Japan accounted for
an average of 10.3% of papers relating to natural sciences and
engineering published in the world from 1997 to 2001, according
to the 2003 white paper on science and technology, behind the
United States with 32.7%. Also, according to investigations
by the Japan Patent Office and others, the number of patent
registrations by Japanese private companies and other entities
or individuals was about 1.13 million in 2000, putting Japan
second in the world behind the United States, with about 3.8
million patent registrations. (*1)
Nine Nobel Laureates in Natural Science
Two Japanese won Nobel Prizes in 2002, making it the first time
that more than one Japanese was so honored in the same year.
Professor Emeritus Masatoshi Koshiba of the University of Tokyo
won the prize for physics, and Koichi Tanaka, a researcher at
Shimadzu Corp., the prize for chemistry. It was also a brilliant
feat that for three consecutive years Japanese were awarded
Nobel Prizes. These awards, which make the total number of Nobel
Prizes having been awarded to Japanese scientists to nine, bring
the government's goal of having 30 Japanese awarded Nobel Prizes
over the next 50 years a step closer to reality.
Nanotechnology and Biotechnology
Research projects to develop devices and equipment through the
use of nanotechnology and biotechnology are increasingly being
launched by industry-academia alliances.
For example, Matsushita Electric Industrial, Tokyo Institute
of Technology, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, and
Osaka University are jointly developing a large-capacity memory
device that uses protein circuitry. The new technology, once
achieved, would radically change the way in which semiconductors
are made.
Olympus Optical, Toyobo, Shimadzu Corporation, Kaneka Corporation
and Nipro Corporation, among others, have also teamed up with
the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
to set up a research committee charged with finding ways to
commercialize nanotech and biotech products. The participants
plan to develop medical equipment and artificial cells that
can help mend damaged blood vessels. Attention has been focused
on integrating nanotech and biotech to build intricate devices
that imitate the structure of living organisms.
Japanese companies are devoting an increasing amount of resources
to nanotechnology research and intend to accelerate related
investment in future years. Toshiba, Showa Denko KK, Sumitomo
Electric Industries, and Omron Corporation, for example, each
spent more than ¥2 billion on nanotechnology research in
fiscal year 2003. The number of researchers employed in the
nanotechnology field is also expected to grow over the next
several years.
Efforts in Industry
From the years of postwar reconstruction to the period of high
economic growth in the 1960s, technological progress took place
mainly in steelmaking, shipbuilding, and other heavy industries.
After pollution emerged as a dire problem in the 1960s, the
Environment Agency (now Environment Ministry) was set up in
1971 as a government organization to promote administration
relating to environmental protection in a comprehensive manner.
Industry also began to tackle the issue of pollution. Research
and development relating to energy-saving technologies made
progress, such as the development of cars with low fuel consumption
and less exhaust. At this time, technological levels in the
automobile, consumer electronics, and steelmaking sectors have
become world-class.
Further, in response to the growth of electronic information
processing, technology made great strides in the fields of computers,
semiconductors, and communications. Research also progressed
in such fields as life sciences, ocean development, and earthquake
prediction.
Promoting Creativity
In the 1980s Japan began to respond to calls that it recognize
the importance of pursuing its own course with its own original
standards in science and technology. In other words, Japan was
pressed to review its traditional practice of introducing basic
technology from abroad and refining it on the basis of practical
experience in actual production.
The emphasis on basic research also appeared in government policy.
In 1985, the government formulated the Basic Policy for Science
and Technology with the aim of fostering progress in creative
sciences and technology. In addition, to spur creative basic
research, the Science and Technology Basic Law went into
effect in 1995.(*2) This law declares promotion of science and
technology a national mission and obliges the government to
actively adopt policies to that end.
Research Expenditures
According to the Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs,
Posts and Telecommunications, Japan's public/private scientific
and technological research expenditures totaled about ¥16.7
trillion in fiscalyear 2002.(*3) This figure was up 0.9% over
the previous year and accounted for 3.35% of Japan's gross domestic
product. Research expenditures in Germany and the United States
in 2000 represented 2.45% and 2.69% of the GDP, respectively.
Government research spending totaled about ¥3.1 trillion
in fiscal year 2002.(*4) It is used to fund basic research and
development projects, often in unexplored fields, carried out
by national and other public institutions, such as universities,
research institutes and special corporations. The government's
share of research spending stood at 18.6% in fiscal year 2001,
which is quite low compared with figures for other industrial
nations, generally in the range of 30% to 40%.
Research Bodies
Japan had 18,468 experimental and research bodies in fiscal
year 2002, 1,119 of which were national and other public institutes.
Faculties of national, public, and private universities and
colleges accounted for 3,091. Most of the remaining 14,258 institutes
are research laboratories belonging to private companies. Japan's
experimental and research bodies were staffed by 757,339 researchers
as of March 2003.(*5)
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