CONTACT
University-Industry Cooperation and Research Program Division,
Research Program Department,
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)
Asako Bldg., 5-3-1 Kojimachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0083, JAPAN
TEL+81-3-3263-1728
Outline
The Japan Society for the Promotion of Science is Japan’s core institution with a mandate to advance science. Operating within the framework of the Science-and-Technology Basic Plan and other government policies for promoting scientific research, JSPS funds research activities, supports the fostering of young researchers, promotes international scientific cooperation, and carries out a program to advance university-industry collaboration.
Within JSPS, a program is established to promote university-industry cooperation and linkage in areas of science that will exert a positive impact on society. It is overseen by a Program Advisory Council and includes University-Industry Cooperative Research Committees, Committees for Research Promotion in Specialized Areas, and Frontier Research and Development Committees, which contribute to scientific advancement.
Program Advisory Council
The Program Advisory Council deliberates and decides upon the establishment and continuation of University-Industry Cooperative Research Committees proposed by researchers and leaders of the academic and industrial communities with an eye to advancing collaborative studies and research. It also establishes Committees for Research Promotion in Specialized Areas and Frontier Research and Development Committees for the purpose of identifying research topics that merit future promotion.
University-Industry Cooperative Research Committees
JSPS provides University-Industry Cooperative Research Committees dedicated to various subjects with a platform for meeting and advancing collaboration between the academic and industrial communities. Comprising frontline researchers from the two sectors, each committee provides a forum for its members to advance in close liaison bottom-up initiatives based on their own ideas as researchers and to exchange views and information on basic, applied and developmental research in a free and informal atmosphere.
The first of these committees was launched in 1933, with over 200 having been implemented to date. As of April 2012, 64 committees are currently in operation. They have a total of 4,400 members (2,700 from academia and 1,700 from industry). The industrial members of the committees pay dues to finance the implementation of their committee’s activities. JSPS provides financial support to defray the cost of holding international conferences and publishing research results reported in meetings organized by the committees.
Main activities of the University-Industry Cooperative Research Committees
- Holding workshops and seminars
- Holding university-industry international symposiums
- To match university seeds with industrial needs, support is provided for studies and research on topics that have future feasibilities and that will lead to practical applications. (The committees promote joint research and other activities.)
- To pass on the aims and purposes of the committees to the next generation, consideration is given to fostering young researchers and technicians.
Committees for Research Promotion in Specialized Areas and Frontier Research and Development Committees
These committees are established to study and deliberate (1) research topics proposed by the Program Advisory Council as meriting future advancement and (2) cutting-edge research topics of expected high demand in the academic and industrial communities, while promoting university-industry collaboration.
Transition of University-Industry Program
1931: Dr. Joji Sakurai et al submitted proposal to government on the promotion of science in Japan
1932: The Japan Society for the Promotion of Science established as a foundation with a ¥1.5-million Imperial Endowment
1933: Twelve standing committees established
Subsequently, sub-committees established under the standing committees
Up to March 1948, 129 sub-committees had been established
Sub-committees converted to university-industry cooperative committees
1949: Number of university-industry cooperative committees reduced from 55 to 15
1967: JSPS made into quasi-governmental organization
2003: JSPS converted into independent administrative institution
2012: 64 University-Industry Cooperative Research Committees in active operation (as of April)
Proposal on Promotion of Scientific Research(Submitted to government in 1931)
Scientific research provides the foundation upon which to build our nation, and is vital to projecting Japan’s national prestige. To cultivate lofty ideals among our citizens, enrich the source of the nation’s power, contribute to global culture, and improve the welfare of humankind, it will be essential to encourage and promote creative research in both the humanities and sciences. There is no national strategy other than the promotion of scientific research that could be sought to solve the various problems facing the nation in the realms of philosophy, economy and industry.
Indeed, promoting scientific research is the nation’s most urgent priority. The opportunity is ripe to advance creative research within our academic community. The government should orient itself to scientific advancement, including the appropriate and proactive establishment of research facilities, so as to implement a grand design for Japan’s next 100 years and contribute to the eternal progress of humankind. This is our most earnest wish.
