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On April 5, 2018, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held the 38th meeting of the Council for Science, Technology and Innovation at the Prime Minister’s Office.
 
During the meeting, there was a discussion for the planning of an integrated innovation strategy.
 
Based on the discussion, the Prime Minister said,
 
“It is essential that we fundamentally enhance public-private investment funding in order to make Japan a world leader in innovation.
 
We will strongly encourage collaborations between industry and academia and management reforms at universities, including introducing a funding system that allocates government funds by prioritizing universities that actively elicit investment from the private sector.
 
We will also enhance the mobility of researchers and create greater opportunities for young researchers to play active roles, by considering a mechanism to significantly expand the annual salary system. Furthermore, we will also usher in reforms for the allocation of research budgets so as to encourage young researchers to tackle bold and challenging projects in a stable research environment.
 
With respect to the execution of government budgets, it is necessary to create a framework for promoting innovation in government projects by actively utilizing innovative technologies in the government. Towards the realization of Society 5.0, one urgent challenge is the development of human resources. In the coming age, acquiring skills in information technology (IT) and information processing, such as artificial intelligence and big data, will become the equivalent of learning how to read, write and use an abacus.
 
In cooperation with the Council on Investments for the Future, we must implement comprehensive measures including education for the general public beyond the development of only top-level talent, so that we do not fall behind the pace of change.
 
To achieve this vision, I ask that Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga, Minister Matsuyama, and other relevant ministers study and implement concrete system designs and relevant measures.”