Home > Policy > White Paper, Notice, Announcement > White Paper > WHITE PAPER ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY2003 > Part3 3.4 3.4.1 3.4.1.5

  The"Human Frontier Science Program"(HFSP)was proposed by Japan at the Venice Summit of June1987,with the aim to promote,through international cooperation,basic research focused on the elucidation of the sophisticated and complex mechanisms of living organisms.Members of HFSP include the G-7nations(Japan,the U.S.,Germany,France,the U.K.,Italy,and Canada),the EU,and Switzerland.The International Human Frontier Science Program Organization(HFSPO)was established in1989.Based on the principles of"international collaboration among continents,""interdisciplinary approach to the life sciences,"and"youth-oriented"action,the HFSPO provides re-search grants to subsidize international joint re-search teams,fellowships to subsidize travel,accommodation,and other expenses for young re-searchers conducting research abroad,and implements international research workshops.With a total of eight grant recipients from the program having later been awarded the Nobel Prize,the program receives great acclaim all over the world.Japan has been actively supporting the program ever since it first proposed it.

  Intergovernmental meeting was held in Berlin in June2002;discussions took place on the HFSP's financial problems and the themes for subsidizing.

  In March1994,the United States,the EU(then EC),and the Russian Federation established the International Science and Technology Center(ISTC),in order to provide an opportunity for scientists and engineers from the former Soviet Union,who possess knowledge and skills related to weapons of mass destruction,to engage in peaceful activities and to contribute to the resolution of technology issues both internationally and within the nations of the former Soviet Union.

  To date,approximately,a total of500million dollars has been approved to initiate specific projects aimed to achieve the goals of the organization.Further,over36,000researchers have been engaged in research activities.

  The number of projects supported by private-sector corporations as partner projects has also been increasing due to the high caliber and originality of science and technology in the former Soviet Union.

  Japan has adopted a policy to contribute to and cooperate with ISTC activities including personnel assistance,to ensure that the organization may continue to smoothly implement its activities in the future.Furthermore,Japan is actively involved in the expansion of the number of new participants including corporations,and in the implementation of projects that contribute to the resolution of global issues.

  The aim of the International Space Station(ISS)program is to develop the infrastructure that makes possible full-fledged utilization of space environment and manned space activities by constructing a manned space station in low orbit about400km above the Earth.The program started with the international cooperation of such as Japan,U.S.A.,Europe and Canada.In January1998the new Agreement concerning Cooperation on the Civil International Space Station was signed by all partners as a result of Russian participation,and it was ratified by the Japanese Diet in April1998and became effective in March2001.

  Assembly of the International Space Station on orbit commenced in November1998.The first long-term crew stay on the space station began in November2000.Japan is participating in this project with its own experiment module,the Japanese Experiment Module(JEM)"Kibo,"Japanese astronauts are scheduled to stay for a long period of time at the space station in the future.However,following the Space Shuttle Columbia accident in February2003,deliberations are being held among the concerned parties as to how to proceed in the future.

  The goal of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor(ITER)project is to develop a tokamak experimental fusion reactor through international cooperative efforts,in order to demonstrate the scientific and technological feasibility of fusion energy,which is expected to become one of the future permanent energy sources for humanity.The project originated in1985from proposals by leaders of the United States and the former Soviet Union to promote international cooperation for research and development on nuclear fusion for peaceful purposes.Conceptual Design Activities have been carried out since1988,followed by the implementation of Engineering Design Activities since1992.ITER Engineering Design Activities were completed in July2001with the publication of a final design report.Intergovernmental negotiations on matters including a joint implementation agreement,site selection,and cost sharing have been taking place since November2001between the four involved parties of Japan,the EU,Russia,and Canada.The Negotiations Meetings have been held eight times to date,at which Rokkasho(Japan),Cadarache(France),Vandellos(Spain),and Clarington(Canada)have been proposed as potential sites.In addition,the United States and China entered the project in February2003,and discussions are now proceeding between six parties.Japan's basic policy is to push ahead with the ITER project through international cooperation,based on the document entitled"On the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor Project,"which was laid down by the Council on Science and Technology Policy on May29,2002.The Cabinet consented to the presenting of Rokkashomura,Kamikita County,Aomori Prefecture as the candidate site for consideration at the Intergovernmental Conference,and this forms the base of Japan's responses at the Negotiations Meetings.

  The Large Hadron Collider(LHC)is a project to construct a proton colliding particle accelerator proposed by the European Organization for Nuclear Research(CERN).The LHC project was officially approved by the CERN Council meeting inDecember1994.

  The LHC is a large circular accelerator with superconducting magnets placed in an underground tunnel of27km in circumference.It will accelerate protons to nearly the speed of light,in opposite directions,to enable proton collisions.The ultra-high energies generated by these proton collisions make it possible to create previously undiscovered particles that will be useful in exploring and revealing the internal structures of matter.

  In Japan,the Ministry of Education,Culture,Sports,Science and Technology carries out re-searches for the LHC project.The LHC project is viewed with anticipation both for its scientific significance as well as its potentiality to lead to the creation of new industries.

  The"Integrated Ocean Drilling Program"(IODP 91) )is an international research program involving joint operation of a Japanese riser drilling vessel capable of deep drilling as deep as7,000meters below the bottom of the seafloor,to reach the mantle,and a U.S.non-riser drilling vessel.

  Through research into deep crustal and sedimentary strata,the program is expected to contribute to elucidation of the mechanisms for environmental change and tectonic mechanism in earthquakes,as well as to the search for undiscovered life forms and new resources.

  Basic design of the riser drilling vessel began in1999,and construction was under way two years later.Thereafter,the vessel was named"Chikyu,"and a launching ceremony was held in January2002in Tamano City,Okayama Prefecture.

  Furthermore,policymakers from the expected IODP member countries and organizations,led by those in Japan and the United States,are proceeding with discussions on the IODP management structure,heading toward the start of the IODP in October2003.