Science and Technology
JOINT PRESS RELEASE
14th JAPAN - ITALY JOINT COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COOPERATION
The fourteenth Japan– Italy Joint Committee on Science and Technology was held in Rome, on the 7th of June 2017, at Palazzo della Farnesina, headquarters of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI). Science and Technology is one of the pillars of the cooperation between Japan and Italy that celebrated in 2016 their 150th anniversary of their diplomatic relations.
The meeting was organized under the terms of the Agreement between the Government of Japan and the Government of Italy on Cooperation in Science and Technology, signed in Tokyo on the 7th of October 1988.
The Joint Committee was co-chaired by Mr. Takeshi Nakane, Ambassador for Science and Technology Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and Mr. Fabrizio Nicoletti , Central Director for Research and Innovation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy. The Joint Committee was held with the participation of high-level representatives from the relevant ministries, funding agencies and research institutions of both countries.
The Joint Committee noted recent activities and the progress with the cooperation in the fields of space, energy and environment, agriculture and food science, geophysics and volcanology and health.
The participants in the Joint Committee exchanged views on science, technology and innovation policy, international collaboration and related issues. Particular focus was given to new developments such as the Fifth Science and Technology Basic Plan in Japan and the “Society 5.0” project proposed in it as well as the "Programma Nazionale della Ricerca 2015-2020" in Italy.
With regard to the collaborative schemes for science, technology and innovation (STI) cooperation, the representatives from Japan and Italy reviewed the valuable research collaboration currently being undertaken within the framework of the Executive Programme or through joint research projects carried out between Japanese and Italian research institutions and were pleased to note the high level and quality of the research outcome.
It was proposed to hold the next Joint Committee meeting in Japan; the specific date of the meeting will be coordinated through diplomatic channels.