Home > Policy > White Paper, Notice, Announcement > White Paper > Annual Report on the Promotion of Science and Technology 1998 > Part1 Chapter3 Section5

1. In this "era of change", the following factors will be important to responding to various domestic and international issues. These factors are not independent of one other, but must be advanced together.

Society is changing dramatically, and the research community must "create" new and innovative results which lead to change and it must also create a new dynamism.

Continued efforts to implement the following approach are necessary to achieve a new "creativity" in this era of change:

* It is important to understand various domestic and international issues with an extensive and overlooking perspective. At the same time, we must engage in research and development by establishing the most appropriate research goals and by gathering and coordinating expertise and human resources from a variety of scientific and technological fields.

* In addition to and in support of this approach, Japan must carry out globally competitive research management.

Japan must improve policy strategies with regard to science and technology by redoubling efforts to implement the above measures.

2. In December of last year, the Administrative Reform Council issued its final report regarding new administrative systems for the 21st Century. The government will do its utmost to comply with this report and central government ministries and agencies are currently carrying out preparations necessary for implementation of the reforms therein.

With regard to science and technology, this report proposes implementing several reforms such as establishing a Council on Arts and Science and Technology and a Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and restructuring national research institutions.

Based on the proposals in this report, by modifying and amending administrative systems such as by establishing a Council on Arts and Science and Technology and a Ministry of Education, Science and Technology in the future, and while continuing to ensure the compatibility and universality of academic science and science and technology research, the government will improve the universality and future suitability of comprehensive national government policies for science and technology which incorporate the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Continuous efforts to implement these modifications and amendments are essential in order that these changes bring about successful results and in order that science and technology are able to contribute to creating a dynamic and confident society in the 21st Century.

Today, with only two and half years remaining before the new millennium, increasing efforts in order to achieve change is a matter of great urgency. The Science and Technology Basic Law enacted and the Science and Technology Basic Plan was adopted. With these law and policies, gradual, steady efforts to build a nation that is creative in science and technology are currently underway. Additional efforts are necessary to achieve change, and, through these efforts, Japan will be positioned as a Science and Technology Creative Nation.