【Document2】Review of Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (Draft)

Review of Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (Draft)

               , 2018
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology

1. Policy requirements and current issues

  The Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (“JAMSTEC”) is a national research and development agency aiming to enhance marine science and technology standards and it contributes to the development of academic research by conducting fundamental research and development (R&D) on the oceans and other related tasks, such as extending cooperation in academic research on the oceans in a comprehensive manner based on the principles of peace and welfare.
  In the 5th Science and Technology Basic Plan (decided by the Cabinet on January 22, 2016), marine science and technology is considered part of science and technology which will produce great values critical for national strategy. In the 3rd Basic Plan on Ocean Policy (decided by the Cabinet on May 15, 2018), the enhancement of scientific knowledge is always being considered as one of the major initiatives to be implemented, and therefore, efforts for ensuring full maritime security, including the establishment of a Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) system, and provisions for promoting Japan’s Arctic Policy were newly added to its working agenda. In particular, R&D is essential for achieving the goal of Society5.0 even in the field of oceanographic science, for instance, by creating new values using artificial intelligence (AI) and obtaining the capacity for big data analysis by developing the relevant technology based on an enormous amount of oceanographic information as gathered in oceanographic survey and observation system and utilizing the results for economic development and solutions to social issues.
  With regard to international situations, the control, conservation and sustainable use of the oceans and marine resources were included in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (UN Sustainable Development Summit in September 2015), in the G7 Ise-Shima Leaders’ Declaration (May 2016), and in the communique of G7 Science and Technology Ministers’ Meeting in Tsukuba (May 2016). This indicates that the importance of the oceans has become a common understanding both in Japan and abroad.
  Under these circumstances, CST’s Subdivision on Maritime Science, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) formulated a research and development plan on marine science and technology (in January 2017; hereinafter referred to as the “R&D Plan”) to clarify the fields of marine science and technology to be promoted and policies of promotion by the MEXT.
  JAMSTEC has produced distinguished results in a wide range of fields in marine science and technology sector in the third period for medium-term objectives. In the next period for mid to long-term objectives, it is also expected to play a major role as a core institution of Japan’s marine science and technology in light of changes in domestic and international situations and accompanying issues as described above, and contribute to creating, disseminating and deploying high outcome levels through oceanographic observation and various R&D projects by taking advantages of the strength of JAMSTEC which has a number of research vessels and equipment.
  For assuming such a role and responding to public expectation, JAMSTEC has to continue its efforts more aggressively to tackle the following issues:

・Maintaining of continued control, conservation and sustainable use of marine environments, responses to ocean originated natural disasters and contribution to resolving economic and social issues.
・Reinforcement of the oceanographic survey and observation system for establishing a Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) system in collaboration with related ministries and agencies and contributing to maritime safety and security.
・Promotion of R&D on integration, analysis and prediction of an enormous amount of oceanographic information to achieve Soceity5.0 in the oceanographic science area.
・Improvement of Japan’s R&D capabilities and international presence in marine science and technology and creation of innovative ideas.

  Because it is essential to further cooperate with other agencies closely to find solutions on these issues, an innovative collaboration system is expected to be established in addition to the optimization of work assignment and joint efforts to strengthen the current collaboration with other agencies.
  To promote organizational efforts in an integrated manner while maintaining collaboration between individual scientific areas within the organization, and conducting regular reviews of the organization and efforts for improving governance are required as well as the development and recruitment of human resources and reinforcement of financial ground required for these efforts.
  Moreover, incorporated administrative agencies are required to take information security measures according to the Common Standards of Information Security Measures for Government Agencies (decided by the Cyber Security Strategy Headquarters on August 31, 2016, and revised on July 25, 2018) and the Basic Policy for Inspecting the Strengthening of Cyber Security Measures (decided by the Cyber Security Strategy Headquarters on May 25, 2015, revised on October 12, 2016) pursuant to the Basic Act on Cybersecurity (Act No. 104 of 2014).

2. Measures to be taken

  The following measures should be taken based on the above-mentioned policy requirements for incorporated administrative agencies and current issues:

(1) Mid to long-term objective period

  JAMSTEC is a national research and development agency mainly aiming at maximizing R&D outcomes. It is required to set mid to long-term objectives in the light of the characteristics of the R&D activities including a long-term view. Accordingly, the period for mid to long-term objectives for JAMSTEC is seven years.

(2) Direction of mid to long-term objective

  In the next mid to long-term objectives, the role of JAMSTEC should be mentioned in details and clearly based on the requirements listed below. In view of the objective and accurate evaluation of the achievement level of the objectives, specific indexes should be determined according to the predefined content and achievement level of the objectives.

○ Focused R&D themes
  The initiatives set forth in the 3rd Basic Plan on Ocean Policy and other R&D plans should be steadily implemented to maximize the R&D outcomes as required for a national research and development agency. Specifically, the focus should be put on the following R&D themes:

・Contribution to the understanding and prediction of changes in global environment, management and mitigation of disasters relating to sea area earthquakes, tsunamis and sea area volcanoes, and promotion of R&D for enhancing scientific knowledge and resolving issues such as the sustainable use of marine resources including living creatures and minerals.
・Promotion of basic R&D including establishment and enhancement of a system for efficient oceanographic survey and observation.
・Creation of new values by strengthening integration and analysis of data obtained from oceanographic survey and observation, and distributing useful information to the public.
・Gaining of insights to support next-generation marine science and technology by promoting challenging and creative R&D.

○ Closer cooperation with other agencies
  In order to take the necessary role as a core institution of marine science and technology to improve R&D capabilities of universities and research institutes in Japan in related scientific fields, and promote social implementation of R&D outcomes, JAMSTEC is required to make strategic partnership and cooperate more closely with universities, research institutes, private companies and municipalities in Japan and abroad and accelerate collaborative innovation. For this purpose, it should carry out necessary organizational transformation, skill development of officers and exchange human resources with related agencies in Japan and abroad.

○ Improvement of human resources development functions
  Efforts to improve the quality and pool of skilled and insightful human resources should be promoted for sustaining R&D of the oceans into the future, and providing marine science and technology to resolve economic and social issues. Efforts should also be made to recruit outstanding researchers from Japan and abroad without any limit to the fields of expertise to produce an atmosphere to create new values and provide a better research environment.

○ Efforts on financial content
  Efforts include those for increasing self-generated income by acquiring external funds, such as competitive research funds, strengthening collaboration with private companies and research institutes in Japan and abroad, and using R&D outcomes and intellectual properties strategically to further vitalize R&D activities.

○ Efforts concerning operation and organization
  The organizational management function should be further reinforced in consideration of the results of the third period for medium-term objectives. Management and operation of the agency must be reviewed regularly under the leadership of the president to accomplish the mission of a national research and development agency to maximize R&D outcomes. In particular, it is essential to establish a management system suitable for accomplishing the objectives in an integrated manner and change the consciousness of employees as the officers of a national research and development agency, while considering a flexible organizational management for improving the entire Japan’s R&D capabilities and international presence as well as creating innovative ideas.

○ Promotion of information security measures
  Necessary information security measures should be continuously taken according to the basic policies and criteria on information security measures as decided by JAMSTEC based on the Common Standards of Information Security Measures for Government Agencies, and results of audits carried out by the Cyber Security Strategy Headquarters.

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