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ABSTRACT
This note sketches the evolution and growing centrality of Japan’s science, technology and innovation (STI) policy over the past quarter century, from the Basic Law on Science and Technology in 1995 to the new Science, Technology and Innovation Basic Law in 2020. It highlights: the shift from a primary emphasis on economic value and competitiveness to encompass social needs, resilience and sustainability; the growing importance of mission-oriented innovation policy (MOIP); the consequent need for new coordination mechanisms across government and at different levels, from local to international; the need for continuous evaluation and adjustment mechanisms as opposed to post-project/programme evaluation; and the need for human resources for these. The Strategic Innovation Programme (SIP) Automated Driving Project is described as a pioneering model of cross-ministerial MOIP, and key challenges for the forthcoming 7th STI Basic Plan (2026–30) are identified.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Notes
1. Many countries have begun to embrace MOIP. The OECD (Larrue Citation2021a, Citation2021b) defines MOIP as ‘a coordinated package of STI policy and regulatory instruments specifically tailored to address clearly defined goals related to social challenges’. Three common features are: 1) Strategic direction – direction of efforts of various stakeholders towards achievement of the mission in a time-bound manner; 2)Policy coordination – coordination among policy implementing agencies such as central ministries and funding agencies, universities and research institutions, local governments, businesses, and civil society organizations, and 3) Policy implementation – integration of a variety of policy instruments and initiatives.
2. SIP had two phases: Phase 1 (FY2014–2018) with 11 projects and a total budget of ¥158 billion, and Phase 2 (FY2018–2022) with 12 projects and a total budget of ¥144.5 billion.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Tateo Arimoto
Tateo Arimoto is Principal Fellow at the Center for Research and Development Strategy at Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST-CRDS), and a visiting professor at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS). He is a Fellow of the International Science Council, and former Director General of S&T Policy Bureau at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), Japan.