Official Development Assistance (ODA)

(6) Promotion of Science, Technology and Innovation, and Research and Development

Data science (a method of conducting scientific research by analyzing massive amounts of data) and cyber security are gaining importance with the increasingly widespread use of ICT, along with the advances in the globalization of R&D and openness of research outcomes. In this connection, science, technology, and innovation are undergoing fundamental transformations. Science and technology is a fundamental element that underlies national security, economic growth through innovation, and improvements in the lives and welfare of mankind.

The international community attaches importance to international cooperation that utilizes science and technology to solve issues, such as sustainable development of the economy and industry, global environmental issues, natural resource and energy issues, and health and sanitation issues. In today’s international community, which is witnessing fundamental changes in the science, technology, and innovation processes, there is a call for more strategic and proactive efforts in science and technology diplomacy.

 

<Japan’s Efforts>

In order to utilize Japan’s superior science and technology in diplomacy, Dr. Teruo Kishi, Professor Emeritus of the University of Tokyo, was appointed as the first Science and Technology Advisor to the Minister for Foreign Affairs in September 2015. The role of the Science and Technology Advisor includes providing advice and recommendations to utilize the science and technology of Japan for international cooperation and contributing to tackling global issues as an advisor to the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

As part of recent efforts in this area, the Science and Technology Advisor to the Minister for Foreign Affairs submitted recommendations towards TICAD VI, including specific measures, regarding the best approach to support for Africa from the viewpont of science and technology, and submitted them to Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida in August 2016. These recommendations presented specific efforts in line with the two pillars: “Improve Africa’s science and technology level by human resources development” and “Apply R&D results to overall society.” The Nairobi Declaration called for the utilization and promotion of science, technology and innovation and the content of “Japan’s measures for Africa at TICAD VI” reflected the above-mentioned recommendations.

Science, technology and innovation in which Japan’s strengths are utilized has attracted more attention recently and is also given priority in the implementation of SDGs. Diverse stakeholders including governments, companies, researchers, citizen groups, etc. discussed this topic at the First Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation which was held at the United Nations headquarters in New York in June 2016. In Japan, discussions have taken place in the Advisory Board for the Promotion of Science and Technology Diplomacy established under the Science and Technology Advisor to the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

In addition to this, as a major program for Japan’s science and technology diplomacy, the Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development (SATREPS) programme* linking ODA and the science and technology budget was launched in 2008 and by 2016 had adopted 115 joint research projects in 46 countries around the world.

Regarding SATREPS, the “Project for the Development of Crop Genotypes for the Midlands and Mountain Areas of North Viet Nam” was implemented with the objective of strengthening the research infrastructure for developing new rice varieties with short growth duration, high yielding, and disease and insect resistance suitable to the natural and social environment of the midlands and mountain areas of the northern part of Viet Nam. This project contributed to the building of an efficient system for developing new rice varieties by converging a cutting-edge marker-assisted selection technique and a rapid method for accelerating the turnover of generations of rice.

Furthermore, in May 2016 the G7 Science and Technology Ministers’ Meeting in Tsukuba, Ibaraki was held, and the Tsukuba Communiqué was adopted. The Communiqué included themes related to development such as global health, including Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), and inclusive innovation, etc. which were compiled from the perspective of science and technology.

Another effort of Japan involves strengthening assistance for overseas engineering universities to develop next-generation networks that are based on cooperation for human resources development. In Malaysia, an institution of higher education offering Japanese-style engineering education, the Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology (MJIIT), was founded as a culmination of the Look East Policy (Note 7) initiated in 1982. Japan provides support to MJIIT by purchasing equipment and supplies for education and research, and developing curriculums. Japan also collaborates with 26 universities in Japan to extend cooperation for establishing curriculums, dispatching Japanese faculty, and other objectives.

In addition, Japan provides contributions to the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), an international organization located in Thailand and one of Asia’s leading graduate schools offering Master’s and PhD programs at the School of Engineering and Technology, the School of Environment, Resources and Development, and other schools. Japan’s contributions are used to provide scholarships to students studying remote sensing (satellite image analysis) taught by Japanese instructors, and contributes to human resources development in the field of remote sensing that utilizes artificial satellites constituting the crux of the ASEAN-Japan Disaster Management Cooperation.

In Egypt, since 2008 Japan has supported the establishment of Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology (E-JUST), a national university based on the concept of “graduate school, research-centered, pragmatic, and international-standard education for a small number of students,” drawing on the features of Japanese-style engineering education. Universities from all over Japan have collaborated to dispatch faculty and staff to Egypt to provide lecture and research guidance, and support the development of curriculums. Through an “All-Japan” effort, Japan aims to share its science and technology education practices with Africa and the Middle East.

Japan also conducts a program to increase the adoption of Japanese companies’ technologies that are useful for the socio-economic development of developing countries. This program is expected to help promote the adoption of Japanese private companies’ advanced technological capabilities and diverse know-how in partner countries.

Glossary
* Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development (SATREPS) programme
SATREPS makes use of both Japan’s outstanding science and technologies and ODA to conduct research to solve global issues relating to the environment and energy, bio-resources, disaster risk reduction, and infectious diseases. Research institutes in developing countries and in Japan work together to implement international joint research with the goal of utilizing the research outcomes (diffusing research outcomes in society). The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), and the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED), in collaboration with MOFA and JICA, provide support to research institutes and researchers in Japan and partner countries.

  1. Note 7: The Look East Policy is Malaysia’s human resources development policy advocated in 1981 by then Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad of Malaysia, with the objective of studying Japan’s development experience, work ethic, management philosophy, among other dimensions.

•Malaysia

Project for Development of Low Carbon Society Scenarios for Asian Regions
Technical cooperation project (June 2011 – June 2016)

A meeting for the project (Photo: JICA)

A meeting for the project (Photo: JICA)

Malaysia, which has achieved rapid economic growth and is aiming to become a developed country in recent years, faces big challenges in conserving the natural environment, and in the sustainable use and management of resources. Particularly, the increase in carbon dioxide emissions is becoming serious due to rising energy consumption in line with advancement of citizens’ living standard, as well as the aggravation of urban environment problems such as air pollution. Furthermore, heavy rain, flooding, landslides and forest fires, which are drawing attention to their relation with the climate change, are occurring.

Working towards solutions to these problems, Malaysia has started taking steps for building a “low carbon society” in order to greatly reduce its emissions of carbon dioxide. With infrastructure development in the Iskandar developing region under development as a special economic zone in Johor state at the southernmost tip of the Malay Peninsula, the plan to build a “low carbon society” by 2025 is required. However, for reasons such as the insufficient technology and human resources, it was difficult for Malaysia alone to achieve this plan.

Therefore, Malaysia requested cooperation from Japan which has knowledge and successful track records for the reduction of air pollution and curbing of the amount of carbon dioxide emissions. In response to this, a Japanese team comprised of experts from Kyoto University, Okayama University, and the National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES) and a Malaysian team comprised of researchers mainly from University of Technology, Malaysia (UTM), jointly prepared an implementation plan setting the road map towards realization of a “low carbon society”. They received the approval of the Government of Malaysia for the plan, and commenced their activities.

The team of researchers from Japan has experience in having supported policymaking in India, Thailand, and other countries in the past. They kept in mind giving guidance so that the Malaysian staff can continue the project by themselves eventually so they focused on the development of human resources and organizations. Specifically, in addition to the preparation of manuals, setting-up for fora for dialogue and data gathering about the present situation towards the realization of a “low carbon society,” Japan also offered training programs for the Malaysian staff who engage in making low carbon society scenarios, and established a network of those involved. Such training is required to be implemented continuously both in Japan and in Malaysia henceforth.

The initiatives to build the “low carbon society” encourage not only infrastructure development but also tree planting and the children’s ecological activities at local elementary schools without a heavy burden. It is expected that the project outcomes will spread beyond Malaysia to other Asian regions.