Our Program

Outline of the Program

Japan has been promoting science and technology (S&T) for 15 years under three successive Science and Technology Basic Plans. The 4th Basic Plan, covering the five-year period beginning in fiscal 2011, also provides for the “integrated development of science, technology, and innovation (STI) policy” under which policies concerning S&T as well as S&T based innovation are carried out comprehensively. In furthering the relationship of S&T to society, it is necessary to carry out STI policy, as part of policies for society and the public good, with the broad participation of citizens, gaining their understanding and trust. To this end the benefits of STI to society and its impact must be made visible, in this and other ways planning and carrying out policy based on objective evidence and achieving a more rational policy forming process, while exercising greater accountability to the public.

Against this background, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) launched the “Science for RE-designing Science, Technology and Innovation Policy” program in fiscal 2011, aimed at realizing objective evidence-based policy forming so that effective policies can be proposed to deal with issues, drawing on a multifaceted analysis and grasp of economic, societal and other factors.

As a part of the program, RISTEX has been conducting a research funding program to promote R&D on Science of STI Policy, since June 2011.

Objective of the Program

  • Promoting R&D projects on new analytic methodologies, models, data-systematization tools and aggregate indicators that can be used in actual policy,
  • Increasing the number of researchers who work on this challenge in a wide range of disciplines and interdisciplinary fields, and expanding the community network through public relations and dialogue on the activities.

Period of the Program

Total of seven years from FY 2011 to 2017 (New R&D projects will be accepted for the first four years)

Targeted R&D Projects

R&D projects on new methodologies and indicators related to the following issues will be targeted, and outcomes will be sought that can be used in the actual formulation of the Fifth Science and Technology Basic Plan to be adopted for FY 2016-2020 and other medium- to long-term policy-forming process.

  • Designing and implementation of a strategic framework for forming overall STI policy;
  • Determination of the social and the economic impact of public investment in R&D;
  • Assessment of optimal system (organization, framework, etc) for promoting STI policy, and the impact of the system on the STI process; and
  • Development of designs for frameworks to promote the participation of members of society in STI policy formation, creation of related methodologies, and use of them in actual policy formation.

In respective R&D projects, approaches will be sought that create outcomes which can be implemented and can take root in policy and society. This will include, for example,

  • Promotion of multidisciplinary R&D that harnesses expertise that encompasses both the natural sciences as well as the humanities and social sciences;
  • On-site activities or simulations of the use of R&D outputs;
  • Collaboration by researchers, policy-makers and other parties at the appropriate stages of the R&D; and
  • Development of cooperation with other related programs, keeping in mind international trends.

《Length and Expenses of R&D Projects》
Length of Individual R&D Projects: 1.5 to 3 years
R&D Expenses per Project: Appox. 5million yen annually

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