Global Issues & ODA

• A Courtesy Call on Prof. MATSUMOTO Yoichiro, Science and Technology Advisor to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, by participants of the German-Japanese Young Experts Exchange Program (December 8, 2023)
• A Courtesy Call by Recipients of the International Science and Technology Center (ISTC) 25th Anniversary Award on Mr. KITAGAWA Katsuro, Assistant Minister, Director-General of the Disarmament, Non-Proliferation and Science Department (November 14, 2023)
• The 12th Japan-UK Joint Committee Meeting on Science and Technology Cooperation (November 8, 2023)
• The 6th Meeting of the Advisory Board for Promoting Science and Technology Diplomacy (August 30, 2023)
• Science and Technology Fellows at Overseas Establishments (August 29, 2023)
• Visit of Dr. Kotani, Science and Technology Co-Advisor to the Minister for Foreign Affairs to Panama (July 4, 2023)
• Ms. KAJI Misako, Ambassador for Science and Technology Cooperation, participated in the 6th STS forum European Workshop (June 28, 2023)
• Presentation for Science and Technology Attachés of Foreign Missions in Japan by Dr. Kotani, Science and Technology Co-Advisor to the Minister for Foreign Affairs (June 28, 2023)
• The 5th Intergovernmental Consultation on Cooperation between Japan and the Czech Republic in the Field of Science and Technology (June 12, 2023)
• The 15th Japan-U.S. Joint High-Level Committee (JHLC) Meeting under the Agreement between Japan and the U.S. on Cooperation in Research and Development in Science and Technology Media Note (May 23, 2023)
• The 15th Japan-U.S. Joint High-Level Committee (JHLC) Meeting under the Agreement between Japan and the U.S. on Cooperation in Research and Development in Science and Technology (May 17, 2023)
• Prof. MATSUMOTO, Science and Technology Advisor to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, participated in the 2nd STS forum Latin America and the Caribbean High-Level Conference (March 29, 2023)
• Video Message by Mr. HAYASHI Yoshimasa, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, at the 2nd STS forum Latin America and the Caribbean High-Level Conference (March 16, 2023)
• The 4th Japan-New Zealand Joint Committee Meeting on Science and Technology Cooperation (March 9, 2023)
• The 8th Japan-Netherlands Joint Committee Meeting on Science and Technology Cooperation (March 2, 2023)
• The 13rd Intergovernmental Consultation on Cooperation in the field of Science and Technology between Japan and Hungary (February 24, 2023)
• The 24th Japan-Germany Joint Committee Meeting on Science and Technology Cooperation (February 3, 2023)
• The 5th Japan-Switzerland Joint Committee Meeting on Science and Technology Cooperation (January 31, 2023)
• The 15th Japan-Italy Joint Committee Meeting on Science and Technology Cooperation (January 19, 2023)
• Appointment of Ms. KAJI Misako as Ambassador for Science and Technology Cooperation (January 18, 2023)
• Visit of Dr. KOTANI Motoko, Science and Technology Co-Advisor to the Minister for Foreign Affairs to South Africa (January 11, 2023)
• The 17th Japan-Australia Joint Committee Meeting on Science and Technology Cooperation (November 30, 2022)
• The 8th Japan-Sweden Joint Committee Meeting on Science and Technology Cooperation (November 14, 2022)
• Prof. MATSUMOTO, Science and Technology Advisor to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Dr. KOTANI, Science and Technology Co-Advisor to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, participated in the FMSTAN meeting (October 13-14, 2022)
• The 5th Meeting of the Advisory Board for Promoting Science and Technology Diplomacy (August 31, 2022)
• The 10th Meeting of the Japan-France Joint Committee on Cooperation in Science and Technology (July 28, 2022)
• Participation of Dr. KOTANI Motoko, Science and Technology Co-Advisor to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, in the Science Roundtable Talk with European Research and Innovation Policy Officials, which was held at the Mission of Japan to the EU (July 12, 2022)
• A Courtesy Call on Mr. HAYASHI Yoshimasa, Minister for Foreign Affairs, by Prof. MATSUMOTO Yoichiro, Science and Technology Advisor to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Dr. KOTANI Motoko, Science and Technology Co-Advisor to the Minister for Foreign Affairs (June 16, 2022)
• Prof. MATSUMOTO Yoichiro, Science and Technology Advisor to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Dr. KOTANI Motoko, Science and Technology Co-Advisor to the Minister for Foreign Affairs meet with Prof. Pavel KABAT, Secretary-General of the International Human Frontier Science Program Organization (HFSPO) (May 24, 2022)
• Courtesy Call on State Minister for Foreign Affairs Odawara Kiyoshi by Mr. Jean-Eric Paquet, Director-General of Directorate-General for Research and Innovation of the European Commission (May 17, 2022)
• Presentation for science and technology attachés in the foreign Missions in Japan by Prof. MATSUMOTO Yoichiro, Science and Technology Advisor to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Prof. KANO Mitsunobu, Science and Technology Co-Advisor to the Minister for Foreign Affairs (April 7, 2022)
• Commission of Science and Technology Co-Advisor to the Minister for Foreign Affairs to Dr. KOTANI Motoko, Executive Vice President for Research of Tohoku University (April 1, 2022)
• The 4th Meeting of the Advisory Board for Promoting Science and Technology Diplomacy (March 16, 2022)
• Joint Press Release: The 15th Canada-Japan Joint Committee Meeting on Science, Technology (March 15, 2022)
• The 9th Japan-Israel Joint Committee Meeting on Cooperation on Science and Technology (March 3, 2022)

• Archives

In recent years, the influence that science and technology exert over the areas of international cooperation and diplomacy has been increasing. Spanning from national security to technological innovation, science and technology are important factors that support the development of our everyday life and social welfare. The idea to merge science and technology with diplomacy was then named ‘Science and Technology Diplomacy’. For some time now, Japan has been emphasizing the importance of further enhancing its diplomatic power by utilizing science and technology. In the current international society with all its global issues, Japan has more opportunities to bring its science and technology to the fore in diplomacy.

In order to promote ‘Science and Technology Diplomacy’, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs appointed Prof. KISHI Teruo, Professor Emeritus of the University of Tokyo, as the first Science and Technology Advisor to the Minister for Foreign Affairs on 27 September 2015. This newly established position was based on the report presented to the Foreign Minister by the ‘Advisory Panel on Science and Technology Diplomacy’ (chairman: SHIRAISHI Takashi, Director of the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies, at that time), which convened in May that year. Since he assumed office, Prof. KISHI had played an active role by offering his expertise, giving recommendations, strengthening networks abroad, and publicizing Japanese science and technology overseas. Moreover, to support Prof. KISHI in his advisory activities, Prof. KANO Mitsunobu, Professor at Okayama University, was commissioned the business of Science and Technology Co-Advisor to the Minister for Foreign Affairs in April 2019.

On 1 April 2020, Prof. MATSUMOTO Yoichiro, then President of Tokyo University of Science, was appointed as the new Science and Technology Advisor to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and on 1 April 2022, Dr. KOTANI Motoko, Executive Vice President for Research of Tohoku University, was commissioned as the new Science and Technology Co-Advisor to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. This advisory system is expected to further strengthen Japan’s Science and Technology Diplomacy.

Additionally, the Science and Technology Diplomacy Advisory Network, composed of specialized experts from various science and technology fields, has been established under the Science and Technology Advisor, aiming to make further contributions to the foreign policy planning process. As part of this network, ‘The Advisory Board for Promoting Science & Technology Diplomacy’, consisting of 20 experts from related fields, is held regularly.

In 2023, the Science and Technology Fellows were established in diplomatic missions abroad based on the recommendations “Strengthening the Foundation of Science and Technology Capabilities” prepared by the Advisory Board.

• Recommendation "Strengthening the Foundation of Science and Technology Capabilities" (summary (Japanese) (PDF) / full report (Japanese) (PDF))
• Achieving an innovation ecosystem together with Africa - Recommendations towards TICAD7 (summary (PDF) / full report (PDF))
• Recommendation on Science, Technology and Innovation to Achieve the SDGs and its Guiding Tool, the STI Roadmap - To Think, Proceed and Create Together with the World - (summary (PDF) / full report (PDF))
• Achieving Innovative Solutions for Arctic Challenges Science and technology for the Arctic Japan’s role through five “i”s (summary (PDF) / full report (PDF))
• Achievements and Future Directions of Science and Technology Advisor to the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan (summary (PDF), full report (PDF))
• Recommendation for the Future (STI as a Bridging Force to Provide Solutions for Global issues: Four Actions of Science and Technology Diplomacy to Implement the SDGs) (summary (PDF), full report (PDF))
• TICAD VI outline of recommendations (A More Prosperous Africa with the Power of Science, Technology and Innovation) (English (PDF), French (PDF))