Minutes of the 2nd Expert Panel on Science Revival
Overview
The second meeting defined “science revival” as a state in which new knowledge is continuously generated and Japan regains international superiority in scientific capability and basic research through a virtuous cycle of people and funding. For emerging and interdisciplinary research, directions were presented for promoting challenges undertaken by early-career researchers, evaluation, exchange, international networks, and technology convergence as an integrated effort. For AI for Science, integrated progress was proposed across research infrastructure, data, computing infrastructure, personnel, investment, and implementation frameworks.
Key points
- “Science revival” was defined as a state in which new knowledge continues to be generated and Japan regains international superiority in scientific capability and basic research.
- For emerging and interdisciplinary research, challenges included promoting early-career researchers in taking on challenges, cross-disciplinary evaluation, team formation, international networks, and technology convergence.
- AI for Science was presented as an effort to develop research infrastructure, data, computing infrastructure, personnel, investment, and implementation frameworks in an integrated manner.
- A direction was presented to add data such as research investment amounts and the mobility of international students in subsequent meetings for international comparisons.
Overview
The meeting revisited three issues: the contemporary significance of basic and academic research, the state targeted by science revival, and policy instruments for achieving it. Investment in basic research was emphasized from the 1980s onward, and the Science and Technology Basic Law was enacted in 1995, but it was explained that competitive funding and operating grants have remained flat in recent years.
The target state was described as one in which researchers affiliated with Japanese research institutions are recognized by the international academic community and public and private sectors in various countries, and Japan becomes a major hub of international brain circulation. The foundations are the development and leadership of new research fields, driving the latest international research trends, and the sustained development of attractive research environments.
Impact
AI for Science was described as increasing the efficiency and productivity of research activities, enabling researchers to exercise their creativity, and transforming the nature of scientific research.
Emerging and interdisciplinary research was positioned as contributing to responses to complex social challenges and the creation of new value through combinations of knowledge and technologies from multiple fields.
Details
For emerging and interdisciplinary research, the proposals included developmental support for early-career researchers, evaluation responsive to interdisciplinarity, exchange and team formation among researchers, stronger overseas networks, and the development of industry–academia–government research hubs including national research institutes.
For AI for Science, a concept was presented to advance six directions: AI research and research using AI, data infrastructure, next-generation information infrastructure, personnel development, the investment environment, and industry–academia–government implementation frameworks. SINET, research data infrastructure, and computing infrastructure would be used to support activities with AI from hypothesis formation through experimentation and interpretation.
For international exchange among early-career researchers, a proposal was presented to provide opportunities to conduct research overseas approximately 5–10 years after obtaining a doctoral dissertation. Salaries, shared equipment, administrative support, research time, data standardization and quality assurance, and responses to AI-related energy and ethical issues were also deemed necessary.