3.Reinforcing the foundation for promoting S＆T

（1）Systematic and prioritized improvements of facilities

 Promoting the improvements of such facilities as universities and public research institutions is essential for promoting the development of talented world-class human resources, creative and advanced R＆D, and becoming a creative S＆T nation, and such improvements need to be implemented by order of priority in public facilities as well.

 In so doing, as universities are particularly required to turn out such outstanding human resources as researchers that will lead the next generation, they are required to develop an environment and atmosphere fitting for a place of creative learning and research.

（1）Improvements of facilities such as national universities and public research institutions

 Although the restrictedness of facilities that have been worked on by priority through the “Five-Year Program for Emergent Renovation and Building of Facilities of National Universities, etc.” have been improved as planned, improvements on deteriorated facilities have been gotten behind, and as a result they have increased in correlation with the demands for improvements because of deterioration by aging. Moreover, there have been new education and research needs such as responses to graduate schools newly established after 2001, responses to securing space for education and research activities of young researchers, and responses to the training and practice associated with the development of new diagnostic and treatment techniques.

 The deterioration of such facilities as national universities built in large numbers from the 1960s to 1970s is continuing, and as they are not only unable to respond to the new educational and research needs in terms of function, but as there are also safety issues such as earthquake resistance and the aging of key facilities, the government will take particular budgetary steps for systematic improvements from a long-term perspective by positioning the regeneration of the aging facilities as a high-priority issue.

 The dimensions of improvements required in national universities have reached approximately 10 million square meters. The government will support systematic improvements by formulating a facilities improvement plan that incorporates facilities that require urgent improvements during the five years of the third basic plan from the perspective of carrying out the regeneration of deteriorated facilities as a high-priority for outstanding research centers, and basic facilities that emphasize human resource development functions.

 Moreover, for university hospitals and nationally-run specialist medical centers that are implementing improvements through long-term borrowings, the government will support steady systematic improvements so that they can continue to fulfill their pioneering roles in advance medical care.

 National universities are required to promote facilities improvements through new methods based on self-help efforts such as enhancing the collaboration with the business world and local governments, to utilize long-term loans and the private finance initiative （PFI）, further enhance facilities management systems such as facilities operation and maintenance, and secure flexible and mobile space from an all-campus perspective. In order to promote efforts for such reforms by national universities, the government will carry out necessary review of the systems, and carry out prioritized distribution of resources after actively assessing the efforts of national universities.

 The government will also improve facilities to meet the needs of the times to produce outstanding R＆D results, and develop talented human resources in public research institutions such as independent administrative agencies. In particular, the government will carry out the regeneration and refurbishment of facilities preferentially and systematical for public research institutions established before mid 1950’s, as there are many remarkably deteriorated facilities.

 Furthermore, the government will consider a long term improvements plan per organization for public research institutions, such as Tsukuba Science City, that have facilities with a risk of a simultaneous occurrence of deterioration issues in the future.

（2）Development of facilities of national universities and public research institutions

 The importance of laboratory facilities and advanced research facilities has dramatically increased with the advances in basic research. As the use of those facilities in abstract research has an important role to play, the government will support national universities to enable them to intentionally develop their research facilities including large scale facilities from a long-term perspective.

 National universities and public research institutions will promote effective and efficient use of research facilities, such as shared use beyond the framework of organizations, reuse of facilities after completion of competitive fund supported research, as well as effective use of existing facilities by actively making efforts to share the use of the facilities within organizations.

（3）Developing the facilities of public universities

 With regards to education and research facilities of public universities that are playing a major role as centers of education and research in regions, it would be best for the government to strive to improve the financial measures based on the decision of local authorities, which are the establishers.

（4）Developing the facilities of private universities

 Selective development of private university facilities are important in boosting Japan’s research capability and promoting the sophistication of education and research. However, given that the development of private university facilities are not exactly sufficient, the government will improve financial aid to private educational institutions so that development of research facilities in private universities can be actively carried out.

（5）Promoting the development and shared use of advanced large-scale public research facilities

 As advanced large-scale public research facilities such as next-generation super computers and next-generation radiation sources require vast expenses for development and operation, and sharing them extensively would lead to producing results of the world’s best standard, rather than treating them as projects of specific research institutions, the government should take the responsibility for promoting their development and shared use by choosing the best organization from the various industry-university-government organizations to implement the development and shared use fairly and efficiently.

 For this reason, the government will build a mechanism for integral promotion of development and operation of these facilities including the development of laws for promoting shared use. Moreover, the government will carry out intentional and continuous development by giving priority to large-scale research facilities such as Inter-University Research Institute Corporation after carrying out rigorous evaluations in selecting the specific advanced large-scale shared facilities.

（2） Improving the intellectual infrastructure

（1）Strategic and selective development of intellectual infrastructure

 Amidst rising dependency on knowledge of socioeconomic activities as a whole by the advances in research and development activities, the government will proceed with the selective development of the intellectual infrastructure（materials for research such as biological resource, measurement standards, methods of measurement, analysis, testing and evaluation, relevant advanced equipment, and related database） that supports these activities at large, aiming for the highest global standards by 2010, while proceeding with selection and concentration by reviewing the intellectual infrastructure developments plan so that developments that use the qualitative perspective, i.e., the level of response to user needs and usage frequency, as a guideline, as well as the quantitative perspective can be carried out.

 In addition, with regards to advanced equipment, given that equipment development in itself has the nature of leading advanced research, the government will carry out selective development of key elemental technology and system integration technology for equipment that are essential in research of important areas, and those that are being caught up by other countries despite Japan having a comparative advantage.

（2）Building a framework for promoting efficient development and use

 Aiming for development of user-friendliness and the integral operation of various intellectual infrastructures, the government will plan to turn public research institutions into centers by designating and developing them as core centers for various areas of intellectual infrastructure. Core centers are required to grasp the needs of the users, and reflect them in the development and operation of their intellectual infrastructure. Their common functions are: collaboration with relevant organizations, accumulation and transmission of the location of the intellectual infrastructure and technical information, and considerations on intellectual property.

 Public research institutions and universities are required to build the framework that is required by securing full time personnel that will play a part in the development of the intellectual infrastructure, and position the required framework aptly in their respective operation policies so that the level of contributions to the development on the intellectual infrastructure of the researchers and engineers can be evaluated. The government will strive to improve the social visibility of this area by commending researchers and engineers that have contributed to the development of the intellectual infrastructure.

 Moreover, public research institutions and universities are expected to clarify the importance of digital archiving for accumulating R＆D results, and the storage of materials for research in their respective operation policies, and work on their intentional accumulation by formulating a research plan including the costs required in obtaining such research funds as competitive funds.

 As it is believed that giving and receiving materials for research will be carried out frequently in the future, the government will continue to work on development of regulations on intellectual property with public research institutions and universities. In so doing, the abovementioned core centers are expected to contribute to the improvement of Japan’s response capability towards issues related to intellectual property through sharing the results of considerations with other organizations.

 In addition, they will actively participate in measurement standards development and biological resource development particularly in Asia by continuing to rigorously participate in international endeavors related to the development of measurement standards.

（3）Creating, protecting and utilizing intellectual property

 In order to produce creative and innovative R＆D results, and pass them onto society and the nation, it is essential to revitalize the intellect creation cycle that effectively uses the results of intellect creating activities by adequately protecting them as intellectual property by stimulating and activating the intellect creating activities. The government will promote measures on the creation, protection and utilization of intellectual property for the promotion of Japan’s S＆T and the enhancement of global competitiveness.

（Improving the intellectual property systems in universities）

 Development of systems of intellectual property and formulation of rules including the institutional consolidated management of inventions are being implemented in universities. The government will support the system development of university intellectual property centers and TLO for the development of future full-scale intellectual property activities, and promote the efforts for carrying out a prompt and flexible business operation by responding to various problems associated with intellectual property management and contract.

 In addition, since conflicts on intellectual property that universities are involved in are coming to the surface, the government will support system development in universities so that they can respond properly to resolve such conflicts.

（Promoting intellectual property activities）

 It is important to utilize outstanding R＆D results that become the source of global competitiveness by effectively obtaining the rights particularly as basic patents in Japan and abroad.

 The government will encourage businesses to switch the emphasis of their patent strategies from quantity to quality so that they lead to obtaining high-quality basic patents. As it is important for universities to utilize great intellectual property by obtaining the rights properly regardless of nation, the government will support the strategic efforts of universities. The government will also carry out the development of search systems for patent information so that outstanding quality research results can be obtained.

 In addition, with regards to the various issues of intellectual property advanced technology areas such as life science have, i.e., smooth usage of other’s patents in testing and research in universities, the government will make considerations that take into account the appropriate balance with the level of freedom of research in universities, and develop the intellectual property system and its operation as needed.

（Developing regions through intellectual property）

 Universities, which are the creation centers of intellectual property are expected to produce new intellectual property that leads to the development of regions as the core of regions. The government will support the efforts of promoting the creation and utilization of intellectual properties that match the needs of regions by reinforcing collaborations of universities with local businesses, local authorities and local research institutions, and encouraging the security and utilization of advisors on intellectual property in regions.

（4） Actively responding to standardization

 It is important to actively respond to standardization to disseminate R＆D results, and as such, relevant organizations including the government will provide effective support while the business world proactively takes on the activities of standardization.

 The government and public research institutions will engage in the activities of standardization by positioning intellectual property strategy as well as standardization strategy clearly in the R＆D plan in implementing R＆D projects. Moreover, in order to strategically gain global standards produced in Japan, the government will promptly and effectively participate with consistency by exhibiting leadership through producing an international standardization proposal in areas with technical advantage, and further reinforce collaborations between relevant office and ministries, and industry-university-government collaborations for the activities of international standardization organizations such as the International Organization for Standardization （ISO）, the International Electro technical Commission （IEC） and the International Telecommunication Union （ITU）. Furthermore, in striving for international standardization, the government will speed up the deliberations of domestic standards so that they can be utilized strategically as a step towards international standards.

 In addition, the importance of human resources that can accurately respond to the activities of standardization, i.e., take on the role of international secretary in the activities of international standardization, has increased. As such, the government will reinforce the framework of training standardization experts through improving the training and educational programs including the production of teaching materials on standardization, utilizing the experts of public research institutions, and improving support for participation in the activities of international standardization.

（5） Improving the research information infrastructure

 Research information infrastructure has a quality as a sort of lifeline essential in research activities, and the government will always go ahead of advanced information and telecommunications technology and global trends to particularly improve host computers and high-speed networks.

 In addition, the government will carry out effective and efficient operation of research information infrastructure by promoting the systematic collection, storage and effective transmission of research information such as essential research paper journals in research institutions, and the collaboration and efforts between researchers and research institutions.

 Specifically, as well as achieving a flexible and efficient research information network through the introduction of the latest technologies, and a user-friendly computing environment, the government will reinforce global collaboration. In addition, the government will carry out comprehensive and strategic efforts for foundational software development that reinforce the hardware and their organic coordination including the building of a system that encompass them, and the securing of human resources.

 Moreover, in order to advance the usage environment of research information, the government will improve the integrated search system of bibliographic information and patent information such as articles, enhance the system of collecting and storing research paper journals, and promote function reinforcement and coordination of university and national libraries, while introducing the latest information and telecommunications technologies.

 Furthermore, the government will support digital archiving of research paper journals so that Japan’s accumulated research information can be sent out at home and abroad as assets.

 In addition, for the purpose of disclosing the results obtained by researchers in research under public financial support, we expect to be able to peruse research papers published in journals online without charge after a certain period of time.

（6） Promoting the activities of academic societies

（Role of academic societies）

 Academic societies support Japan’s research activities beyond research institutions such as universities, as places for presenting research results, exchanging knowledge, and communicating and coordinating with researchers and academic societies at home and abroad. In order to improve the international position Japan’s S＆T, there is a need to enhance their functions by promoting reforms through self-help efforts of such academic societies.

 Moreover, academic societies are expected to carry out broad activities such as active communication with society on S＆T, support for children’s participation in international S＆T competitions, and contribution for ongoing ability development of engineers, while being aware of their social role. As a country, the government will actively provide support sot that such activities can be carried out briskly.

（Enhancing the global competitiveness of academic societies）

 Academic societies in Japan have seen a fall in their information transmission abilities compared to European and American academic societies that outpace capital strength by the rapid globalization of the transmission and distribution of research information through journals by the dissemination of the Internet, and there is concern that the presentation of research results is shifting away from academic societies at home and abroad.

 For this reason, academic societies are expected to carry out infrastructure development for boosting the abilities of collecting, analyzing, transmitting and distributing research information using information and telecommunications, and enhancing information transmission by using active interaction of human resources such as bringing in foreign researchers to revitalize workshops. Furthermore, from the perspective of reinforcing the global competitiveness of research paper journals, academic societies are expected to promote globalization in the editing and referencing of research paper journals, and utilize information telecommunications technologies under their self-help efforts for independence and progress, including the integration with research paper journals of relevant areas. The government will provide competitive and selective support for strengthening their functions by promoting such reforms of academic societies.

（7） Promoting R＆D in public research institutions

 The mission of public research institutions is to achieve policy objectives, and they carry out selective R＆D focusing on basic and pioneering research that lead to the improvement of Japan’s S＆T, and systematic and comprehensive research with specific targets that conform to policy needs. In so doing, they are required to strengthen their functions so that they can effectively disseminate the research results produced, put them to practical use, and pass them on to society by fully exhibiting their potential ability for creating innovation, while reinforcing their ties with universities and the business world.

 Many public research institutions have evolved as independent organizations, but each organization is expected to engage in self-governing and self-active operation and reforms such as to introduce flexible operation of research funds, and fair and highly transparent competitive personnel and payroll systems through their own managerial efforts under the discretion of their director. In addition, from the perspective of improving the functions of organizations, they are encouraged to carry out R＆D by obtaining competitive funds. However, it is important first to have the necessary expenses for achieving the organizations’ mission to be provided without fail through operating expense subsidies.

 Furthermore, in order to increase competitive funds and promote strategic and selective S＆T, the government will take measures so that there will be no immediate budgetary restrictions for competitive fund distributing organizations, and those that are properly involved in strategic and selective S＆T, just for being independent organizations.

 Tsukuba Science City and Kansai Science City will work on R＆D collaborations and integration that utilize their advantage of having a concentration of several public research institutions within the city.