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Policy Proposals  Industrial Technology Urgent Proposal for Formulating 5th Science and Technology Basic Plan

October 20, 2015
Keidanren

Summary

Keidanren has so far made recommendations twice in relation to deliberations by the Cabinet Office's Council for Science, Technology and Innovation (CSTI) on the 5th Science and Technology Basic Plan#1. In the latest proposal, Keidanren has hastily put together the points on which we place particular importance, as the CSTI works on compiling a draft report by the end of this year based on the interim report released in June as well as discussions held thereafter. The summary is as follows.

Amid calls for the advent of an era of a new industrial revolution, it is important to take measures toward realizing a "Super-smart Society." We request that promotional programs for research and development (R&D) such as Impulsing Paradigm Change through Disruptive Technologies Program (ImPACT), a high-risk and high-impact R&D promotion program, and Cross-Ministerial Strategic Innovation Promotion Program (SIP), a cross-ministerial R&D promotion program that also surpasses the frameworks of the boundaries of conventional fields, be made permanent and expanded.

The government should clearly indicate in the 5th plan its numerical target of raising its investment in R&D programs to 1% of Japan's GDP, as previously stipulated, and make steady efforts to realize it. If the 1% investment amount is realized every year based on the premise of the government's target of achieving a GDP of 600 trillion yen in nominal terms by fiscal 2020, then the total amount would be 28 trillion yen over five years. It is also important at the same time to improve the tax system for promoting private R&D investment.

It is also necessary to expand specific measures for encouraging women to play active roles in the field of science and technology based on discussions held at various conferences by related ministries and agencies.

The industry will encourage full-fledged open innovation for nurturing "new core industries" of the coming era under Keidanren's Vision.


  1. Japan's medium- to long-term science and technology innovation strategy covering five years from fiscal 2016

Industrial Technology