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When we compare the examination structure for competitive funds of Japan with that of Euro-American countries, we find both adopt the same system of peer review (cross-evaluation by counterpart researchers of the same field), but the number of evaluation committee members is relatively few for the number of examination cases per annum, thus casting heavy burden on evaluation bodies and evaluators ( Table 18 ).

Table 18 International Comparison of Evaluation Structure on Competitive Funds

Japan lacks in full-time evaluation human resources, both qualitatively and quantitatively. As such, it is required to strengthen whole evaluation systems by apportioning part of the research expense to evaluation work for establishing evaluation units and securing research-experienced human recourses at home and abroad. Fostering human resources for evaluation is also required.

In order to realize evaluation of high universality and reliability in individual issue of research, our country as a whole must be equipped with database complied on researchers, funds, achievement, evaluators and evaluation results. Also, we must consider the introduction of electronic system for the evaluation.