Science & technology becomes a resource for diplomacy How ...€¦ · for Science and Technology...
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Message from JICA as an expert in international politics, I was convinced that science and technology diplomacy needed to be greatly expanded in order to strengthen Japan’ s influence around the world. What role does SATREPS play in science & technology diplomacy? Prof. Yakushiji： SATREPS has added a government science and technology budget allocation to the conventional ODA (official development assistance) budget. It is a program that supports international joint research in the field of science and technology through partnerships with researchers in Asia, Africa, Latin America, etc. A large number of projects are now operational, and as a result researchers in many countries are already collaborating with Japanese researchers to address global issues. These partnerships are building close relationships between Japan and countries that are geographically very distant. As part of this program, it is particularly important to achieve three objectives: 1) Training young researchers and researchers who can work internationally, 2) Innovation, and 3) Ensuring that outcomes can make a lasting contribution to society in the developing country. How can you achieve innovation? Prof. Yakushiji： Innovation cannot emerge if there is nothing to start from. It emerges from being taught and from following examples. I like to use the term“emulation,” and I believe that emulation is the essence of innovation. The process begins with Japanese technology being used for new purposes in the developing country, which leads to the creation of new knowledge. Japanese researchers who see that success are then stimulated to conduct further research. That is what learning is all about. Remember that this sort of setup cannot be achieved through one- way aid. There has to be proper communication in both directions, and the researchers in the two countries need to work as equal partners. If SATREPS projects can be conducted in a large number of developing countries, innovation will occur in most of those countries, and Japan will benefit greatly from the stimulus to its researchers. Why is it so important for the research outcomes to be utilized in society? Prof. Yakushiji：It is pointless to provide developing countries with science and technology if it cannot continue to be used effectively. To make sure that the research outcomes can be of lasting benefit to society in the developing country, they need to be embedded into the country’s structures and systems. Why is SATREPS so keen on social networking? Prof. Yakushiji： The biggest reason is that we want young people like you to join in. Please tell your friends about us and share the interesting discoveries that can be made. The details of research projects can look difficult at first, but the researchers will explain them if you ask. Social networking provides an opportunity for real communication, and we hope that it will encourage people to become more involved and consider going out into the wider world to make their own contributions. What do you mean by science & technology diplomacy? Prof. Yakushiji：At one time, the involvement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs(MOFA) in science and technology was largely in the area of security issues, such as nuclear non- proliferation and chemical weapons. Then, when I was a member of the Cabinet Office’s Council for Science and Technology Policy in May 2008, people from the Cabinet Office, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology(MEXT), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and other agencies collaborated to draft a policy for“science and technology diplomacy” * that could utilize a broad range of Japan’s science and technology as a resource for diplomacy. As you can see from the number of Nobel prizes awarded to Japanese researchers, Japan is still very strong in science and technology. However, the country was not set up to make a sufficient contribution to developing countries in the area of science and technology. This can be seen in the fact that Japan was making fewer agreements to cooperate on science and technology with developing countries than other advanced countries made. From my perspective SATREPS ― International cooperation in partnerships for creating knowledge ― SATREPS is a program that promotes joint research by scientists from Japan and developing countries to address major international challenges such as global warming, natural disasters and infectious diseases. Global issues are becoming more complex every year, and developing countries are increasingly confronted with the adverse effects associated with these changes. We, therefore, need innovation in science and technology to effectively tackle these challenges. Under SATREPS, researchers from developing countries and Japan collaborate as equal partners. Rather than focusing on promoting one- way technology transfers from Japan to developing countries, Japanese experts engage in joint research processes to create innovative scientific knowledge and/or technology that will both meet the needs of developing countries and provide practical solutions. The program has been running for five years, and individual projects have begun to produce amazing results. JICA is committed to working with JST and to promoting SATREPS in order to build win-win relationships between developing countries and Japan, thus fostering innovative solutions to global issues. Prof. Taizo Yakushiji Professor emeritus of Keio University, previously member of the Council for Science and Technology Policy, specialist in international politics and science and technology policy Science & technology becomes a resource for diplomacy ～SATREPS and Science & Technology Diplomacy～ Shiori Sato 2nd year student, College of Agrobiological Resource Sciences, University of Tsukuba Akiko Ojiro 1st year doctoral student, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Sophia University Megumi Moriya 2nd year student, College of Agrobiological Resource Sciences, University of Tsukuba Shigefumi Saito 3rd year student, Division of Arts and Sciences, the College of Liberal Arts, International Christian University ※” Toward the Reinforcement of Science and Technology Diplomacy,” the Council for Science and Technology Policy, May 19, 2008 SATREPS aims for innovation in partnership with developing countries SATREPS Program Director Recent years have seen an increase in threats that have a global impact, including global warming, major natural disasters, and food problems. SATREPS (the Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development program) is working to address such global issues by raising the overall ability of developing countries to handle such challenges, and by enhancing their science and technology research capacity. In addition to conventional methods of applying and transferring science and technology from Japan, SATREPS promotes international joint research so that universities and research institutions in Japan and in developing countries can become partners in the development and application of new technology and in the acquisition of new knowledge. This program is successfully strengthening science and technology diplomacy policy by using Japan’ s science and technology as a resource for diplomacy. Four SATREPS student interns interviewed SATREPS Program Director Prof. Taizo Yakushiji to find out about SATREPS and science and technology diplomacy. Akihiko Tanaka, President of JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) SATREPS Interview SATREPS 2012-2013 SATREPS 2012-2013 5 4
Transcript of Science & technology becomes a resource for diplomacy How ...€¦ · for Science and Technology...
Message from JICA
as an expert in international politics, I was convinced that science and technology diplomacy needed to be greatly expanded in order to strengthen Japan’s influence around the world.
What role does SATREPS play in science & technology
diplomacy?
Prof. Yakushiji：SATREPS has added a government science and technology budget allocation to the conventional O D A ( o f f i c i a l d e v e l o p m e n t assistance) budget. It is a program that supports international joint research in the field of science and technology through partnerships with researchers in Asia, Africa, Latin America, etc. A large number of projects are now operational, and as a result researchers in many countries are already collaborating with Japanese researchers to address global issues. These partnerships are building close relationships between Japan and countries that are geographically very distant. A s p a r t o f t h i s p r o g r a m , i t i s particularly important to achieve three objectives: 1) Training young
researchers and researchers who can work internationally, 2) Innovation, and 3) Ensuring that outcomes can make a lasting contribution to society in the developing country.
How can you achieve innovation?
Prof. Yakushiji：Innovation cannot emerge if there is nothing to start from. It emerges from being taught and from following examples. I like to use the term “emulation,” and I believe that emulation is the essence of innovation. The process begins with Japanese technology being used for new purposes in the developing country, which leads to the creation of new knowledge. Japanese researcher s who see that success are then stimulated t o c o n d u c t f u r t h e r r e s e a r c h . That is what learning is all about. Remember that this sort of setup cannot be achieved through one-way aid. There has to be proper communication in both directions, and the researchers in the t wo countries need to work as equal partners. If SATREPS projects can be conducted in a large number of developing countries, innovation will occur in most of those countries, and Japan will benefit greatly from the stimulus to its researchers.
Why is it so important for the research outcomes to be utilized in society?
Prof. Yakushiji：It is pointless to provide developing countries with science and technology if it cannot continue to be used ef fectively. To make sure that the research outcomes can be of lasting benefit to society in the developing country, they need to be embedded into the country’s structures and systems.
Why is SATREPS so keen on social networking?
Prof. Yakushiji：The biggest reason is that we want young people like you to join in. Please tell your friends about us and share the interesting discoveries that can be made. The details of research projects can look difficult at first, but the researchers will explain them if you ask. Social networking provides an opportunity for real communication, and we hope that it will encourage people to become more involved and consider going out into the wider world to make their own contributions.
What do you mean by science & technology diplomacy?
Prof. Yakushiji：At one t ime, the invol vement of t he Minis t r y of Foreign Affairs(MOFA) in science and technology was largely in the area of security issues, such as nuclear non-proliferation and chemical weapons. Then, when I was a member of the Cabinet Office’s Council for Science and Technology Policy in May 2008, people f rom the Cabinet Of f ice, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology(ME X T), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and other agencies collaborated to draf t a
policy for “science and technology diplomac y”* that could ut i l ize a broad r ange of Japan’s science and technology as a resource for diplomacy.As you can see from the number of Nobel prizes awarded to Japanese researchers, Japan is still very strong in science and technology. However, the country was not set up to make a sufficient contribution to developing countries in the area of science and technology. This can be seen in the fact that Japan was making fewer agreements to cooperate on science and technology with developing count r ie s t han ot her ad v ance d countries made. From my perspective
SATREPS ― International cooperation in partnerships for creating knowledge ―SATREPS is a program that promotes joint research by scientists from Japan and developing countries to address major inter nat ional challenges such as global warming, natural disasters and infectious diseases.
Global issues are becoming more complex every year, and developing c o u n t r i e s a r e i n c r e a s i n g l y confronted with the adverse effects associated with these changes. We, therefore, need innovation in science and technology to effectively tackle these challenges.
Under SATREPS, researchers from developing countries and Japan collaborate as equal partners. Rather than focusing on promoting one-way technology transfers from Japan to developing countries, Japanese experts engage in joint research processes to create innovat ive s c i e n t i f i c k n o w l e d g e a n d /o r technology that will both meet the needs of developing countries and provide practical solutions. The program has been running for five years, and individual projects have begun to produce amazing results. JICA is committed to working with
JST and to promoting SATREPS in order to build win-win relationships between developing countries and Japan, thus fostering innovative solutions to global issues.
Prof. Taizo Yakushiji
Professor emeritus of Keio University, previously member of the Council for Science and Technology Policy, specialist in international politics and science and technology policy
Science & technology becomes a resource for diplomacy～SATREPS and Science & Technology Diplomacy～
Shiori Sato2nd year student,
College of Agrobiological Resource Sciences,
University of Tsukuba
Akiko Ojiro1st year doctoral student,
Graduate School of Science and Technology,
Sophia University
Megumi Moriya2nd year student,
College of Agrobiological Resource Sciences,
University of Tsukuba
Shigefumi Saito3rd year student, Division of
Arts and Sciences, the College of Liberal Arts,
International Christian University
※”Toward the Reinforcement of Science and Technology Diplomacy,” the Council for Science and Technology Policy, May 19, 2008
SATREPS aims for innovation in
partnership with developing countries
SATREPS Program Director
Recent years have seen an increase in threats that have a global impact, including global warming, major natural disasters, and food problems. SATREPS (the Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development program) is working to address such global issues by raising the overall ability of developing countries to handle such challenges, and by enhancing their science and technology research capacity. In addition to conventional methods of applying and transferring science and technology from Japan, SATREPS promotes international joint research so that universities and research institutions in Japan and in developing countries can become partners in the development and application of new technology and in the acquisition of new knowledge. This program is successfully strengthening science and technology diplomacy policy by using Japan’s science and technology as a resource for diplomacy.Four SATREPS student interns interviewed SATREPS Program Director Prof. Taizo Yakushiji to find out about SATREPS and science and technology diplomacy.
Akihiko Tanaka, President of JICA(Japan International Cooperation Agency)
SATREPS InterviewSATREPS 2012-2013
SATREPS 2012-2013
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