[Provisional Translation]

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held the 30th meeting of the Council for Science, Technology and Innovation at the Prime Minister's Office.
During the meeting, there was a briefing on the formulation of the Comprehensive Strategy on Science, Technology and Innovation 2017 and a discussion on the establishment of an institutional foundation for promoting the vitalization of science, technology and innovation.

Based on the briefing and discussion, the Prime Minister said,

"Today we compiled the Comprehensive Strategy on Science, Technology and Innovation 2017.
In addition to incorporating the content of this strategy into the Basic Policies and the Investments for the Future Strategy, we will specify and promote the measures that we should place importance on, including initiatives toward the realization of Society 5.0.
The expert members of this council have pointed out that the establishment of institutional and legal foundations for promoting the vitalization of science, technology and innovation is an urgent task.

Universities and national research and development entities are to promote reforms such as shifting from a management system using mainly public funds to one that also uses private funds, accelerating efforts to apply the results of research by strengthening funding for start-up businesses, diversifying the funding sources that support education and research, and strengthening their financial foundation which includes private sector funding while utilizing donations and stocks.

I would like you all to make an immediate start wherever possible to implement institutional reforms for realizing these. I would also like you all to work together with the ruling parties to advance preparations toward the amendment of the Law on Improving the Capacity, and the Efficient Promotion of Research and Development through Promotion of Research and Development System Reform.
I would like this Council to encourage private sector research and development to be conducted in strategic growth fields, and also to maximize the impact of public-private research and development investment."