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JOINT PRESS RELEASE
ON THE EIGHTH MEETING OF THE UK-JAPAN JOINT COMMITTEE
ON CO-OPERATION IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

November 28, 2011

Japanese

The eighth meeting of the United Kingdom - Japan Joint Committee on Co-operation in Science and Technology took place in London on 28 November 2011, under the Agreement between the two governments on co-operation in Science and Technology.

The Joint Committee was co-chaired by Sir John BEDDINGTON CMG FRS, the United Kingdom Government Chief Scientific Adviser and Mr. Kazuo WATANABE, Ambassador for Science and Technology Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and was attended by Dr. Masuo AIZAWA, Executive Member of the Council for Science and Technology Policy of the Cabinet Office of Japan, and a range of other representatives from the UK and the Japanese governments and science agencies.

The Joint Committee discussed a number of areas, exchanging views on science and technology policy, international collaboration and related issues. The committee discussed in detail such areas as environment and energy, student and researcher mobility, university- industry collaboration, emergency preparedness, public communication of science and large facilities. A copy of the agenda for the meeting is attached.

The meeting heard a number of presentations outlining the valuable research collaboration currently being undertaken between UK and Japanese research agencies, research institutes and universities and was pleased to note the high level and quality of this research. The Committee also noted that over the last year a number of collaborations had been agreed between UK and Japanese organizations which would do much to facilitate future collaboration to the benefit of both countries. In this context the Committee announced it would co-operate in the field of Health Science and requested that the MRC and JST establish a formal MOU to launch a Joint Research Exchange Programme at the earliest opportunity.

Areas for future collaboration were also discussed and both sides expressed a wish to develop the existing work further and to explore the possibilities of expanding collaboration into new areas dealing with the major challenges of global issues such as energy, environment, climate change, the digital economy and an ageing society. Possible new areas of collaboration will be further discussed and specified by experts’ meetings and scoping workshops which will be held for these topics.

It was proposed to hold the next Joint Committee in Japan and the specific date of the meeting will be coordinated through diplomatic channels.

DRAFT AGENDA FOR THE 8th MEETING OF THE UK-JAPAN JOINT COMMITTEE ON CO-OPERATION IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(BIS CONFERENCE CENTRE)

DAY 1 – 28th November 2011

09.15-09.30Welcome / introductions

(Sir John Beddington / Ambassador [S&T] Kazuo Watanabe / Dr Masuo Aizawa)

09.30-10.30Policy Exchange
  • UK ST&I Policy, Priorities and future plans – Sir John Beddington
  • Japan Science, Technology & Innovation Policy (The 4th Science & Technology Basic Plan) – Dr Masuo Aizawa
10.30-10.40…. Coffee Break
10.40-12.15Global issues

Environment and energy (including climate change, renewables, nuclear energy and electricity market reform)

  • UK perspectives on energy and climate change – Mr Nafees Meah (DECC)
  • The Green Innovation Policy and Efforts of MEXT – Mr Kenji Kaibe (MEXT)
  • Future Energy Policy in Japan – Mr Akira Hosaka (METI)

S&T contribution in mitigating / avoiding major disasters, experiences of and lessons from emergency response by the government in the field of S&T at national crisis including public science communication

  • Risk communication in emergencies - Sir John Beddington
  • Approaches in STI policy toward the Recovery and Revitalization of Japan - Dr Masuo Aizawa

Science and Technology Diplomacy

  • A Foreign & Commonwealth Office perspective – Prof. David Clary (Chief Scientist FCO)
  • Science & Technology Diplomacy- Ambassador Kazuo Watanabe
12.15-13.00Common Research Challenges

Student & researcher mobility, University-industry collaboration, Research clusters / Regional Initiatives

  • UK perspective on Student & researcher mobility - Frazer Macdonald (BIS) / Brian Johnson (BIS),
  • University / Industry collaboration in the UK - Carolyn Reeve (BIS)
  • UK Regional Initiatives / Research Clusters - Mr Fergus Harradence (BIS)
  • Support for Dispatch of Young Researcher Overseas – Mr Katsuhisa Sagisaka (MEXT)
  • Introduction of Industry - Academia Collaboration & Regional Science & Technology Policy in Japan - Mr Katsuhisa Sagisaka (MEXT)
  • University - Industry Collaboration Policies in Japan - Mr Akira Hosaka (METI)
13.00-13.45…. LUNCH
13.45-15.45Current Research Collaboration

Introduction of Current Research Collaboration Activities

  • Report from British Embassy Tokyo. – Kevin Knappett
  • Royal Society/Daiwa Foundation - Prof Lorna Casselton (Royal Society)
  • RCUK overview / New priorities, Joint-calls with JST - Prof Paul Boyle – RCUK
  • Overview of JST’s international activities – Mr Mamoru Shinohara (JST)
  • JSPS’s Collaborative Programs with the UK – Ms Helga Tabuchi (JSPS)
  • NEDO’s International Activities & Japan-UK Cooperation – Ms Setsuko Wakabayashi (NEDO)
  • Research Activities at the RIKEN-RAL Muon Facility - Prof Teiichiro Matsuzaki (RIKEN)
  • AIST and the Collaboration with UK – No presentation (paper to be tabled).
  • STFC Large Facilities – Peter Fletcher (STFC)
  • Diamond – Prof Gerd Materlik / Elizabeth Shotton (DLS)
  • ISIS - Dr Philip King (ISIS)
  • Collaborative Activities between DLS & SPring 8 – Dr Hideo Ohno (JASRI)
  • UK-Japan collaborations on Neutron Science – Dr Masatoshi Arai (J-PARC)
  • Discussion on New Collaboration between BIS (MRC) & MEXT (JST)
15.45-16.15Other issues
  • British Council activity - Ms Clare McNulty (BC)
  • G8 Research Councils Initiative - Dr Sophie Laurie (RCUK)/Ms Helga Tabuchi (JSPS)
16.15 -16.50Closing session

Discussion for follow-on recommendations / areas for collaboration and the drafting of a UK-Japan joint statement - All

16.50Summing up – Sir John Beddington / Ambassador Kazuo Watanabe & Dr Masuo Aizawa
17.00CLOSE

2. Background on the Joint Committee

The UK-Japan Joint Committee on Co-operation in Science and Technology was established under article IV of the 1994 UK-Japan Science and Technology Agreement between the two governments, stipulating that the Committee meets at mutually agreed times (usually every other year, alternating between London & Tokyo) to exchange information and views on scientific and technological policy issues, reviews and discusses co-operative activities and accomplishments and provide advice to the two Governments.

Related Information (Japan-U.K. Relations)

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