Research on science and technology trends

Overview of Research Activities

Science and technology is a vital key to overcoming the various issues Japan is facing today, and to open up new possibilities for Japan in the future, and to this end, Japan needs highly perceptive policies for promoting science and technology.

Japanese science and technology administrative bodies, comprising the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and other ministries under the general supervision of the Council for Science and Technology Policy, address the formulation and implementation of strategic science and technology policy. They need timely and accurate information about latest trends and reliable perspective on development of science and technology.

The Science and Technology Foresight Center (STFC) undertakes various research activities to meet their needs.

Six research units are in place under the Director. Each unit carries out systematic and forward-looking research on trends in the fields it covers. Its approach is characterized by multiple perspectives including a view towards the future of society, in cooperation with NISTEP's other research groups (see Chart 1).

STFC's research activities comprise (1) collection and analysis of information on science and technology trends through network of S&T experts and (2) research on trends in major science and technology fields and areas. (See Chart 2 for an overview.) The research results are compiled in the monthly Science and Technology Trends (see following page) and provided as the basis for formulation of Science and Technology policy such as the Research and Development Plan of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and the Science and Technology Basic Plan of the Council for Science and Technology Policy. Other S&T-related ministries also refer to STFC's research results when evaluating research projects and policy. Furthermore STFC makes its research results available to corporations and other organizations.

(1) Collection and analysis of information on science and technology trends through network of S&T experts

In order to grasp trends in science and technology fields accurately, it is indispensable to collect latest information on various areas from diverse sectors. Science and Technology today is so highly specialized that the cooperation of specialists with a high degree of expertise is necessary. STFC has developed the network of numerous experts in industry, academia, and government ("Experts network") to collect and analyze information in Japan and abroad.

Through the network, STFC gathers latest information such as research results presented at academic conferences and published in academic journals and experts' view.

STFC adds its own research results to information from the network and provides them to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, the Council for Science and Technology Policy, and other bodies at appropriate times. Some of them are published as a topic in its monthly Science and Technology Trends (see following page).

(2) Research on Trends in Major Science and Technology Fields and Areas

STFC conducts surveys and analysis on trends in science and technology fields and areas in order to identify priority issues for science and technology policy -- as to what are likely to be key technologies for progress and what are likely to be obstacles. When selecting research themes, it is considered what are put on the agenda in the concerned administrative divisions as well as social and economic needs.

Researches are conducted through in-house information gathering and analysis, but STFC makes efforts to take opinions of external experts into consideration by holding lectures and meetings with invited experts.

The results of these researches are published as feature articles in the second part of the monthly Science and Technology Trends.

In addition, STFC conducts international benchmarking of Japan's science and engineering research. This is implemented in coordination with related surveys conducted by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and the Council for Science and Technology Policy.

The results are published as NISTEP Report and Research Material.