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Home > Policy > White Paper, Notice, Announcement > White Paper > JAPANESE GOVERMENT POLICICIES IN EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND CULTURE 1994 > PART II Chapter 6 Section 4 1

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PART II Recent Trends and Developments in Government Policies in Education, Science and Culture
Chapter 6. Promoting Scientific Research
Section 4. The Role of Research Institutions in Promoting Scientific Research
1. New Directions for Research Institutions


In addition to university undergraduate faculties and graduate schools, research institutions that play a central role in the promotion of scientific research in Japan include interuniversity research institutes and research institutes attached to universities and faculties, as well as government research institutes under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture and private research institutes. In recent years the Ministry has been working to develop and enhance research institutions, with special emphasis on the promotion of joint research systems, such as interuniversity research institutes and national joint-use research institutes and research facilities. This trend reflects the growth of scientific research, especially the increasing sophistication of research methods, the expanding scale of projects, and the resulting rise in the importance and efficacy of joint research.

The growth of scientific research has also led to the expansion of interdisciplinary fields. The Ministry of Education, Science and Culture is responding to this trend by working to make research institutions more flexible and dynamic.


(1) Interuniversity Research Institutes

Interuniversity research institutes have made a significant contribution to research in many fields by providing venues for joint research by researchers from universities and other institutions throughout Japan and by providing special facilities, equipment, and resources for joint use. These institutions' research activities are among the most advanced in the world ( Table II.6.6 ).

Table II.6.6 Interuniversity Research Institutes (Fiscal 1994)


(2) Research Institutes Attached to Universities

Research institutes attached to universities are established by universities to enable concentrated research in specialized fields. They conduct creative research in cooperation with university educational and research activities at both the undergraduate and the graduate levels.

There are 63 research institutes attached to national universities (as of August 1994). Of these, 17 function as joint-use institutes for researchers from universities and other institutions throughout Japan. There are approximately 300 research institutes attached to local public and private universities (as of June 1, 1993).


(3) Research Facilities

National universities also have 406 research centers and research facilities attached to faculties (as of August 1994) for use by researchers within the university or by researchers in related fields throughout Japan. These are used for various research activities, especially joint research.


(4) Private Scientific Research Institutes

Private scientific research institutes are incorporated foundations and associations established to carry out scientific research. By August 1994 163 such organizations (158 foundations, 5 associations) had been established. Of these, 46 were involved in the humanities and social sciences and 117 in the natural sciences.


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