Archive for 5月, 2014

For comprehensively understanding the status and trends of R&D activities in a country or a region, various data on research input and output should be collected, processed, and organized. Specifically, data analysis of research output data obtained from bibliographic databases at the organizational or departmental level (micro-data analysis) is necessarily accompanied with accurate identification of author-affiliated organizations and departments which generally have numerous name variations.

In order to help micro-data analysis conducted by researchers and policy-makers, NISTEP has carried out a project “Development of data infrastructure on R&D activities in universities and public organizations” since FY2011. Through this project, it prepares and publishes an organization name dictionary playing a central role in identification and some lists of name variations in databases for universities and public organizations in Japan. This report outlines the project, with some results of analysis on name variations of author-affiliated organizations. Finally, it discusses importance of standardization of organization name description.

An Overview of Disease Prediction, Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment Technologies for the Realization of a Healthy and Active Aging Society
– A Study on Lifestyle-related Disease (Type 2 Diabetes) –

This survey was conducted as part of the Science and Technology Scenario Planning with a vision for the future. In order to achieve a healthy and active aging society in Japan, the socioeconomic problems related to type 2 diabetes must be addressed. To achieve this, the prediction, prevention, diagnosis of type 2 diabetes and the technology related to its treatment were schematized.

First, based on a literature review and a debate at the Expert Workshop, technologies to control type 2 diabetes were organized from the viewpoints of disease stage, prediction, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment; these were compiled in a technology map. Next, based on the technology map, 11 technical scenarios that anticipate changes in technology related to drugs, medical equipment, and regenerative medicine up to approximately 2030, were created. Relative comparisons of the impact from the viewpoints of scope of technical application, timing of technical achievement, timing of social implementation, and size of industrial and medical spillover were performed between these technical scenarios. The results revealed that scenarios on predictive diagnostic markers, imaging diagnosis, and regenerative medicine had a stronger impact than other scenarios.

Furthermore, challenges for the progress of practical applications and research development incorporating technical maps and technical scenarios were investigated.

Finally, 11 future challenges that may become particularly important for Japan were identified.


Technology Foresight for Scenario Planning
-A study on Lifestyle-related Disease (Type 2 Diabetes)-

The Science and Technology Foresight Center, National Institute of Science and Technology Policy has implemented Scenario Planning that can accommodate political, social, and economic needs as part of the 10 th Science and Technology Foresight being held at the center from 2013 through 2015. In this survey, a Delphi study on type 2 diabetes was conducted as part of scenario planning. In Japan, type 2 diabetes is becoming a public health problem with a major socioeconomic impact, which must be addressed to achieve a healthy and active aging society. To date, technology maps and scenarios have been created at the Science and Technology Foresight Center in order to schematize technology related to type 2 diabetes. In order to revise these scenarios, experts at the Japan Diabetes Society and the Science and Technology Foresight Center completed repeated questionnaire surveys regarding the technologies considered important to effectively address the health problems related to type 2 diabetes.