9:30 AM - 9:45 AM
[U01-03] Science Council of Japan from the perspective of science and technology diplomacy
★Invited Papers
Keywords:science and technology diplomacy, Science Council of Japan
In 2015, a Science and Technology Advisor to the Minister for Foreign Affairs was placed in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and I was appointed as the first advisor and had worked in science and technology diplomacy for about four and a half years. Science and technology (hereinafter abbreviated as science) diplomacy has the following three roles.
The first is "Science in Diplomacy", where advice and recommendations to the Minister for Foreign Affairs play an important role. For example, regarding the STI for SDGs, I recommended to make a roadmap through international cooperation, which I had a presentation to the world at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
The second is "Diplomacy for Science", which aims to contribute to the improvement of science and technology in Japan through diplomatic activities. In collaboration with the Japanese embassy abroad and the Cabinet Office, I introduced the status of research and development for innovation in Japan to each country and discussed future international cooperation.
The third is "Science for Diplomacy". I have formed a network with the people in charge of science and technology diplomacy in each country and have explored the contribution of science and technology to future diplomacy. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs Science and Technology Advisory Network (FMSTAN) was established in 2016 in the United States, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Japan, and has considered the ideal way of scientific advice.
Replacing the term of “diplomacy” with “policy” means "Science in Policy", "Policy for Science" and "Science for Policy". These words are directly linked to the positioning of advice, recommendations, and exhortations, which are the most important roles of the academy. In the world of science and technology in Japan, the Science in Policy is promoted by the Council for Science, Technology and Innovation (CSTI) in the Cabinet Office, and the councils take on the role in each ministry and agency. Policy for Science is the CSTI's most important task. On the other hand, it is the role of the academy to promote Science for Policy.
The promotion that clarifies these positions is not understood well in Japan. For example, even in the case of COVID-19's countermeasures, scientists have been taken in by the government, and there is no place to truly consider Science for Policy without leaving the area of Science in Policy. Infectious diseases are a long-term issue, and it is expected that the Science Council of Japan will continue to set up an infectious disease control committee that gathers top-level researchers.
On the other hand, the Science Council also exposed a big problem in the appointment of members. It is hard to admit that the government has refused to appoint, but the Science Council of Japan, which has omitted this time, is also responsible for the fact that the previous appointment of members had substantive prior consultations. However, it is difficult to understand why the organizational review has surfaced.
The Japan Academy Prize exists as an honorary institution, and the organization that is separated from the Science Council of Japan as a discussion institution is one of the characteristics of Japan. The idea of persuasiveness is an important point of view because it is a report of a prestigious scientist. Members are appointed by Co-optation all over the world, but only Japan has a fixed term system. The definition of a researcher as the basis for selecting members is based on the holder of a PhD degree. Consideration of this point is also necessary for the quota allocation.
Another important point is the assumption that science has no borders, and it is necessary to always cooperate with academic conferences around the world and disseminate information from global perspectives.
The last thing I would like to add is the approach to dual use. This is the reason why the Japanese government has repelled this time, and it is important for sensible adults to respond to the fact that it is difficult to separate military research from civil one. In addition, research integrity, such as the diversion and transposition of technology, will become a major issue in the future, and we must pay attention to this point as well.
The first is "Science in Diplomacy", where advice and recommendations to the Minister for Foreign Affairs play an important role. For example, regarding the STI for SDGs, I recommended to make a roadmap through international cooperation, which I had a presentation to the world at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
The second is "Diplomacy for Science", which aims to contribute to the improvement of science and technology in Japan through diplomatic activities. In collaboration with the Japanese embassy abroad and the Cabinet Office, I introduced the status of research and development for innovation in Japan to each country and discussed future international cooperation.
The third is "Science for Diplomacy". I have formed a network with the people in charge of science and technology diplomacy in each country and have explored the contribution of science and technology to future diplomacy. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs Science and Technology Advisory Network (FMSTAN) was established in 2016 in the United States, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Japan, and has considered the ideal way of scientific advice.
Replacing the term of “diplomacy” with “policy” means "Science in Policy", "Policy for Science" and "Science for Policy". These words are directly linked to the positioning of advice, recommendations, and exhortations, which are the most important roles of the academy. In the world of science and technology in Japan, the Science in Policy is promoted by the Council for Science, Technology and Innovation (CSTI) in the Cabinet Office, and the councils take on the role in each ministry and agency. Policy for Science is the CSTI's most important task. On the other hand, it is the role of the academy to promote Science for Policy.
The promotion that clarifies these positions is not understood well in Japan. For example, even in the case of COVID-19's countermeasures, scientists have been taken in by the government, and there is no place to truly consider Science for Policy without leaving the area of Science in Policy. Infectious diseases are a long-term issue, and it is expected that the Science Council of Japan will continue to set up an infectious disease control committee that gathers top-level researchers.
On the other hand, the Science Council also exposed a big problem in the appointment of members. It is hard to admit that the government has refused to appoint, but the Science Council of Japan, which has omitted this time, is also responsible for the fact that the previous appointment of members had substantive prior consultations. However, it is difficult to understand why the organizational review has surfaced.
The Japan Academy Prize exists as an honorary institution, and the organization that is separated from the Science Council of Japan as a discussion institution is one of the characteristics of Japan. The idea of persuasiveness is an important point of view because it is a report of a prestigious scientist. Members are appointed by Co-optation all over the world, but only Japan has a fixed term system. The definition of a researcher as the basis for selecting members is based on the holder of a PhD degree. Consideration of this point is also necessary for the quota allocation.
Another important point is the assumption that science has no borders, and it is necessary to always cooperate with academic conferences around the world and disseminate information from global perspectives.
The last thing I would like to add is the approach to dual use. This is the reason why the Japanese government has repelled this time, and it is important for sensible adults to respond to the fact that it is difficult to separate military research from civil one. In addition, research integrity, such as the diversion and transposition of technology, will become a major issue in the future, and we must pay attention to this point as well.