[Provisional translation]
On March 27, 2026, Prime Minister Takaichi held the 84th meeting of the Council for Science, Technology and Innovation at the Prime Minister’s Office.
At the meeting, the participants engaged in discussions on the 7th Science, Technology, and Innovation Basic Plan.
Following the discussion, the Prime Minister stated:
“Good morning. I would like to extend my gratitude to all the members of the Council and the cabinet ministers for your vigorous discussions thus far. The 7th Science, Technology, and Innovation Basic Plan, which we approved today, is a strategy designed to make science, technology, and innovation a growth driver and to realize a stronger and more prosperous Japan.
In a bid to restructure Japan’s entire social system to foster innovation with science and technology as the source of our national strength, we have set an ambitious goal of expanding total government R&D investments to 60 trillion yen and combined total public and private R&D investments to 180 trillion yen, with the aim of ranking third in the world within ten years in terms of the number of top-level academic papers.
Over the next five years, the Takaichi Cabinet will work as one to forge ahead with policies ranging from basic research to human resource development, social implementation, and enhanced industrial competitiveness.
Outstanding science, technology, and innovation not only serve as the foundation for a ‘strong economy’ and but also lay the indispensable base for achieving security objectives.
Under this plan, we will seek to transform our science, technology, and innovation policies through such approaches as strategic prioritization of technological fields and organic collaboration between science and technology and national security.
In order to expand investments in basic research that serves as the foundation, I ask the relevant ministers to accelerate efforts to give concrete shape to measures to further increase operating expense grants and Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research and to continuously produce top-level research outcomes and highly specialized talent.
With a view to realizing a ‘new kind of technology-driven nation’ that achieves economic growth through innovation and secures Japan’s position in the international community with this plan as a cornerstone, I ask Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Akazawa to play a leading role in advancing discussions of measures and reach concrete conclusions to be reflected in this summer’s Japan Growth Strategy.
In light of these points, I request that under the leadership of Minister Onoda, the relevant ministers work together to formulate an ‘Integrated Innovation Strategy,’ which is an annual strategy of the 7th ‘Science, Technology, and Innovation Basic Plan’ approved today, by this summer. That is all from me. Thank you very much.”