Keynote Session

Keynote Session topics

1. What are the recent key drivers behind the specific and tangible actions to foster innovation throughout the world?
   Innovation initiatives have registered on policy and business agendas for the past decade but it is only recently that these initiatives have become 'actions', particularly in the US, Europe and smaller countries such as Singapore. Why the sudden urgency?
   In addition to commonly cited drivers such as Web 2.0, Global 3.0 and a need to increase the speed of innovation, countries such as the US and those of the European Union are being driven by the launch of recent full-scale initiatives by China and India.
2. What are the characteristics and progress of the actions to launch innovation initiatives?
   Most of the recent initiatives for national innovation systems and programs seem to focus on education for the next generation. They are also characterized by a broad-based approach that includes coordinating various aspects of the social system, not just developments in Science & Technology.
3. What are the key drivers for implementing innovation initiatives in Japan and what are the characteristics of those drivers? How do Japan's innovation initiatives compare to those of other advanced economies?
   Japan shows few signs that it is fully aware of the full-scale, speedy initiatives of emerging economies. Recognition of the importance of investment and education for the next generation and of a broad-based approach has just begun.
4. What activities are being planned and conducted to fill the gap between the national/regional nature of innovation initiatives and the global nature of issues we face today such as energy efficiency, climate change, and health care? What is the role of the private sector and younger generation?
   

Objective/Expected Output

An objective of the keynote session is to present Japan's national innovation initiatives including Innovation 25 in the most up-to-date and global context possible. Another objective is to compare national and regional potential to contribute to resolving global issues such as environmental degradation and energy supply. Here, the potential of Japan's initiatives will be addressed with reference to those in the US, so this session will appeal to an international and Japanese audience. The session will also address the role of private sector.

Bridging Session

Setting the Tone:
New trends in innovation policy of Japan-Conversion from societal to economic values-

This session bridges the keynote and panel sessions by describing the trends-economic, social and cultural as well as technological-influencing Japan's innovation policies that are based on the report "The Future Society Envisaged by the Science Community" by the SCJ and strategic proposals by the CRDS, JST.

Panel: Issues and Actions Focusing on Education for the Next Generation, "Openness" and Role of the Private Sector

Major topics

We will have a panel, focusing on the following topics.

1)	Education and development of the next generation
	Innovation depends heavily on the people who take risks and accept challenges with perseverance. In order to continue innovation in an increasingly knowledge-based society, education of the next generation is a key.
	What are the issues/impediments to improving education and what needs to be done? Impediments may include the persistence of traditional ways of thinking, a conventional mentality, an outdated education system, and a lack of enabling devices such as ICT, and the reluctance on the part of those who are in power.
2)	Securing openness
	Openness to innovation beyond national and regional levels is a key to resolving global issues, as demonstrated by the open-system clusters of Silicon Valley in the US and Bangalore in India. What are the impediments to openness throughout the world and what needs to be done? What role should the stakeholders, particularly companies, play?
	Specific actions could include: establishing a global/regional network to transfer technology facilitating regulatory reform in some nations reforming educational institutions to make them more open facilitating continual exchange of young scientists establishing international teams of expert funded to focus on specific global issues.
3)	Role of stakeholders in pursuing collaborative efforts in: i) resolving global issues and, ii) ensuring that the relevant actions are taken to deliver specific benefits to the parties in need.

Objective/Expected Output

The panel will emphasize the importance of education and development of the next generation so we can build a truly innovative society. A commitment to progress from a conventional mentality and traditional ways of thinking will be emphasized, as the mechanisms to facilitate more openness between nations and across regions. The panel will also list specific actions required in the private sector to transfer energy-efficient and environmentally friendly technologies to those in need. Specific actions to ensure collaboration with tangible results will be discussed. As such, this session will have a broad appeal, particularly to the younger generation, business leaders, public policy makers, and the education and research sectors.