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Home > Policy > White Paper, Notice, Announcement > White Paper > WHITE PAPER ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY2003 > Part3 3.4 3.4.1 3.4.1.1

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Part3 Measures Adopted for Promotion of Science and Technology
3.4 Promoting International Science and Technology Activity
3.4.1 Developing Leading Activities for International Cooperation
3.4.1.1 Development of Frameworks for Multilateral Cooperation


3.4.1.1.1Summit Meeting of Major Nations(G7 Summit)

  First discussed at the8th Versailles Summit at the proposal of French President Mitterand,science and technology has been discussed frequently in summit meetings.

3.4.1.1.2the United Nations(UN)

  The United Nations utilizes various committees and organizations to address important issues related to natural resources,energy,food,climate,the environment,and natural disasters,since these problems require solutions from a global perspective.At the World Summit on Sustainable Development(WSSD)held in the Republic of South Africa between August and September2002,Japan pro-posed various contributions to the sustainable development of scientific knowledge.These proposals included:(1)cooperative observation and research on disaster prevention and the hydrologic cycle;(2)furtherance of organized observation for predicting climate change;(3)expansion of the Integrated Global Observing Strategy(IGOS);and(4)development and expansion of utilization of global observing technologies used in satellites.

  These proposals were incorporated into an execution plan of guidelines for future behavior.

  To address the problem of natural disasters,the United Nations sponsored the Program Forum convened in Geneva,Switzerland in July1999,which examined the results of the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction(IDNDR)and came to the agreement that all member countries should henceforth continue to promote international cooperation in the field of disaster prevention.In response to this declaration,the Asian Disaster Reduction Center,which was established in Kobe in July1998,continued to move forward with its activities,while in January2003,the United Nations Asia Conference for International Disaster Strategies was held in Kobe.

  Japan also actively participates in and cooperates with a broad range of programs and activities in science and technology fields that are initiated through the United Nations Educational,Scientific,and Cultural Organization(UNESCO).

  UNESCO has designated"water"as the principal priority in science field,and is dealing with the water problem in the world through the various programs such as International Hydrological Programme(IHP).UNESCO is also serving as the secretariat for the"World Water Assessment Programme"(WWAP)now being implemented by twenty-three UN organizations.UNESCO issued a report on the efforts being made against the global-scale water problem at the World Summit on Sustainable Development held in Johannesburg in August2002,and announced the first World Water Development Report(WWDR)at the Third World Water Forum held in March2003.

3.4.1.1.3The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development(OECD)

  The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development(OECD)works through its Committee for Scientific and Technological Policy(CSTP),the Committee for Information,Computer and Communications Policy(ICCP),the Committee on Industry and Business Environment(CIBE),Agriculture Committee(AGR),the Environment Policy Committee(EPOC),the Nuclear Energy Agency(NEA),the International Energy Agency(IEA),and others to engage in activities related to science and technology,including exchange of opinions,experiences,information,and personnel between member countries,preparation of statistical information,and implementation of joint research.

  The objective of the CSTP is to promote co-operation between member countries in the field of science and technology policy,in order to contribute to the economic and social development of member countries.At the79th Committee Meeting held in October2002,discussions included the governance of science and technology systems,intellectual property rights,and the agenda for the ministerial-level meeting to be held in2004.

  The Committee consists of the following four subgroups which implement concrete activities in their respective fields.

(1) Global Science Forum(GSF)

  The primary objective of the Global Science Forum(GSF)is to promote international science and technology cooperation that contributes to the resolution of issues on a global scale.The forum was established in June1999,in order to take over the activities of the Megascience Forum,and to serve as a forum for science and technology policymakers to exchange opinions about important issues within the science and technology sector that require international cooperation and concerted action.The forum is also intended to issue proposals that contribute to the determination of science and technology policies.

  The meetings of June2002and January2003included studies regarding the High Energy Physics Consulting Group,the Neuro-Informatics Working Group,the Radio Astronomy Task Force,and the Study on International Scientific Co-operation.

  The objective of the Study on International Scientific Co-operation,which was proposed by Japan,is to obtain information-through the investigation of existing international scientific collaboration projects-that may be useful in the implementation of future projects.In February2003,the"MEXT/OECD/Global Science Forum International Science and Technology Workshop,"which welcomed numerous researchers from a-round the world and summed up the Study on International Scientific Co-operation,was held in Tokyo under the auspices of the MEXT.The report of the workshop is scheduled to be submitted to the Global Science Forum to be held in June2003.

(2)Working Party on Innovation and Technology Policy(TIP)

  The primary objective of the Working Party on Innovation and Technology Policy(TIP)is to clarify the procedures and working methods to establish productivity,employment,and economic growth in relation to science and technology knowledge.

  TIP engaged in studies of the National Innovation System(NIS),innovation and growth,and innovation and competition.In the future,study will continue on Innovation and Intellectual Property Rights,Cooperation between the Public and Private sectors for innovation,and on changes in research and development funding in the public and private sectors.

(3)Working Party on Biotechnology(WPB)

  The primary objective of the Working Party on Biotechnology is to support the promotion of safe and effective utilization of biotechnology.

  The13th meeting of the WPB held in Paris in November2002called for continued discussions into"intellectual property rights for genetic discoveries,""biotechnology for sustainable industrial development,"and"Biological Resource Centers."

(4)Working Party of National Experts on Science and Technology Indicators(NESTI89))

  A NESTI meeting was held in Paris in June2002,where discussions were held on revising the Frascati Manual,a proposed international standard for the data collection and survey of research and experimental development activities.The revised draft of the manual were presented to and approved by the CSTP in October2002.

  In addition,workshops on human resources in science and technology(HRST)were held in Paris in June2002and March2003.Reports and discussions took place on improvements to the indicators on HRST.


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