[Provisional Translation]

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held the 14th meeting of the Council for Science, Technology and Innovation at the Prime Minister’s Office.

During the meeting, discussion was held on the “report on the consultations for the Fifth Science and Technology Basic Plan” and “the Formulation of Budgets related to Science and Technology in FY2016.” There were also explanations on “the revision of approaches to designated national research and development entities (provisional title),” “the evaluation for the R&D projects of national importance,” and “the energy and environmental innovation strategy.”

Afterward, there was an explanation on the theme of “Issues surrounding science and technology innovation: Taking the opportunity of receiving the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine” by Kitasato University Professor Emeritus Satoshi Omura, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

Based on the discussion, the Prime Minister said in his address,

“I want to again express my heartfelt joy at the conferment of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine to Professor Omura. Congratulations.

Your achievements go beyond just your outstanding research results. You yourself have negotiated with a company in the United States, realized joint research, and secured research funding. You are a pioneer for industry-academia collaboration. The infectious disease drug borne out of your research has saved hundreds of millions of lives. The award this time has shone a light on the importance of steady basic research as well as efforts to take the results of research to the public through practical applications.

Through the intensive discussion of this Council, today we were able to compile the Fifth Science and Technology Basic Plan. We will now move to the stage of execution.

We will create an environment in which the young researchers continuing on after Professor Omura can demonstrate their capabilities to the maximum extent.

Within the period of the new plan, we will utilize the Internet of Things (IoT), dramatically widen the scope of automation, and undertake focused initiatives to realize a super-smart society and resolve energy and environmental issues as Society 5.0.

Science and technology can make the lives of people richer once they are accepted. I want Minister Shimajiri to communicate at home and abroad in an easy to understand way the state of the future to be pioneered by this basic plan.”