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  With increasing concerns over the hollowing out of industry,there is a growing need to promote science and technology at the regional level,in order to activate regional industry and to improve the quality of life for residents in regional areas.

  Based on this situation,The Science and Tech-nology Basic Law incorporated the adoption and implementation of policies calling on local government authorities to engage in the promotion of science and technology in order to serve as a basic framework for the future of science and technology policy in Japan.

  The First Science and Technology Basic Plan stressed the importance of promoting research activities in regional areas,and called for the pro-motion of coordination and exchanges,etc.,amonglocal industries,academia,and governments,in accordance with the Basic Guidelines for Vitalization of Science and Technology Activities in Local Areas,which was approved by the Prime Minister in December1995.

  With the increasing importance of promoting regional research,the prefectural governments are actively making efforts to promote science and technology by establishing councils,etc.,to deliberate policies for the promotion of science and technology,and adopting outlines and guidelines for science and technology policies individually (Tables3-3-16 and 3-3-17) .

Table3-3-16State of establishment of science and technology councils at the local government level

Table3-3-17Enactments of science and technology promotion policies by local governments

  The Second Science and Technology Basic Plan calls for the government to promote research and development activities,including joint research,to develop and retain human resources,and to expand technology transfer functions,etc.,for the effective and efficient establishment of intellectual clusters under local initiative.In response,the Ministry of Education,Culture,Sports,Science,and Technology plans to institute the"Intellectual Cluster Program"in FY2002.

  The following sections provide overviews of various policies that are being taken by the national government to support the promotion of science and technology at the regional level.