FY2003 White Paper on Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology [1.2.2.3]

Part 1 Higher Education to Support a Knowledge-Based Society Full of Creative Vitality - New Developments in Higher Education Reform

1) State of and issues arising from regional exchange of local governments and universities

In recent years various efforts actively utilizing local universities as the triggers for regional revitalization and centers of regional development have been attracting attention. For local governments, this has the advantage not only of promoting regional industry, but also of utilizing as much as possible the human and physical resources and overall strength accumulated by universities over many years in many areas of society such as medical care, welfare, training of human resources, and culture. At the same time, for universities, developing projects have the advantages of enabling restoration of previous research results to the local community and lead to the revitalization of future education and research.

So that these efforts may be beneficial for both universities and local governments, it is important for both parties to make unified efforts that do not put the burden too much on one party or the other. However, currently there are a substantial number of cases where it cannot necessarily be said that the efforts were really fruitful for both parties. Upon investigating the causes of this situation, the following problem areas emerged.

Individual efforts by professors and other educators are proceeding, but there are as yet no organized, comprehensive efforts by the university as a whole.
Because the university contact point is not integrated, local governments and the people cannot easily access (use) the university. For this reason, they are heavily dependent on individual networks.
There is insufficient skill and vision on both sides as a whole.

In light of this situation, MEXT commenced support for regional contribution projects in FY2002, with a view to promoting further the regional contribution of universities through the establishment of an ongoing true partnership (cooperative relationship) between local governments and universities, the promotion of organized and comprehensive efforts towards regional contribution by universities as a whole, and other measures.

In FY2003, project proposals were received from 74 universities, and as a result of a strict and fair screening process by a third party, 26 universities were selected early in June that year (FY2002, 75 universities applied, 15 universities were selected). The 15 universities selected in FY2002 were all selected again.

In addition to the role of universities in education and research, their contribution to the regions is very important and it is necessary for all universities, regardless of whether they are involved in this project or not, to proceed actively with regional contribution in future.

On the other hand, now entering the period of decentralization, local governments are required to make independent efforts to build local communities rich in individuality and resolve regional problems through their own decision-making processes and under their own responsibilities. It is assumed that the interdependence of local governments and universities will increase.

MEXT expects that through these projects an ongoing and permanent true partnership between local governments and universities will be established.

Universities, as centers of knowledge creation, play an important role in the promotion of science and technology in the regions. Utilizing the "wisdom" of universities and promoting efforts at industry-academia-government cooperation centered on universities in the regions, universities are expected to lead not only to the creation of new technology and new business, but also the revitalization of regional economies.

MEXT, to support the promotion of science and technology in the regions through this kind of industry-academia-government cooperation centered on universities, has been promoting "Projects to Create Intellectual Clusters" * and "Projects for the Promotion of Industry-Academia-Government Cooperation in Urban Areas" since FY2002 (refer to Part II, Chapter 7, Section 2, 2).

"Projects to Create Intellectual Clusters" are projects aiming to create concentrations of technological innovation that have international competitiveness (intellectual clusters) through related research institutions and research and development companies, centered on universities and public research institutions, and placing importance on the independence of local governments.

These projects assist core institutions (science and technology related foundations and others), which have been designated by local governments to implement projects. Specifically, the projects are involved in establishing "Intellectual Cluster Headquarters" which are in control of the process, implementing industry-academia-government joint research at university centers for cooperative research to create new technology seeds based on the needs of companies, deploying science and technology coordinators (experts) placing the importance on specialist skills, utilizing patent attorneys and other advisors, conducting research and development in respect to obtaining patents for and cultivating research results, and holding forums * to announce research results and others.

"Projects for the Promotion of Industry-Academia-Government Cooperation in Urban Areas" are projects focused on a geographically smaller area (urban area) than are "Projects to Create Intellectual Clusters."

Placing importance on bringing out individuality, these projects aim to create new technology seeds by utilizing the "wisdom" of universities, create new businesses, and cultivate regional research and development industries in urban areas of prefectures, including government-ordinance designated cities, in order to promote industry-academia-government cooperation in urban areas.

The Japan Science and Technology Agency, which is under the jurisdiction of MEXT, is currently implementing projects such as "joint research projects for regional intensive" that aim to contribute to the creation of new industries and new technology by carrying out joint research in which researchers come together from regional universities possessing research potential (latent ability), national and public experimental research institutions, research and development companies and others, as projects to promote science and technology in the regions through industry-academia-government cooperation centered on universities.

MEXT is planning to actively promote polices to support regional science and technology through industry-academia-government cooperation centered on universities and others.

* Intellectual clusters

Technological innovation systems under regional leadership and involving the participation of companies from inside and outside the region, and centered on regional public research institutions having original themes for research and development, and latent abilities.

* Forums

Public debate meetings.


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