GREETING FROM DIRECTOR-GENERAL DR. SHIRAISHI
Director-General, Asia and Pacific Research CenterDr. Shiraishi TakashiThe global environment surrounding the science, technology and innovation (STI) system is undergoing enormous changes. The world's major countries are investing heavily in STI, and STI looks set to become a major driving force in global development.
The accelerating pace of digitalization and leap-frog development has led to the rise of emerging economies, especially in Asia, and rapid changes in the distribution of wealth and power both regionally and globally. Asia and the Pacific accounts for nearly 40% of the world's GDP (nominal) and R&D expenditures (IMF forecast for 2021, U.S. NSF 2017). As the dramatic increase in the number of high impact papers shows, the region has become a center of global STI progress, with significant political, economic, and social impacts.
At the same time, Japan, along with some other advanced countries, faces another set of challenges. Though it remains a stable democracy and one of the world's largest economies (even looking ahead to 2050), it is confronted with many challenges such as a declining birthrate and aging population, a decrease in the number of students studying abroad, declining competitiveness of scientific and technological research, food, energy, and other resource constraints. To meet these challenges, refashioning Japan's STI system should be a top priority.
So, what path should we take going forward ?
JST has decided to establish the Asia and Pacific Research Center (APRC) for the study of Asia and the Pacific. The APRC also aims to promote collaboration among researchers in the region. Inaugurated on April 1, 2021, the APRC is expected to serve as a hub for deepening ties among researchers, fostering mutual understanding, and laying the foundation for science-and-technology cooperation. The APRC is committed to transparency and the achievement of tangible objectives based on the three pillars of research, information dissemination, and networking. Through these activities we hope to strengthen our inter-regional connections and usher in a new era of innovation.
ABOUT US
The Asia and Pacific Research Center (APRC) promotes the following projects with the aim of becoming a foundation that supports science and technology cooperation between the rapidly developing Asia and Pacific regions and Japan.
Through these activities, we will contribute to the promotion of fruitful exchanges and mutual understanding, and by expanding and deepening science and technology cooperation between these regions, we will contribute to building the foundation for innovation in Japan.
RESEARCH
We collect a wide range of information on science and technology innovation policies, R&D trends, and related economic and social conditions in the Asia and Pacific regions and conduct focused surveys and analyses that respond to today's issues and needs.
These results are published as original reports and made publicly available on our portal sites.
We also hold workshops and debriefing sessions on our research.
INFORMATION
In order to promote mutual understanding between Japan and the Asia and Pacific regions, we operate various portal sites to share information on science, technology and innovation policies, research and development trends,and economic and social conditions.
NETWORKING
We plan and implement symposium and exchange events to contribute to the promotion of science and technology cooperation between Japan and the Asia and Pacific regions.
ORGANIZATION
ADVISORY BOARD
| Board Member | Organization |
|---|---|
| Kimura Fukunari | Professor, Faculty of Economics, Keio University |
| Oki Taikan | Professor, Graduate School of Engineering / Special Advisor to President, The University of Tokyo |
| Kawakami Momoko | Chief Senior Researcher, Area Studies Center, Institute of Developing Economies Japan External Trade Organization (IDE-JETRO) |
| Kawashima Shin | Professor, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo |
| Kuroda Atsuo | Chairman and CEO, Nippon Export and Investment Insurance |
| Takeyama Haruko | Professor, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Waseda University |
| Fujiki Kanji | Executive director, Science and Technology in Society forum |
BACKGROUND
In April 2021, the former China Research and Sakura Science Center (CRSC) was reorganized and reformed into the "Asia and Pacific Research Center".
Building on the center's accumulated experience promoting Japan-China relations in science and technology, we expanded the scope to cover the entire Asia and Pacific regions, and now promote a more comprehensive and diverse set of activities.