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Intellectual Property Strategy Headquarters
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At the meeting, the Intellectual Property Strategic Program 2008 was compiled based on the previous discussions. Through this program, the Government aims to bolster the international competitiveness of Japan's industries by utilizing patents and copyrights in advanced fields. Stipulated in the Program is the establishment of a system to comprehensively support the acceleration of research on induced pluripotent stem cells -- a field in which countries are competing to make further advancements -- and application of research findings in business. Other items in the Program included a plan to review the Copyright Act, in order to better meet the needs of the digital and Internet age. Prime Minister Fukuda said, "Intellectual property policy is of such great importance that the failure to address the issue will result in the loss of national competitiveness. It is important to develop a system that can respond well to digital networks, including the acceleration of open innovation efforts. Specifically, it is vital that we, as a collective national endeavor, assist research on induced pluripotent stem cells and application of research findings in business; establish a mechanism to support business creation through the integration of various intellectual properties; and promptly review the Copyright Act from the perspective of promoting new businesses. Each one of these efforts requires the Government's unified approach, and as such, I ask for even closer coordination among the relevant ministries and agencies when carrying out these tasks."
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