Part 1: Creativity of Japan's Science and Technology
Chapter 2 Current State and Issue of Japan's Science and Technology
Section 3 Research Infrastructure
1. Research Facilities and Equipment
When we compare the current state of research facilities and
equipment of Japan with that of the U.S., we find Japanese researchers are less
satisfied with it. At present, national universities, etc. are facing the serious
problem of the aging and crowding of their facilities, with requisite space to
be provided amounting to as much as 11,000,000 m2 .
Under such situation, the Ministry of Education, Culture,
Sports, Science and Technology has formulated "the Five-year Plan for Urgent
Development of Facilities of National Universities, etc." in a bid to secure
the R&D achievement of the world standards. The plan aims to promote the
prioritized and systematic development of facilities at national universities,
etc. during the period of the Second-term Science and Technology Basic Plan.
This five-year plan seeks to promote the development of space of about 2,100,000
m2 . That involves 1) solving the crowding problem of graduate school
facilities concomitant with the development of graduate schools (about 1,200,000
m2 ), 2) developing excellent research footholds (about 400,000 m2 ),
3) developing university-annexed hospitals corresponding to advanced medical
services (about 500,000 m2 ). In addition, regarding the improvement
of the aged facilities of about 3,900,000 m2 (excluding facilities
of annexed hospitals) calling for urgent attention, the plan intends to address
the issue appropriately facility by facility in the order of priority.
When we compare the current state of research facilities and
equipment of Japan with that of the U.S., we find Japanese researchers are less
satisfied with it. At present, national universities, etc. are facing the serious
problem of the aging and crowding of their facilities, with requisite space to
be provided amounting to as much as 11,000,000 m2 .