Experts Discuss Revitalizing Science
Overview
On September 5, 2025, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology convened an expert meeting on revitalizing science. The meeting confirmed its operating guidelines and plans for September and October, then discussed fundamental research capacity and the goals, challenges, and responses for revitalizing science, taking into account the Council for Science, Technology and Innovation’s deliberations toward the 7th Science, Technology and Innovation Basic Plan. Members raised issues including diversity in research, support for early-career researchers and regional universities, autonomous investment by research institutions, industry collaboration, and stronger international networks. The meeting planned four discussions in an intensive period in September and October, with specific measures to be compiled into recommendations.
Key points
- The meeting was held on September 5, 2025.
- The meeting discussed a fundamental strengthening of basic research capacity as a central challenge in revitalizing science.
- The meeting confirmed a plan to hold four discussions over September and October and compile recommendations.
- Human resources, AI, research infrastructure, ambitious research, internationalization, core funding, and university reform were organized as response directions.
Overview
The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology established this meeting to consider specific response measures, taking into account the Council for Science, Technology and Innovation’s discussions toward the 7th Science, Technology and Innovation Basic Plan. In its issue paper of July 25, 2025, the Council’s Basic Plan Expert Committee called for “revitalizing science,” identified recovery of basic research capacity as the top priority, and indicated that it should be fundamentally strengthened.
The secretariat described revitalization as more than a return to past research conditions: it meant looking at today’s context and the future, establishing a virtuous cycle of people and funding that continually generates new knowledge along with a supportive environment, and restoring Japan’s international advantage in science and basic research. The meeting also cited a ranking of 13th in the number of Top 10% papers as one indicator of research capacity.
Impact
The meeting aimed to compile specific response measures into recommendations through intensive discussions and contribute to the Council for Science, Technology and Innovation’s deliberations on the 7th Basic Plan.
Details
The meeting confirmed that proceedings would generally be open and that materials and minutes would be published on the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology website. Sessions could be closed if openness risked impeding fair and impartial deliberation. Member Miyazono was appointed deputy chair under Chair Ohno.
Four meetings were planned for September and October. The proposed agenda was for the second meeting to cover support encouraging challenges in emerging and interdisciplinary research and AI for Science; the third to cover individual issues and a draft recommendation; and the fourth, in late October, to address the proposed recommendations. The first meeting discussed basic perspectives and issues.
The secretariat presented response directions including consistently producing talented people, innovating research through AI for Science, renewing and making use of research and development infrastructure, supporting ambitious research, strengthening international presence, securing core funding, and reforming universities. Members also raised diversity in people and research topics, research environments for early-career researchers and regional universities, time for research, participation in international networks, industry collaboration, and mechanisms enabling universities and research institutions to make their own investment decisions.