1.Developing, securing and activating of human resources

 Maintaining and strengthening the future of Japan’s S＆T and global competitiveness ride on the abilities of actively working people developed by our country. As well as creating an environment in organizations that accurately responds to the new era in which diverse and versatile individuals from young researchers to female researchers, foreign researchers and brilliant senior researchers can exhibit their motivation and talent, the government will strive to secure quality and quantity of human resources in the midst of the accelerating aging of the population and declining birthrate by implementing consistent comprehensive human resource development measures from elementary and secondary education to development of researchers.

（1）Creating an environment where individuals thrive

（1）Ensuring fair and highly transparent personnel systems

 Since creating new value through unconventional creative ingenuity requires the promotion of sound competition and the security of fairness in personnel affairs, as a leading rule, extensively ensure a fair and highly transparent personnel system based on a merit system by boosting the competitiveness, mobility and diversity of human resources in our country’s S＆T activities.

 Specifically, in recruiting researchers, the government will promote each organization carry out a competitive screening regardless of gender, age or nationality by extensively seeking candidates. As for the treatment of researchers, it will actively reward outstanding efforts by evaluating the abilities and achievements fairly.

 Universities and public research institutions are required to implement reforms and improvements by appropriately positioning the personnel system in self-inspection and evaluation while keeping in mind their respective characteristics. Responding adequately to ensure the reform and improvement of personnel systems is also desired in third-party evaluation implemented on universities and public research institutions. Furthermore, the government promotes the activities of universities and public research institutions by using the status of personnel system reform as an indicator of examination for the competitive support system for organizations.

（2）Supporting the independence of young researchers

 In aspiring to create a vibrant research environment by providing young researchers with independence and the opportunity to be active in a competitive environment based on a fair and transparent personnel evaluation, the government will promote the introduction of a mechanism of providing young researchers with independence and the opportunity to be active through measures including the tenure track system （a mechanism of allowing young researchers to gain experience as an independent researcher in fixed-term employment before obtaining a steadier job through stringent screening）, while taking into consideration the improvement of personnel mobility and the conditions of the fields particularly in universities that are aiming to become global research and education centers. Moreover, universities need to secure  “jo-kyo ” （could be translated to assistant professor or research associates） and prepare the playing field for them to further promote the activities of young researchers.

 The government will support universities that systematically engage in environmental improvement for this purpose （providing startup funds, improving the research support system, and securing research space）, and use the status of activities of universities as an indicator for examining the competitive support system for the organizations. The government will also promote management of facilities of universities so that young researchers can secure their research space.

 Furthermore, the government will encourage young researchers to actively apply for competitive funds in general, as well as selectively improve the support for young researchers in striving to improve competitive funding. In so doing, the government will pay attention to setting up a program that takes into account the startup timing, and improving the program in which sufficient funds are paid to the young researcher to allow him/her to carry out the research at the head of a research organization. Through these undertakings, it will aim to raise the research funding to young researchers to a respectable degree.

 Concerning the eligibility for competitive funding for young researchers, the government will take into consideration the diverse careers including child birth/rearing, and experience as a full member of society, and promote system improvement according to the respective purport of the system by establishing a system that evaluates the applicant on their research background rather than uniform age discrimination.

 In addition, since the achievement of the plan to support 10,000 young researchers, especially post-doctorals, post-doctoral fellows are contributing greatly to the active development of Japan’s research activities now, but there has been criticism about the uncertainty of the career path after reaching the post-doctoral stage. As such, the government will support post-doctorals who are aspiring to become researchers while positioning them as the preliminary step to young researchers who can carry out research independently, and promoting the transparency of the recruitment process and supporting the independence of young researchers. Moreover, as well as promoting the activities of universities and public research institutions to advance career support for post-doctorals including career paths other than academic research positions, the government will expand the opportunity for post-doctorals to come in contact with private enterprises.

 Moreover, so that young researchers and post-doctorals can accumulate international experience and be in friendly competition with foreign researchers, the government will continue to improve measures to increase the opportunities for carrying out research in foreign research organizations and the opportunity of interacting with foreign researchers.

（3）Improving the mobility of human resources

 From the perspective of improving the mobility of human resources and creating a vibrant research environment, universities and public research institutions are to continue to strive for the extensive establishment of the fixed-term system. Moreover, if a young researcher finds a steady job through a fixed-term position, he/she is expected to devote him/herself to research activities. To sustain the vigor of those activities, the government will promote employment through a fixed-term system that allows for reappointment, and a review system in which the aptitude, qualifications and ability are regularly examined. In improving the fixed-term system, although the conditions differ by fields, as it is necessary for mobility to improve as researchers in general including private researchers, a simultaneous transition to a fixed-term system by several universities and the improvement of mobility in private research organizations are required.

 In placing a researcher in a steadier job, it is desirable to choose those who have changed organizations, i.e., university, or major at least once after graduating from a faculty under a fair and transparent personnel system （promotion of “General One-transfer Rule for Young Researchers ”）.

（4） Suppressing the rate of inbreeding and faculties

 Creating a research environment where diverse human resources can exhibit creativity and work hard together while being intellectually stimulated is essential in creating new research areas and sustaining the dynamism of research organizations. Given this fact, although the percentage of teachers working for their old schools and faculties may rise as a result of recruiting truly brilliant human resources fairly and with transparency, its excessively high percentage is undesirable. As such, each university is to pay due caution to the percentage of teachers from the same schools, and universities with an excessively high percentage are expected to work on reducing that percentage. The government is to disclose the percentage of teachers from the same schools in each school by positions.

（5）Promoting the activities of female researchers

 So that female researchers can fully exhibit their abilities, the government will expand the measures that take into account the balancing of research and child birth/rearing by acknowledging a fixed period of respite or postponement following child birth/rearing in receiving competitive funds based on the perspective of gender equality.

 Universities and public research institutions are expected to not only implement general improvements, but are also required to steadily implement activities including consciousness reform by providing support for the balancing of research and child birth/rearing in the action plan to be formulated and implemented based on the Law for Measures to Support the Development of the Next Generation.

 The government will provide support for research institutions that are implementing efforts that others should follow. From the perspective of promoting the activities of diverse and talented researchers, universities and public research institutions are required to actively recruit through fair screening after openly seeking female researchers and candidates. Moreover, it is also desirable to actively promote female researchers for advancement and participation in policy-making bodies as well as for recruitment.

 Concerning the percentage of female researchers, the objectives, philosophy, and realities of female researchers differ by organization, including in terms of institutions and specialties. However, there is hope that efforts will be made to promote the active recruitment of female researchers by each organization by setting a numerical target for the recruitment of women, making efforts to achieving that target, and disclosing the status of achievement, while taking into account the percentage of women in the doctorate courses of the relevant fields. Judging from the percentage of women in doctorate courses now, the prospective recruitment target of female researchers for natural science as a whole is 25 percent （physics 20 percent, optics 15 percent, agronomics 30 percent, healthcare 30 percent）.

 The government will grasp and disclose the status of efforts related to the promotion of activities of female researchers in universities and public research institutions, and the percentage of female researchers by job classification.

 Furthermore, in the efforts to expand the horizons of children who like science and mathematics, the government will promote the provision of information such as familiar examples that could be useful for women to go into the S＆T field or become role models, and reinforce the efforts that contribute to arousing the interest of girls.

（6）Promoting the activities of foreign researchers

 In S＆T activities, there is a need to prepare the conditions to enable many brilliant human resources including world class researchers regardless of nationality to gather and be active in the research community of Japan.

 In order to promote the appointment or recruitment of talented foreign researchers in universities and public research institutions, the government will support the building of organizational preparations of acceptance that take into account the living conditions such as securing of housing and children’s education, as well as the research environment. Universities and public research institutions that are aiming to become global research and education centers are expected to formulate an action plan for promoting the activities of foreign researchers, and the government will grasp and disclose the status of their activities.

 Furthermore, in order to facilitate the acceptance of foreign researchers, the reviews and improved administration required on the role of immigration control system and visa issuance are to be promoted further. The securing of housing for foreign researchers is expected to be improved by universities and public research institutions working in partnership with local authorities to sponsor foreign researchers.

 On the other hand, to help talented international students to establish themselves in Japan, the government will carry out improved administration to enable international students who have acquired a doctorate in Japan to apply smoothly to a foreign post-doctorate invitation program. Moreover, universities and public research institutions are expected to prepare the conditions to make it easy for foreign researchers to apply for positions by ensuring that announcements are published in English and by accepting applications in English when recruiting researchers.

（7）Utilizing the abilities of talented senior researchers

 Holding on to the seniority system and extending the term of employment easily without ensuring the merit system could deprive young researchers of a chance to be recruited and sap the vigor of the research scene. On the other hand, it is very important for the improvement of the standards of S＆T in Japan for researchers who have been recognized as being truly excellent by international standards to continue to work and achieve results. The government will urge universities to facilitate such researchers in some way even after their retirement to continue their work by utilizing competitive funds and external funds. It will also promote activities in which retired researchers can fully utilize their abilities and knowledge so that they can work extensively for the promotion of S＆T in a non-official capacity.

（2） Enhancing the human resource development function in universities

（1）Human resource development in universities

 In order to develop human resources with a broad perspective and a flexible mindset who are highly creative and can exhibit leadership globally in the creation and utilization of knowledge, promote the enhancement of the human resource development function in universities, which is pivotal for that endeavor.

 At the faculty stage of universities, the improvement of liberal arts education as well as the development of diverse and quality education that ensures the organic partnership of liberal arts education and specialized education by identifying the characteristics and attributes of each university is expected.

 In so doing, such education is expected that develops a broad perspective and flexible intellect on a firm foundation such as the establishment of a unique curriculum that combines major and minor subjects of study, and the introduction of a teaching method that enables students to learn deeply through practice, which emphasizes developing the ability to research challenges.

 Each university is expected to work on improving its staff’s ability to educate and provide research guidance, and actively introduce evaluation on educational activities as well as on research activities.

（2）Drastic enhancement of graduate education

 Quantitative improvements have been made steadily, as indicated by the growth of the number of graduate school students, which more than doubled in the last ten years by the improvements that have been made by graduate schools to date. In the future, efforts will be made to dramatically improve the quality of graduate school education.

 Universities are expected to provide an education that cultivates the ability to utilize and apply professional knowledge including the capacity to deal with interdisciplinary fields by striving to provide graduate school education that enables students to acquire a high degree of expertise and a broad perspective, and by developing rudimental education in relevant fields in addition to acquiring advanced professional knowledge.

 Universities are expected to work on reforms that focus on enhancing the systematic development of educational courses, so that they can ensure the management of the process that leads students to receive degrees by organizing a systematic educational program that leads to degrees after clarifying the objectives of graduate courses, while taking the needs of society into consideration. The government will devote itself to the improvement of graduate school education by providing information on the examples of outstanding undertakings for society, as well as developing on a full scale a competitive and intensive support system for the organizational efforts of an appealing graduate school education.

（3）Formulating action plan on the reform of graduate school education

 In reforming graduate school education, there is a need for comprehensive efforts that include the creation of world’s leading centers of excellence, the establishment of graduate school evaluation, and the improvement of the financial base. As such, the government will formulate a systematic and intensive action plan （platform for the promotion of graduate school education） for the next five years in graduate schools based on the feedback from the Central Council for Education, and develop policy initiatives based on this plan. This plan should be formulated as a part of the structural reform of graduate schools based on the systematic positioning of education. However, since graduate schools, which are the core organizations for advanced S＆T related human resource development and the leaders of research activities, form an important basis for the promotion of S＆T, the government will formulate the plan by paying due attention to the compatibility with the S＆T basic plan.

（4）Improving financial aid for doctorate course students

 Making improvements to enable human resources with excellent qualities and abilities to proceed to higher education without unduly fearing the financial burden that accompanies the advance to doctorate courses is necessary from the perspective of ensuring talented researchers, and contributes to expanding the diversity of career paths for post-doctorals. For these reasons, financial aid for doctorate course （latter stage） students will be improved using as reference the United States, in which nearly 40 percent of graduate school students are reported to be receiving aid that is equivalent to their living expense. Specifically, we will strive to enable 20 percent of doctorate course students to receive an amount equivalent to their living expenses by increasing the fellowships and competitive funding which pays for research assistants while fully ensuring the competitiveness of selecting excellent human resources. Concerning the scholarship loan program that is expected to play an important part from the perspective of human resource development, while securing soundness of program, promote the effective operation of a system of exempting outstandingly performing students from repayment based on relevant nomination by each university. Furthermore, the government will take appropriate measures that enable individual students to determine their eligibility for financial aid at the earliest possible time before sitting the exams for the doctorate courses in selecting their course.

（3） Developing human resources that meet the needs of society

（1）Human resource development by industry-university partnership

 As the improvement of the quality of education in universities and graduate schools brings direct benefits to the industry, and since there is a limit to the self-reliance of human resource development that emphasizes in-house training after recruitment rather than university education, industries and universities are expected to engage in the development of human resources by building cooperative ties more than ever. For this reason, industries and universities are to support the creation of a quality long-term internship system, focusing on engineering, premised on establishing credits at the graduate school stage, and it should be widely disseminated. In addition, proceed with improving the opportunities for graduate school students and post-doctorals to participate with a certain degree of responsibility in the development or implementation of university-based educational programs by industry-university partnership, or collaborative studies with the industrial world under the appropriate guidance and supervision of guiding instructors.

 Through such activities and direct dialogue between industry and university, the business community is expected to specify its needs for universities and graduate schools, and universities and graduate schools are expected to make constant improvements of their educational programs properly based on such needs.

（2）Promoting the activities of doctorals in industry

 Based on the standpoint that doctorals are those who should play active roles in leading and supporting an advanced knowledge-based society in various areas of society, enhance the development of doctorals that would play active roles in various areas of society by promoting the reform of graduate school education and industry-university collaboration in the aspect of human resource development. The industrial world is required to actively provide flexible and varied conditions for talented doctorals.

 Furthermore, students as well as universities and the industrial world are expected to have a common view that it is desirable for doctorals to play active roles not only in academic research professions, but also in various areas of society. Since it is extremely important for each university to know the information about the career paths of the doctorals and utilize it in improving the quality of its education, each university is required to work on continuing to get such information.

（3）Development of diverse human resources that would be responsible for utilizing and returning knowledge to society

（Development of human resources that would be involved in managing intellectual properties and technology）

 As there is a demand for both quality and quantity of human resources that could support Japan’s creation of innovation such as those that could strategically obtain and utilize S＆T results as intellectual properties, and those that could effectively give R＆D a market value by understanding both technology and management, independent efforts of universities involved in intellectual property and technology management education are to be promoted. In particular, from the perspective of development human resources with advanced and specialized vocational skills that would lead Japan’s economy and society, we will support the qualitative improvement of professional graduate schools.

（Development of S＆T communicators）

 The development and activities of human resources that have the role of promoting communication between researchers, engineers and society, i.e. conveying S＆T to the general public in an easy to understand manner, or providing feedback on society’s awareness of the issues, will be promoted on a local level as well. Specifically, the area of activities as profession will be created and expanded by development S＆T communicators, promoting the outreach activities of researchers, promoting the activities of exhibition planners and commentators, securing research funds of national and public research institutions and spending for S＆T communication activities in R＆D projects.

（Development of human resources that respond to new needs）

 Promote the development and securing of mobile human resources in information and telecommunications such as software security technology, S＆T that contributes to social safety such as measures against emerging and reemerging infectious diseases and terrorism, the integrated fields of natural science, humanities and social science in which the social needs are evident, and the rapidly developing fields of bioinformatics and technology.

（Development of engineers）

 Engineers with advanced professional skills who support Japan’s technical bases play a crucial role in achieving a sustained progress built on Japan’s manufacturing and technology that create high added value. However, there has been fear in recent years concerning the aging of skilled engineers and the disassociation of young people from manufacturing.

 International competition is intensifying including the rise of Asian countries in the manufacturing field, and since the baby-boomers will be gradually reaching retirement after 2007, the development of engineers for sustaining and securing the core competency of manufacturing that has been developed by the knowledge and know-how of the baby boomers in the manufacturing and building scenes has become the urgent task. For this reason, private enterprises are expected to proceed with an active human resource development that utilizes systems such as the human resource investment-promoting taxes for securing the human resources for manufacturing required in the manufacturing scene, and human resources for manufacturing that create high added value, and the smooth succession and dissemination of skills through the utilization of near-retirement human resources with outstanding skills, by relevant industries unifying and coordinating with education at schools. The government will support the intellectual production activities of engineers by organizing and widely providing elemental technology related to design and manufacturing processes, and past examples as knowledge or data.

 Universities, colleges of technology and specialized training collages are to proceed with practical education for the development of engineers including future human resources for manufacturing. Moreover, as well as disseminating and promoting the application of the engineer certification system of professional engineers, the government will promote the building of an ongoing skill development system for engineers by various entities, the development and provision of educational materials for online learning, and the entry and reentry into graduate schools by adults to further enhance the opportunities of reeducation to meet adults’ desire to study.

 As well as promoting learning related to manufacturing techniques such as the enhancement of hands-on learning on manufacturing in elementary, junior high and high schools, and social education facilities, the government will implement efforts in industrial high schools and colleges of technology in partnership with local businesses.

（4） Expanding the horizonscope of human resources who will bear the S＆T in future

（1）Developing children with exuberant intellectual curiosity

 In order to develop children with exuberant intellectual curiosity by expanding the horizons of children who love science and mathematics, it is necessary to have an environment where children can familiarize themselves with and study S＆T from the stages of elementary and secondary education. For this reason, as well as expanding the chance for children to see the faces of the researchers by talented researchers visiting schools to talk to children and their parents, the government will improve the opportunities for hands-on and problem-solving learning such as observations and experiments by supporting the efforts of motivated teachers and volunteers, and the schools’ partnership with universities, public research institutions, businesses, science museums and museums. Concerning the grossly insufficient and antiquated laboratory instruments and facilities of elementary, junior high and high schools, their improvement will be aimed at. In addition, as well as developing and providing child-friendly digital educational materials and programs, the government will promote the holding of S＆T competitions by various entities.

 Moreover, for training and improving the quality of teachers who can plainly teach subjects such as science, mathematics and industrial arts with advanced content, and conduct interesting classes, the government will review and improve the educational contents and methods of teacher training courses especially in universities with a central focus on teacher-training universities. Furthermore, as well as promoting the activities of teachers for obtaining advanced certificates, it will consider the application and role of the professional graduate school system in the training teachers who can exhibit a high degree of professionalism and carried out their practical leadership. In addition, it will continuously promote practical activities to schools from kindergartens to high schools attached to teacher-training universities in collaboration with universities, such as providing science and mathematics education that incorporates the results of research in universities concerning the educational contents and methods.

（2） Developing the individuality and abilities of talented children

 There is a need to develop the individuality and abilities of children who are interested in science and mathematics through effective science and mathematics education, and to develop outstanding human resources in S＆T. For these reasons, the government will promote the participation of talented children in various international S＆T competitions, as well as improve the support system for high schools that emphasize science and mathematics education.

 In addition, the government will proceed with the linking of high schools and universities; in other words, the improvement of the high school-university link so that the individuality and abilities of talented children can be developed regardless of the influence of university enrollee selection. Specifically, it will make it possible for students who achieved remarkable results in high school to obtain appropriate evaluation by methods such as Admission Office （AO） Entrance Exam, or have high schools organize a special curriculum for the development of S＆T related human resources with the help of universities. Furthermore, it will promote initiatives and improvements by carrying out activities of providing high school students the opportunities to come in contact with university-level education and research by accepting high school students into universities as non-degree students or having university instructors teach in high schools.