Chapter 4
Japan Strengthening Its Presence in the International Community
3 Science and Technology Diplomacy
Science and technology constitute the foundational elements for peace and prosperity that support socioeconomic development, and play a vital role in ensuring safety and security. By harnessing its own advanced science and technology, Japan promotes Science and Technology Diplomacy, thereby contributing to the development of science and technology at home and abroad, the promotion of relations with other countries, the peace and stability of the international community, and the resolution of global challenges. As part of this effort, Japan places emphasis on initiatives implemented through the activities of the Science and Technology Advisor to the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
In September 2015, MOFA established the post of Science and Technology Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and appointed Prof. Kishi Teruo, Professor Emeritus of the University of Tokyo, as the first Science and Technology Advisor. Following the end of his term in March 2020, Prof. Kishi was replaced by Prof. Matsumoto Yoichiro, President of Tokyo University of Science as the new advisor on April 1. Moreover, since April of the previous year, Prof. Kano Mitsunobu has assumed the post of the Science and Technology Co-Advisor to the Minister for Foreign Affairs to support the work of the Science and Technology Advisor. Prof. Matsumoto supports the activities of the Foreign Minister from the perspective of science and technology, and provides advice on the utilization of science and technology in the planning and coordination of various foreign policies to the Minister and relevant divisions.
Appointment Ceremony of the New Science and Technology Advisor to the Minister for Foreign Affairs (April, Tokyo)
In September, the Advisory Board for Promoting Science and Technology Diplomacy, chaired by Prof. Matsumoto, co-chaired by Prof. Kano and involving 20 experts was established to apply specialized knowledge in all areas of science and technology in the planning and drafting of diplomatic policies. In the future, the Advisory Board will also conduct discussions on major issues relevant to science and technology and diplomacy, including their relations to security and response to global issues.
Prof. Matsumoto and Prof. Kano endeavor to exchange views with other countries' government science and technology advisors, such as the U.S., UK, and New Zealand in developing and strengthening a network. Meetings of the Foreign Ministries Science and Technology Advisors Network (FMSTAN) were held in July, October and December, in which in-depth discussion was conducted, including response to COVID-19. At the Japan-Sweden SICORP Symposium in November, researchers and government officials discussed the cooperation and strengthening of the relationship between the two countries in order to address issues of an ageing society. In the same month, at the online event hosted by the Japan International Science and Technology Exchange Center (JISTEC) and others, Prof. Matsumoto, together with Dr. Mung Chiang, Science & Technology Adviser to the U.S. Secretary of State, conducted an overview and discussion on science and technology policies and priority issues in Japan and the U.S., the importance of science and technology diplomacy, and Japan-U.S. science and technology cooperation. Furthermore, Prof. Matsumoto regularly hosts science and technology diplomacy seminars aimed at raising the level of knowledge within MOFA.
Japan has concluded 32 science and technology cooperation agreements, and these are now in force with 46 countries and the EU.10 Based on these agreements, it organizes regular joint committee meetings with these countries to engage in intergovernmental dialogue. In 2020, joint committee meetings were held with South Africa, Serbia, the U.S., India and Finland, respectively. Attended by delegates from the relevant ministries and agencies, consultations were held on the current status of cooperation in diverse sectors, and on the future direction of cooperation.
With regard to multilateral cooperation, as a member of the Board of the International Science and Technology Center (ISTC), which was established to support research for peaceful purposes conducted by researchers on weapons of mass destruction from the former Soviet Union, and now involved in a wide range of research and development such as chemistry, biology, radioactive materials and nuclear power, Japan works to provide support mainly to countries of Central Asia. Japan also participates in ITER projects to demonstrate the scientific and technological feasibility of nuclear fusion energy.
10 The Japan-USSR Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement was succeeded by Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Uzbekistan, Armenia, Georgia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan on different dates. The Japan-Czechoslovakia Science and Technology Cooperation Arrangement was succeeded by individual agreements with the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993. The Japan-Yugoslavia Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement was succeeded by individual agreements with Croatia, Slovenia, Macedonia (country name at the time), Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro on different dates.
I have been working in the field of research in universities for many years where I have been involved in science, technology and innovation from the standpoint of considering the relationship between society and research. Japan is applying its superior science and technology capabilities to diplomacy and enhancing its diplomatic skills, and by doing so, contributes to the development of science and technology in Japan and the world, to the furthering of relations with other countries, to the peace and stability of the international community, and to the resolution of global issues. In order to support these activities, I assumed office in April as the Science and Technology Advisor to the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
The 1st Meeting of the Advisory Board for Promoting Science and Technology Diplomacy (The author is seated second from the right of the table) (September, Tokyo)
We are currently faced with the pressing question of how to apply science and technology to resolve various issues. These include the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which has been greatly impacted by the spread of the novel coronavirus infectious disease (COVID-19), and how to advance diplomacy including from the perspective of security, through strengthening Japan's science and technology foundation.
With a view to resolving this wide range of issues, and with the aim of applying scientific knowledge and the appropriate recommendations and advice to the formulation of diplomatic policies, Japan has established the Advisory Board for the Promoting Science and Technology Diplomacy comprising 20 expert members in addition to Prof. Kano Mitsunobu, Science and Technology Co-Advisor to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, and myself, and created a system that is capable of consolidating the knowhow of all the board members. The importance of policy-making based on scientific advice and data science is gaining more and more attention worldwide, and discussions have been held using the international networks with the science and technology advisors and scientists of each country. Particularly with regard to COVID-19 countermeasures, in-depth discussions have been held on how to advance diplomacy based on scientific advice through sharing experiences such as the successes and failures of each country.
Prof. Matsumoto at the panel discussion at the Japan- Sweden SICORP Symposium (November, Tokyo)
Japan's science and technology capabilities are an important tool for its diplomacy. However, there have been concerns in recent years that Japan's research capabilities, as well as science and technology capabilities, are on the decline. To overcome this situation, there is a need to create a mobile environment that facilitates free movement between the respective sectors of industry, academia and government. Within this environment, it is then necessary to enhance research as well as science and technology capabilities, while promoting international cooperation. Furthermore, there is also a need to promote science and technology diplomacy more strategically and effectively by consolidating the scientific expertise held by each government ministry and agency, as well as the fruit of their international cooperation efforts, under the Government of Japan as a whole.
The rise of emerging technologies has made it even more important to ensure the soundness and fairness of research (research integrity), and I believe that the first step toward this is to educate academics about research integrity. In addition, ensuring transparency in research and development is necessary for the proper development of science and technology, and it is important for scientists and research institutions to provide mutual guarantees in this respect when engaging in collaborative research. It is becoming increasingly important to advance collaborative research, and science and technology cooperation with countries that share these values.