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  The relevant national government ministries are implementing a variety of measures aimed at promoting regional research (Table3-3-20) .The following sections introduce some of the main examples concerning research activities conducted by each government ministry.

  To implement basic and pioneering research and development that fulfills regional needs and potentials,it is important to promote coordination and exchanges between industries,academia,and the governments.For this reason,it is necessary to develop a diverse range of research programs and to strengthen the coordination functions for research and development.In this regard,the government ministries have implemented the following research programs.

  The New IT applications R&D,also known as the Multimedia Pilot Town Project,has been implemented since FY1997 for the purpose of carrying out research and development in research fields that have been developed and provided by local government authorities,etc.,in order to achieve telecommunications systems with advanced features which combine basic constituent technologies resulting from research and development in the telecommunications and broadcasting sectors.

  In order to support the independence and societal participation of the elderly,the Telecommunications Advancement Organization of Japan(TAO)seeks the cooperation of local government authorities and implements research and development that is aimed at establishing telecommunications systems with advanced features that are sought within welfare sector.

  Moreover,since FY1998,the Ministry has implemented a regional proposal-based research and development program that publicly canvasses the regional industry,academia,and government for research and development themes that respond to regional needs,and implements contract research with the aim of improving research and development capabilities at the regional level,and to promote local industry.

  Starting in FY2001,the Ministry positions within its"Promotion of Pilot Research"Program as"Pilot R&D that Brings Out Local Characteristics"any R&D that utilizes the Special Coordination Funds for Promoting Science and Technology to bring out the character of local areas,and that treats areas where boundary or interdisciplinary research and development across a multiple number of science and technology sectors is required.In FY2002,the Ministry engaged in four such research subjects.

  Moreover,for priority sectors that the national government needs to promote,the Ministry implements Regional Science Promoter programs that aim for the formation of network-based regional Centers of Excellence(COEs)by concentrating regional research potential through functional co-operation among related research institutions and that implement intensive research and development toward the goal of creating new technologies and industries.

  At local R&D promotions sites,the Ministry implements the Network Building Type Regional Science Promotion Program,which supports the promotion of local research by expanding research coordination functions between national and public research institutes,universities,and private sector research institutes.For regions where a research network has been developed through the implementation of the Network Building Type Regional Science Promotion Program,etc.,the Ministry implements the Developing Research Outputs Type Regional Science Promotion Program,with the aim of fostering the commercialization of research outputs from universities.

  In addition,the Japan Marine Science and Technology Center(JAMSTEC)implements re-search and development on coastal environments and their utilization,with the cooperation of regional areas.

  In order to promote technology development directly related to agricultural production,the Ministry of Agriculture,Forestry and Fisheries implements research to promote key agricultural technology systems at the regional level,through large-scale and integrated research that includes on-site verifications at paddy fields.

  In addition,the Ministry implements a Regional Advanced Technology Joint Research and Development Promotion Project that carries out research aimed at the efficient and practical use of biotechnology and other advanced technologies,through coordination between industry,academia,and the government.Additionally,as part of the Millennium Project,the Ministry has implemented the Research and Development Project to Create New Enterprises since FY2000.This program is aimed at the realization of functional crops that prevent lifestyle-caused diseases,biotic pesticides that take the place of chemical pesticides,etc.Furthermore,starting in FY2002,the Ministry implemented a project that invites proposals from the public.Relying on local initiative,the"Project for Research Advancement in Agriculture,Forestry,and Fisheries Utilizing Advanced Technologies"aims at the rapid promotion experimentation and research in the agriculture,forestry,and fisheries sector that have real relevance for the working sites.

  For important research and development themes that respond to regional needs or utilize R&D potential at the regional level,the Ministry of Economy,Trade and Industry implements the Priority Regional Technology Research and Development System primarily through the Agency of Industrial Science and Technology(AIST),at which research and development are carried out in coordination with public research institutes,private sector corporations,etc.

  Additionally,the Ministry implements the Regional Consortium Research and Development Program,in which regional industry,academia,and governments form joint research systems(consortiums),by utilizing seed technologies accumulated by national research institutes,universities,etc.,to promote technology development for the purpose of creating new industries.

  The Ministry implements the Regionally Linked Environmental Research Program,which carries out joint research with national research institutes and public research institutes.This program focuses on research themes for which there is strong demand at the regional level,and which require study that matches the characteristics of the regional environment.

  In areas with great R&D potential,such as areas adjacent to universities or research institutions that have vibrant R&D activities,Research Result Utilization Plazas are being developed and operated Hokkaido(Sapporo City),Miyagi Prefecture(Sendai City),Ishikawa Prefecture(Tatsunokuchi Town),Aichi Prefecture(Nagoya City),Osaka Prefecture(Izumi City),Hiroshima Prefecture(Higashi Hiroshima City),and Fukuoka Prefecture(Fukuoka City).In addition,there are plans to develop a new plaza in Kyoto Prefecture(Kyoto City).These facilities serve to encourage cooperation in local areas between industry,academia,and government,to coordinate strategic research and development,and to identify results of basic research obtained at universities,etc.,for strategic fostering and utilization of research results and returning the fruits of research to society,through such activities as acquisition of legal rights and formation of private enterprises.

  It is important to develop research facilities and other infrastructures with regard to promoting regional distinct science and technology.The following projects serve to support the development of the research facilities.

  The Ministry of Education,Culture,Sports,Science,and Technology is promoting new development of local infrastructure facilities for pilot science and technology,in support of local government programs for development of infrastructure facilities that contribute to pilot research based on local characteristics and potential(these facilities include fundamental R&D facilities that contribute to the advancement of local research potential).

  In order to provide R&D and technology support,etc.,that leads to the advancement of industries and academia at the regional level,the relevant government ministries are implementing various measures directed at public research institutes.These measures are summarized in Table3-3-21 .

Table3-3-21Summary of support for the strengthening of the activities and capacities of research and development and technology support functions at public research institutions

  The following measures are being implemented in order to encourage coordination and exchanges between the national government and local government authorities,as well as between different regions.

  As part of the measures to promote regional research about science and technology,the Ministry of Education,Culture,Sports,Science and Techno-logy is sponsoring Regional Science and Techno-logy Promotion Conferences.These conferences seek to create opportunities for cooperation between various realms such as relevant organizations,industry,and academia,with the aim of contributing to the establishment of a foundation for promoting regional research about science and technology.These conferences provide an opportunity to bring various relevant personnel altogether,and to gene-rate an understanding between the national government and the regions,for information exchange between different regions,and to consider various issues surrounding the region in question.

  The Japan Association for the Advancement of Research Exchange Cooperation(JAREC)was established in June1992based on funds provided by local government authorities,with the aim of supporting research exchanges and promoting regional research about S&T.This association implements various research support programs and nationwide research exchange programs,for regions commencing cutting edge or basic research.

  The Industrial Technology Liaison Council was established in1954in order to strengthen the cooperation among public research institutes and/or with national research institutes in relation to mining and manufacturing technology,to effectively promote experiments and research between institutes and thus to improve industrial technologies.The council is composed of seven liaison divisions,eight regional councils,and a welfare technology division which is a horizontal organization.The council serves to facilitate research cooperation,research coordination,research exchanges,and information exchanges among public research institutes as well as between public and national institutes.