Preface


     This report summarizes the preliminary findings of a research survey
undertaken as part of the Japan National Laboratory Study. This project is a two-
phase research project conducted jointly by the National Institute of Science and
Technology Policy (NISTEP, Science and Technology Agency, Japan) and the
Center for Technology and Information Policy (CTIP) located at Syracuse
University. The objective of the study is to obtain detailed information on the
missions, character, and activities of the Japanese national public laboratories of
a sort that is comparable to that already available for the U.S. labs.

     The first phase of the Japanese study was a survey administered to the
Japanese public sector R&D laboratories conducting natural science and
engineering-related research. The survey was mailed out and returned in the late
fall of 1991; data were compiled throughout the spring and summer of 1992.
These data and findings are provided herein. Phase two of the project, semi-
structured interviews with laboratory personnel, was completed in January 1993.
More detail on the nature of the Japan National Laboratory Study is provided in
Chapter 1 of this report.