THE FISCAL 2003 PROGRAM (DRAFT)
Basic Policy Promotion of Research Advancement Activities
International Exchange Programs
Publication of Results and Provision of Information
The rapid global changes occurring in the contemporary era demand a more fully matured Japanese democracy, in which alternative policy proposals are presented in the policy formation process and the nation's citizens have a greater degree of choice. The importance of the role of think tanks, as institutions generating policy alternatives, has therefore increased significantly.
Against this background, the National Institute for Research Advancement(NIRA)is pursuing research activities based on a mid-term plan, "NIRA Activities in the Twenty-First Century"(2001 to 2005), to attempt to achieve public consensus concerning new directions for Japan. By this means, NIRA intends to provide a range of alternative visions of the ideal form of Japanese society and the nation's role in the world in the twenty-first century and to provide materials which will contribute to debate in a variety of forums.
In fiscal 2003, NIRA will make an interim summary of the research projects that have been conducted to date based on its five-year plan, and clarify areas in which future research should be conducted. A publication schedule for these research results will be established in the near future. In addition, to commemorate its thirtieth anniversary, NIRA will hold several open symposia to discuss the results from late fiscal 2003 to fiscal 2004.
Under the Reorganization and Rationalization Plan for Special Public Institutions, passed by the Cabinet on December 19, 2001, NIRA is required to "consider the status of its financial base and actual research performance and review the future of the organization with a view to becoming an incorporated foundation during the intensive reform period (*)." In addition to broadening its discussions concerning the optimal direction for Japanese think tanks, NIRA will orient its research advancement activities with consideration of the conclusions of the "Panel to Discuss the Optimal Direction for Japanese Think Tanks"(chaired by Junichi Nishizawa, President of Iwate Prefectural University), established as an advisory body to NIRA's Chairperson in order to clarify the direction of reform to be undertaken by the Institute.
(*) The intensive reform period concludes at the end of fiscal 2005.
1. Research Advancement Perspectives
NIRA seeks to contribute to the solution of problems facing Japan's political system, economy and society through its research advancement activities. In accordance with the purpose of its establishment, and based on a philosophy stressing the active pursuit of peace, NIRA will independently conduct research advancement activities from the following perspectives:
(1) A long-term perspective with regard to the economic, social and individual problems expected to emerge in a situation of fluid and continuous domestic and global change.
(2) A comprehensive perspective concerning problems the solution of which requires the crossing of existing academic boundaries(such as politics, economy, society, technology and culture)and the concentration of knowledge resources.
2. Policy of the Fiscal 2003 Program
NIRA plans to undertake the following activities in fiscal 2003:
1) To conduct research with special emphasis on several carefully chosen themes;
In focusing on these policies, NIRA will work to address the needs of all sectors of the community and give its research findings the widest possible circulation.2) To expand international and regional research exchange;
3) To promote increased prioritization and efficiency in research support;
4) To disseminate research results more effectively;
5) To actively collect, organize and disseminate information on domestic and foreign policy research.
In addition, NIRA will attempt to promote highly effective and efficient systems of organization and management in implementing its projects.
II. Promotion of Research Advancement Activities1. Prioritization of Research Advancement
To increase the efficiency of its research program, NIRA divides its research advancement activities into four categories: Strategic Research Advancement, Regional Research Advancement, Specific Policy Research Advancement and Basic Research Advancement.
(1) Strategic Research Advancement
In order to contribute to the achievement of a public consensus on Japan's direction in the twenty-first century, NIRA selected the three research advancement goals described below, and formulated its research plans from the perspective of solving the problems which must be overcome to achieve these goals.In fiscal 2003 NIRA will present an interim summary clarifying choices concerning Japan's ideal form and role in the twenty-first century. This summary will comprehensively and organically integrate the results achieved through the projected five-year strategic research advancement program which commenced in 2001 and the cumulative results of other research projects conducted by NIRA to date.
[1] Social Cooperation of Independent Citizens
"Social Cooperation of Independent Citizens" is NIRA's first strategic research advancement goal; its aims are to enhance the independence of individuals and establish a civil society oriented towards free participation and cooperation. The pillars of this goal are the establishment of (a) a desirable relationship between fundamental social organizations, including corporations and regional communities, and individuals, and (b) an optimal local government system capable of enabling self-government by citizens, such a system being appropriate to a period of decentralization and essential as a foundation of democracy.[2] A Sustainable Socio-economic System
Nations around the world must endeavor to maintain cooperative relationships and sound market competition against a background of limited resources and environmental problems. "A Sustainable Socio-economic System" is the second goal of NIRA's strategic research advancement program. Research in this category has twin foundations: the pursuit of mechanisms to revitalize Japan's social system and economy in the twenty-first century to enable the nation to satisfy the requirements of its aging population and play a more positive role in the international community; and Japan's role in the Asia Pacific region, with a focus on the nation's economic cooperation with South Korea and China.[3] Peace and Human Coexistence
The possibility of a more active contribution to facilitating coexistence between different cultural and civilization zones, and the peace and security of East Asian nations and the world will be explored in research in this category. "Peace and Human Coexistence" represents the third objective of NIRA's strategic research advancement program, and emphasizes the promotion of dialogue and coexistence between different civilizations and the role to be played by Japan in working towards world peace.(2) Regional Research Advancement
Research in this category examines major issues for regional communities, such as improving the efficiency of local government administration and increasing the ability of regional areas to present policy proposals.(3) Specific Policy Research Advancement
Research advancement in this category is conducted flexibly in response to unexpected changes and policy requirements.(4) Basic Research Advancement
Basic research that assists the activities of NIRA and other think tanks will be conducted in this category, in order to contribute to the advancement of policy research and more general research in Japan.2. Effective Research Advancement Activities
To increase the effectiveness of the four types of research advancement activities described in the preceding section, it will be essential to ensure close coordination between research advancement and other NIRA activities. In this way, results generated in one area will be reflected in others. The following points will also serve as the foundation of effective research advancement activities:
(1) In designing its research programs, NIRA will pay special attention to economic and social trends, and respect the needs of all sectors of society.
(2) NIRA will adopt comprehensive and effective methods of pursuing its research activities, as required by the nature of the particular topic. These will include direct research by NIRA, the commissioning of research from other organizations, and the provision of support to research in the form of grants. NIRA will also actively engage in joint research with other research organizations, both domestic and foreign.
(3) In order to pursue consistent and responsible activities at all stages of the research process, from the planning stage through actual research to dissemination of results, a project team will be established when the preparation for individual projects is commenced. Research advancement activities will be rigorously evaluated before commencement, at mid-term and before completion, to enable continuous enhancement of the quality of the project. There will also be cases in which external evaluation is adopted.
(4) NIRA will utilize its system for hosting research advisors and visiting research fellows to invite domestic and overseas scholars and researchers to participate in research for both brief and extended periods, in order to strengthen its research advancement programs. NIRA will actively disseminate the results generated by visiting research fellows.
(5) Attempts will be made to explore effective means of fostering researchers both inside and outside NIRA. This will include holding "public policy research seminars."
(6) The "Okita Commemorative Award for Policy Research" will be presented to outstanding policy research projects, in order to contribute to the promotion of policy research and the fostering and development of policy researchers.
III. International Exchange ProgramsIn consideration of Japan's growing international responsibilities in an increasingly globalized world, NIRA will monitor international trends and investigate Japan's policy options. While continuing to increase its level of cooperation with domestic research institutes, NIRA will implement the following projects focusing on international exchange:
1. Continued research exchange facilitated by cooperation with foreign research institutions in holding international symposia.
2. Expansion of exchange with major foreign research institutions.
3. Promotion of research advancement by invitation of foreign researchers as visiting research fellows.
4. Invitation of foreign scholars to Japan to help promote joint activities.
IV. Regional Exchange ProgramsNIRA will pursue information exchanges with local governments and regional policy research organizations in order to promote more practical policy research appropriate to the needs of the various regions of Japan. To this end, the following programs will be implemented:
1. NIRA will cosponsor symposia with prefectural governments, the administrations of the government-designated twelve largest cities and regional think tanks. Workshops will be directed at administrators at the local government level, and specialists in regional policy research will be sent to local governments in order to promote exchange.
2. The cooperative relationship between NIRA and the Council of Local Think Tanks will be enhanced through broad-ranging exchanges, including the exchange of research information
V. Research GrantsNIRA will establish priorities and increase the efficiency of its allocation of research support grants to policy research organizations, in order to broaden the policy research base and increase the quality of research. Grants will target a broader range of research institutions, and will be offered to make a positive contribution to the research advancement activities of both NIRA and the recipient research organizations. Selection criteria will emphasize such factors as the establishment of close cooperative relationships among research organizations and the complementation of NIRA's own research projects.
VI. Publication of Results and Provision of InformationThe activities enumerated below focus on increasing the availability of NIRA's research results and domestic and international policy research data to policy-makers, researchers and the general public. In particular, several symposia will be held from the latter half of 2003 to 2004, on the occasion of NIRA's 30th anniversary, centering on the presentation of the mid-term results of the Institute's strategic research program.
1. Information Dissemination and Publication Activities
While maintaining the close coordination between our research efforts and information dissemination activities, the following plans will be implemented to increase the availability of NIRA's research results and broaden the Institute's range of social interaction.
(1) The results of research projects will be presented on NIRA's homepage and at NIRA-sponsored symposia to make them more generally available. In addition, efforts will also be made to provide information on current research projects in symposia and workshops, through interim reports and on NIRA's website.
(2) NIRA will maintain the high standards of its publications and work to increase their distribution. NIRA publications include book-length publications, NIRA Research Report and NIRA Research Output, and the periodicals NIRA News, NIRA Policy Research and the NIRA Newsletter (in English).
(3) More NIRA Forums will be planned and held in order to share our research results with the broader society. (4) The Internet and the mass media will be utilized to increase general public awareness of NIRA's research findings and NIRA-sponsored forums.
2. Policy Research Information
NIRA will implement the following plans to enable it to more effectively systematize and present its own research findings and collect, analyze and disseminate information on domestic and foreign policy research:
(1) NIRA will continue to expand its databases to promote more effective use of its research output and policy research-related materials.
(2) Information concerning domestic policy research institutes will be collected, analyzed and published in The Almanac of Think Tanks.
(3) NIRA will collect and analyze information on the research activities of the world's major public policy institutes, which will be made available via NIRA's World Directory of Think Tanks and NIRA's homepage.
(4) The Saburo Okita Memorial Library, specializing in policy research-related materials, will broaden its range of functions and enhance its provision of data through the use of external IT networks.
(5) Taking into consideration the further development of the information society, efforts will continue to be made to improve and update the content of the information disseminated by NIRA, and a network will be developed for rapid information exchange with domestic and foreign institutes engaged in policy research.
(6) NIRA will establish an information network providing open databases as a shared infrastructure available to all concerned with public policy.
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