A university is a center of innovation. It is not only the fountain of science and technology but also the reservoir of knowledge, expertise, notions, and wisdom from which innovative ideas and movements originate. In today’s knowledge-based society, universities are considered as pivotal sources of knowledge to accomplish a national system of innovation. In the 21st century, the Japanese government has strongly encouraged knowledge transfer from universities to society; joint research with industry, and patents based on university research have increased. On the other hand, the Japanese share of publications in the world has decreased since 2000, and improving the research environment is an important policy issue in Japan. This chapter examines trends in science and technology policy and university research activities in Japan since 2000, with attention to three key topics: (1) government funding systems for research activities; (2) policies for encouraging knowledge transfer; and (3) policies for supporting researchers in Japan.

Introduction

The combination of science, technology, and innovation forms an important intersection, which the Japanese government describes as creating “intellectual and cultural values based on new knowledge through scientific discoveries and inventions, and innovation that develops such knowledge to create economic, social, and public values.” As society shifts from industrial to knowledge-based, scientific knowledge has become a major element of economic and social development. In this era, the distinction between “pure” and “applied” research becomes more blurred, the interactions among academia, government, and industry become closer, and universities play a pivotal knowledge role, contributing to the national innovation system.

Since the late 1990s, the Japanese government has consistently encouraged knowledge transfers from universities to society, resulting in an increase in the number of patents based on university research, and through joint research projects with industry. On the other hand, as international competition in scientific activity has become more intense, the share of Japanese publications among the world’s top-cited journals has decreased during the same period. This chapter explores trends in science, technology, and innovation policy, and the role of research universities in Japan in the 21st century.