Press Releases
Submission of Recommendation on the Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Roadmap for the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by Science and Technology Advisor to the Foreign Minister
1 On May 28 Prof. Teruo KISHI, Science and Technology Advisor to the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, submitted the “Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Roadmap for the achievement of the SDGs – To think, proceed, and create together with the world” to Mr. Kazuyuki NAKANE, State Minister for Foreign Affairs in presence of Mr. Michiharu NAKAMURA, Japan Science and Technology Agency Advisor (Abstract of the recommendations (pdf) / Recommendations (pdf)). The recommendations were compiled on the base of discussions at the meeting of the Advisory Board for the Promotion of Science and Technology Diplomacy (Chaired by Dr. KISHI).
2 State Minister Mr. NAKANE expressed his appreciation for the contribution of the Advisory Board, and stated that he would like to employ the recommendations for the promotion of related policies on upcoming diplomatic events.
[Reference 1] Outline of the recommendation “Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Roadmap for the achievement of the SDGs – To think, proceed, and create together with the world”
(1) Science, technology and innovation (STI) is a "deciding factor" to optimize the use of finite resources in order to achieve the SDGs. In addition, each stakeholder can take advantage of STI by being unified as a “plane”, neither “dots” nor “lines”, to foster new investment and business opportunities as well as to open new frontiers in science and technology.
(2) The STI Roadmap is an effective tool to create a circular flow from analysis to social implementation; in more detail, grasping of the local needs, gap analysis between the ideal and the real, R&D, practical realization, thereby social changes.
(3) Tailored to the circumstances of individual country (customization), the STI Roadmap visualizes the status quo and guides for the future. By being shared among the stakeholders (commonization), it becomes a communication tool for them.
(4) Japan, which took an initiative for the STI Roadmap, should lead the formulation of the STI Roadmap while showing its attitude to share a common perspectives with others and to make progress together.
[Reference 2] Science and Technology Advisor to the Foreign Minister (in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
Its objective is to advise and support the activities of the Foreign Minister and related departments regarding the utilization of science and technology for foreign policy planning, as well as to strengthen the cooperation with the advisors and related experts of other countries. In September 2015 Dr. Teruo KISHI, Professor Emeritus of the University of Tokyo, took office.
[Reference 3] "Advisory Board for the Promotion of Science and Technology Diplomacy"
The "Advisory Network on Science and Technology Diplomacy" gathers experts from various fields under the Science and Technology Advisor and utilizes their knowledge and experience for the planning of foreign policy including Japan’s top diplomacy and high level international conferences. As part of this attempt, the "Advisory Board for the Promotion of Science and Technology Diplomacy" was established consisting of a total of 18 experts from related fields (chaired by the Science and Technology Advisor). Since the inauguration in February 2016 the meeting has been held seven times.