Science and technology in Japan : activities of CRDS / JST

Abstract

The Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) is one of the independent funding agencies of the Government of Japan. JST's mission is to promote science and technology in Japan through various activities, including promotion of all phases of R&D from basic researches to commercialization, and distributing scientific and technical information. As one of them, JST supports basic research for creating new technological seeds thorough grants for some types of programs. These are top-down programs, with Strategic Sectors set by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). The major research areas of the programs are four as follows : Life Sciences, IT, Environmental Sciences, Nanotechnology and Materials. These four areas are given the highest priority in accordance with national and social needs in the Second Science and Technology Basic Plan. In order to promote top-down programs more effectively, it is necessary to strengthen R&D strategy design functions. JST established the Center for Research and Development Strategy (CRDS) in July, 2003 to design R&D strategy for JST programs. In this paper, outline of science and technology policy in Japan and activities of CRDS were introduced.