Japan-U.S. High Level Committee on Science and Technology

Energy (ITER and Future Energy Alternatives)

The JHLC confirmed the importance of promoting international cooperation in the field of research and development for new energy technologies which are friendly to the environment and which are needed to control greenhouse gas emissions, including nuclear and hydrogen fuels as well as carbon sequestration.

ITER: The JHLC discussed the importance of fusion energy in coping with future energy problems. Both sides confirmed their intention to cooperate closely for the success of the ITER program which could certainly play a key role in addressing future energy problems. The Japanese side welcomed the United States decision to rejoin the ITER program and the Japanese side made reference to the excellent characteristics of Rokkasho Mura as a site for the ITER program.

The Fourth Generation of Nuclear System: The JHLC noted that at the international conference on the fourth generation of nuclear system (GIF), the process related to selection and research and development of the next generation of nuclear system is being pursued in order to promote it. The JHLC also took note of current problems related to this issue and confirmed the importance of continuing a dialogue between the two nations.

The JHLC confirmed the importance of utilizing biomass for various purposes including as an energy source. The JHLC discussed the possibility of a hydrogen energy society.

Climate Change

The JHLC noted the good results of the Japan-U.S. High Level Consultations on Climate Change and confirmed the importance of promoting cooperative activity in this area.

Earth Observation (including Global Mapping and Earth Simulator)

The JHLC recognized that cooperative activity in this area is important from the viewpoint of assisting the developing countries. It endorsed establishing an international partnership structure by the way of positive contributions of the two nations and the promotion of global earth observation in order to solve the global issues including climate change. It confirmed further that cooperation in the ARGO program and the ADEOS-II program is contributing to this area. It also confirmed the importance of further strengthening mutual cooperation between Global Mapping and Geographic Information for Sustainable Development (GISD). The JHLC expressed expectations for excellent results of the Earth Simulator started in 2002, which is well known as the fastest supercomputer in the world, and recognized the importance of promoting research for global change prediction, in accordance with the Computational Science Roundtable presented in the U.S. in December 2002.

Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP)

The JHLC noted that the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP), promoted by the initiative of the two nations, is due to start this October on schedule and confirmed that a memorandum considered to be a foundation of this program will be signed between the two nations.

Haplotype Mapping

The JHLC confirmed the importance of promoting the international haplotype mapping, which has been jointly started by five countries, including Japan and the United States

Plant Genomics/Rice Genome Sequencing and Agricultural Biotechnology

The JHLC highly appreciated that the excellent activities of the consortium, in which Japan took the leadership role and to which the United States also considerably contributed, last December completed the high-quality draft sequence of the rice genome. It expressed its expectation that the completion of the high-quality draft sequence of the rice genome, whose information of sequence of base pairs of DNA is available to all researchers in the world, will contribute to improvement of grains such as rice, wheat and corn as well as contribute to the stable provision of food in the world. It confirmed that the safe use of biotechnologies is a key technology for solving the food and environment problem in the world and is expected to contribute greatly to the development in a wide range of industry including agriculture and food.

Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP)

The JHLC expressed admiration for the excellence of the HFSP and the many successes achieved under the program. The JHLC agreed to continue a dialogue on assuring adequate support for this important community of researchers.

Brain Research and Learning Science:

The JHLC agreed on the importance of brain research and understanding of the process of learning as a key to improved development of human resources in science and technology.

U.S.-Japan Comparative Research on Science and Mathematics Education

The JHLC highly appreciated the commencement of the Japan-U.S. comparative research on science and mathematics at the elementary and secondaly school level this year and expressed the importance of coping with such comparative research on science and mathematics education. The JHLC took note of the U.S. proposal to hold a world summit on science, mathematics and engineering education.

Promotion of Researchers Exchange

The JHLC confirmed that the promotion of researcher exchange is essential to enhance the development of science and technology of the two nations. The JHLC recognized that the imbalance in terms of the number of long-term researcher exchange still remained. The JHLC confirmed that practical measures are needed to increase the long-term visits of U.S. researchers to Japan. In this context the U.S. side noted that long-term visits of U.S. researchers are promoted by the existence of institutions with unique large scale facilities in Japan, such as the E-Defence.

Science and Technology for Counter-Terrorism

The JHLC discussed the role of science and technology for securing safety and security in society against various threats including terrorism. The JHLC confirmed that it is important to promote a dialogue on this issue, and agreed to begin a concrete examination in order to hold a workshop between the two nations on science and technology for securing safety and security.

International Science and Technology Center (ISTC) (Non-proliferation)

The JHLC highly appreciated the role played by the ISTC, which is considered to be a very unique program utilizing scientific knowledge for the realization of non-proliferation. Both sides committed to continue to cooperate closely in this important multilateral forum, taking into account the changing role of the ISTC.