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Part Promotion of Scientific Research

The system of grants-in-aid for scientific research is designed to further enhance the nation's academic and scientific standards. Funding is granted on the basis of competitive applications by individual researchers and groups of researchers belonging to universities and institutions of higher education. The grant applications are screened by the Science Council. These grants-in-aid, one of the primary sources of funds for the promotion of science, have greatly contributed to the advancement of scientific research by producing many original and innovative achievements, fostering outstanding groups and cultivating new research areas.

In 1991, approximately 66,000 applications were submitted, of which about 21,000 were accepted. Of these about 59,000 were submitted for new research projects of which 24.6% were accepted. For the accepted projects, on average, seventy percept of proposed expenses were actually granted.

Considering the important role the grants-in-aid system is playing in the promotion of scientific research, and the contributions Japan will make to the enhancement of science in the world, every year the Ministry has endeavored to expand the grants-in-aid system. The increase in grants has continued even under unfavorable financial circumstances, and as a result, the relevant budget for FY1991 amounts to \58.9 billion.