• 
• 

 
On November 22, 2018, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held the 40th meeting of the Council for Science, Technology and Innovation at the Prime Minister’s Office.
 
At the meeting, discussion was held on basic research capacity development and high-risk research, and the inquiry and response on the Guidelines on the Handling of a Specified Embryo, as well as the results of the evaluation of the research and development projects of national importance.
 
Based on the discussion, the Prime Minister said,
 
First, I would like to offer my congratulations once more to Dr. Honjo on his winning of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Dr. Honjo’s research gives hope to many people suffering from cancer throughout the world, and I feel great pride as a fellow Japanese.
 
Today, Dr. Honjo spoke very candidly about the importance of basic research, and I strongly reaffirmed the importance of creating opportunities for young researchers to take on challenges.
 
In June, the Government approved the Integrated Innovation Strategy by a cabinet decision. In this strategy we have included various measures such as prioritization of the allocation of research grants among young researchers, and the introduction of incentives aimed at the increased use of external research funds, as well as the increased mobility of university personnel by expanding the introduction of the annual salary system. In this way, we will enhance the research environment with a focus on promising young researchers.
 
To connect basic research with social change, the strategy also includes measures to utilize a ‘Moonshot’ type R&D system that seeks to achieve challenging, ambitious targets.
 
I ask that Minister Hirai, Minister Shibayama and other relevant ministers steadily implement these measures included in the Integrated Innovation Strategy, through the budget formulation process, which is now getting fully underway, and other means, so as to strongly support the efforts of young Japanese researchers following in the footsteps of Dr. Honjo.”