600 (Investment Program) 2) Fellowships for Individual Researchers: - Fellowships for Japanese (3,570 fellowships) 10,576 - Fellowships to Japanese for research abroad (125 fellowships) 698 - Fellowships for foreign researchers (680 fellowships) 3,119 3) International Scientific Cooperation: - Cooperation with advanced countries 1,949 - Cooperation with Asian countries 1,235 - International Exchange Centers 166 4) Patent and Information Services 30 5) University-Industry Committees 16 6) Administrative Expenditures 666 -------------------------------------------------------- Total: 39,055 (In million yen) VI. MITI BUDGET MITI'S R&D budget for FY'97 totals 472.4 billion, an increase of 50.9 billion yen or 12.1% over the previous year's level of 421.3 billion yen. Although some of the MITI programs have been already described above, the following are brief descriptions of some other major R&D initiatives supported this year. 1. Competition among Laboratories for Research Support To address criticism of Japanese government laboratories as focusing on marginal research or engaging in duplication of work, a new scheme is established by MITI for special research projects in the fields of biotechnology, information and communication sciences and other areas, with a total budget of 7,123 million yen (3,421 million in 1996). In this program, outside reviewers examine research proposals and allocate funds based on the importance of the selected research. In this program, researchers from different laboratories would be competing against each other for funding. Another unique feature of this program is that it encourages joint research with other ministries in certain specific areas such as brain science, earthquake studies, biotechnology, and genetics. 1. Priority Research Programs - Promotion of Advanced Electronic Technologies: In order to develop "super-advanced" generic-use technologies needed for realizing the "next-next generation" information-oriented society, a series of R&D projects will be supported in such areas as ultra-fine processing, ultra-minute measurement and analysis, control and in novel function electronic materials. 3,120 million yen was allocated in FY'97 (1,330 million yen in 1996). - Intelligent Transport System: Development of intelligent transport systems (ITS) leads to creation of new industries with highly increased efficiency in materials distribution, information processing, and reduction in traffic congestion and accidents. Also, with collaboration of other ministries/agencies, model testing areas will be selected for conducting feasibility studies of advanced ITS systems. For these projects, 374 million yen was allocated by MITI. (0 yen in 1996). - Aeronautic Technologies: (Feasibility study for the development of a small-sized civil air transport system.) For the first time in 40 years, since the last project of YS-11 aircraft, an attempt will be made to develop, produce and commercialize a small-sized (70-120 seats) civil air transport system (YSX). 380 million yen was allocated in FY'97 (610 million yen in 1996). - International joint development of B747-X: In order to meet the ever-increasing demands for mass air transport systems, a new international project will be initiated jointly with Boeing of the United States to produce a large-sized (550 seats: 30% more than 400 seats of the current B747) civil air transport system. 570 million yen was allocated in FY'97 (0 in 1996). - Super-sonic Air Transport System Development: Whereas STA will support an R&D project at the National Aerospace Laboratory on a small-sized experimental super-sonic aircraft, MITI is also supporting R&D in the area of "component technologies" for possible use in the development of SSTs. MITI's FY'97 budget for this project is 289 million yen (191 million yen in 1996.) - Intelligent Air Navigation System: To develop a future-generation air navigation system utilizing GPS and other modern electronic technologies, MITI allocated 228 million yen in FY'97 (0 in 1996). - Development of Asian Community Airplanes: Surveys and preliminary studies will be started to develop air transport systems useful in Indonesia, Philippiines and other Asian countries where populations are scattered over many small islands. 45 million yen was allocated in FY'97 budget (0 in 1996). - Next-Generation Unmanned Space Experiment Systems: In order to help promote commercial and industrial use of "outer space," MITI has been promoting a variety of R&D projects, in collaboration with other agencies both within and outside Japan, on such themes as use of space environment, remote-sensing technologies, etc. In FY'97, 10,728 million yen was allocated for these projects (10,282 million yen in 1996). - Development of Comfortable Housing Systems: To develop high-quality housing towards the 21st century, MITI promotes R&D. The goals are to achieve production of good quality, highly comfortable, highly durable, and energy-efficient housing systems at low costs. MITI's FY'97 budget for this program is 1,687 million yen (1,526 million yen in 1996.) 3. Industrial Science and Technology Frontier Program (ISTF) MITI's Industrial Science and Technology Frontier Program (ISTF) aims at promoting fundamental and creative R&D directed towards the ultimate goal of making positive contributions towards sustained economic development both in Japan and other countries. The total budget for ISTF was increased to 28,070 million yen in FY'97 (from 26,421 million yen in 1996). In addition to those R&D projects on-going from previous fiscal years, MITI has added the following 3 new projects to be started in FY'97: - Bioconsortia technology: To develop new technologies for bioconsortia analysis, such as molecular genetic analysis and histo-chemical analysis, for possible use in industrial applications such as in the production of functional materials. - Advanced photon processing and measurement technology: To develop three photon-related advanced technologies for: 1) in-situ multidimensional measurement, 2) photon production and transmission, and 3) laser processing. - Super metal technology: To develop "super metals", high performance new metallic materials through use of innovative technologies for controlling microstructures of metals. - Also, as a sub-set of an on-going project, "R&D on Novel High-functional Materials," a new research theme is added to study "Harmonized Molecular Materials." In terms of "leading research projects" for feasibility studies, to be supported under ISTF, the following six projects were added in FY'97: - Conjugational (advanced glass) materials - Optoelectronic materials for parallel and ultra-fast data processing - Neuroactive materials - Intelligent system for urban infrastructure engineering - Eco-smart engine - "Super survey" for subsurface geophysical exploration 4. Medical and Welfare Equipment To support not only the on-going R&D projects in the area of "Medical and Welfare Equipment," MITI will establish so-called "Welfare Techno Houses" at various locations throughout the country as "cooperative research facilities" for use by researchers from universities, private companies and government laboratories working in joint projects on medical and welfare equipment. In FY'97, MITI's total budget was increased to 2,788 million yen (from 1,394 million yen in 1996). 5. Development of "Techno-Infra" To support R&D activities, MITI continues to make efforts to improve the so-called "Techno Infra" (technological infrastructure), including for example, measurement standards, standardized testing, and evaluation methodologies, protocols for management of chemicals and biological resources, and so forth. To this end, 1,004 million yen was allocated in FY'97 (934 million yen in 1996). 6. International R&D Cooperation MITI has allocated 2,630 million yen in FY'97 budget (2,540 million yen in 1996) to promote international R&D cooperation between MITI's laboratories and their counterpart foreign research institutes, both in advanced and developing countries. 7. Energy-related R&D - R&D on Load Leveling Technologies: In recent years, demands for electric power tend to fluctuate extensively between daytime and night time. To cope with this problem, MITI promotes R&D on technologies for large-scale storage of electric power, such as those based on high Tc superconducting technologies. 8,965 million yen was allocated in FY'97 (8,819 million yen in 1996.) - R&D on New Renewable Energy Sources: As oil-alternative energy sources, MITI continues to support R&D on such technologies as solar photovoltaic power generation and fuel cells. 5,248 million yen was allocated in FY'97 (4,651 million yen in 1996). - Nuclear Power-related Technologies: To prepare for the future when many of the light-water-type nuclear power reactors which are currently in use reach the age of de-commissioning, MITI increased R&D on those technologies to be required for the disposal and inspection of used reactors, as well as for securing safety for Japan's nuclear fuel cycle systems. 24,474 million yen was allocated in FY'97 (25,485 million yen in 1996.) - Energy-conservation measures: To further improve in energy conservation efficiency, medium- and long-range R&D projects are supported so as to develop high-performance highly-energy-efficient industrial reactors. 5,617 million yen was allocated in FY'97 (3,417 million yen in 1996). - Technologies for Stable Oil Supply: To help insure stable supply of oil, LNG and LPG, MITI supports R&D on such technologies as useful for oil-exploration, efficient utilization of oil, improved oil refining technologies to reduce environmental burden, introduction of environmentally-favorable LNG and LPG. 31,406 million yen was allocated in FY'97 (32,443 million yen in 1996). - Clean Coal Technologies: To ensure stable supply and use of coal as one of the major oil-alternative energy resources, MITI continues to develop "clean coal technologies" and to improve technologies for efficient coal production in Asian countries. 9,856 million yen was allocated in FY'97 (9,703 million yen in 1996.) - 26 -