Basic Act on Science, Technology, and Innovation
Table of Contents
Chapter I General Provisions (Articles 1 through 11)
Chapter II Science, Technology, and Innovation Basic Plan (Article 12)
Chapter III Promotion of Research and Development (Articles 13 through 20)
Chapter IV Promotion of International Exchange (Article 21)
Chapter V Promotion of Scientific and Technological Learning (Article 22)
Supplementary Provisions
Chapter I General Provisions
(Purpose)
Article 1  The purpose of this Act is to improve scientific and technological standards and promote the creation of innovation in Japan by establishing basic matters concerning policies for promoting science, technology, and the creation of innovation, and by comprehensively and systematically promoting such policies; thereby contributing to the development of Japan's economy and society and the improvement of the welfare of its people, and playing a role in the global advancement of science and technology and the continued development of human society.
(Definitions)
Article 2  (1) The term "creation of innovation" as used in this Act means bringing about a major change in the economy and society by creating and disseminating new values through scientific discoveries or inventions, the development of new products or services, or other creative activities.
(2) The term "promotion of science, technology, and the creation of innovation" as used in this Act means the promotion of science and technology, as well as the promotion of the creation of innovation through the practical application of the results of research and development.
(3) The term "research and development" as used in this Act means basic research, applied research, and developmental research, including the development of technology.
(4) The term "researchers and other research-related personnel" as used in this Act means researchers and technicians (including those who assist in research and development), as well as individuals engaged in the administration and management of research and development, or in the dissemination or practical application of its results (limited to those requiring specialized knowledge and skills).
(5) The term "research and development agencies" as used in this Act means the research and development agencies prescribed in Article 2, paragraph (9) of the Act on Revitalization of Science, Technology, and the Creation of Innovation (Act No. 63 of 2008).
(6) The term "universities and research institutes" as used in this Act means universities (including graduate schools) and inter-university research institutes.
(Policies for Promoting Science, Technology, and the Creation of Innovation)
Article 3  (1) The promotion of science, technology, and the creation of innovation must be actively pursued in harmony with people's lives, society, and nature. This pursuit should be based on the principle of tapping into the creativity of researchers and other research-related personnel and human resources who create new businesses utilizing research and development results. It should also take into consideration that science, technology, and the creation of innovation are sources that brings about the future development of Japan and human society, and that the accumulation of scientific and technological knowledge is an intellectual asset of humanity.
(2) When promoting science, technology, and the creation of innovation, consideration must be given to cultivating research and development capabilities across a wide range of fields, taking into account the characteristics of each field; promoting interdisciplinary and comprehensive research and development; balancing the development of basic research, applied research, and developmental research; promoting academic and non-academic research in a balanced manner; and fostering organic collaboration both within and outside Japan among national research organizations, research and development agencies, universities, research institutes, private businesses, and other relevant persons. Attention must also be given to balancing the development of the natural sciences and the humanities, as their interrelatedness is essential to scientific and technological progress and the creation of innovation.
(3) The promotion of science and technology must be carried out with due consideration of the fact that science and technology are important not only because they contribute to creating innovation, but also because they contribute to developing academic values and various other related matters. It must also take into account the need to ensure fairness in research and development.
(4) The promotion of the creation of innovation must be carried out in organic collaboration with the promotion of science and technology, so that the results of research and development generated through the promotion of science and technology lead to the creation of innovation to the greatest extent possible.
(5) The promotion of science, technology, and the creation of innovation must be carried out with the aim of realizing a society in which all citizens can broadly enjoy the benefits of science, technology, and the creation of innovation.
(6) To promote science, technology, and the creation of innovation, care must be taken to appropriately address the following challenges, as well as other social challenges, through the comprehensive utilization of scientific and technological knowledge across all fields:
(i) challenges facing Japan, such as a declining birthrate and aging population, population decline, and the advancement of cross-border nature of socioeconomic activities;
(ii) global challenges common to all humankind, such as food shortages, restrictions on energy use, and global warming; and
(iii) new challenges in employment or other fields arising from changes in socioeconomic structures as a result of the use of science and technology.
(Responsibilities of the National Government)
Article 4  The national government is responsible for formulating and implementing comprehensive policies for promoting science, technology, and the creation of innovation in accordance with the policy for promoting science, technology, and the creation of innovation prescribed in the preceding Article (referred to as the "promotion policy" in the following Article through Article 7).
(Responsibilities of Local Governments)
Article 5  A local government is responsible for independently formulating and implementing policies for promoting science, technology, and the creation of innovation, in accordance with the promotion policy and the national government's policies while taking into account the characteristics of its administrative area.
(Responsibilities of Research and Development Agencies, Universities, and Research Institutes)
Article 6  (1) A research and development agency, university, or research institute is to independently and systematically endeavor to develop human resources, conduct research and development, and disseminate the results, while appropriately responding to scientific and technological progress and societal demands, in accordance with the promotion policy and with due consideration for activities that contribute to improving scientific and technological standards and promoting the creation of innovation.
(2) In view of the importance of the roles played by researchers and other research-related personnel, as well as by human resources who support research and development, a research and development agency, university, or research institute is to endeavor to ensure appropriate treatment of such persons and maintain research facilities and equipment (meaning research facilities and research equipment; the same applies below), in order to make their duties and working environment attractive and commensurate with the importance of their work.
(Responsibilities of Private Businesses)
Article 7  (1) A private business is to endeavor to conduct research and development and to create innovation through the practical application of research results, actively collaborating with research and development agencies, universities, and research institutes, as part of its business activities and in accordance with the promotion policy.
(2) In view of the important role played by researchers and other research-related personnel, as well as human resources who create new businesses by utilizing research and development and its results, and who create innovation through the practical application of those results, private businesses are to endeavor to make use of such individuals and to ensure their appropriate treatment, so that their duties and working environments are attractive and commensurate with the importance of their work.
(Policymaking Considerations for the National and Local Governments)
Article 8  When formulating and implementing policies for promoting science, technology, and the creation of innovation, the national government and local governments must take into consideration the importance of the roles that both levels of government play in advancing basic research. They must also recognize that basic research leads to the discovery of new phenomena, breakthroughs in understanding them, and new and creative technological innovations, while keeping in mind that the outcomes of basic research are difficult to predict at the outset and do not always result in practical applications.
(Policy Considerations Concerning Universities and Research Institutes)
Article 9  When formulating and implementing policies for promoting science, technology, and the creation of innovation involving universities and research institutes, the national government and local governments must respect the autonomy of researchers and other research-related personnel, take into account distinctive characteristics of research conducted at universities and research institutes, and endeavor to invigorate research activities at such institutions.
(Legislative Measures)
Article 10  The government must take the necessary legislative, fiscal, monetary, and other measures to implement policies that promote science, technology, and the creation of innovation.
(Annual Reports)
Article 11  Each year, the government must submit a written report to the National Diet on the policies it has adopted to promote science, technology, and the creation of innovation.
Chapter II Science, Technology, and Innovation Basic plan
Article 12  (1) To comprehensively and systematically promote policies for promoting science, technology, and the creation of innovation, the government must formulate a basic plan for promoting science, technology, and the creation of innovation (referred to below as the "Science, Technology, and Innovation Basic Plan" in this Article).
(2) The Science, Technology, and Innovation Basic Plan is to specify the following matters:
(i) a comprehensive policy for promoting research and development;
(ii) policies that the government should comprehensively and systematically implement in order to secure, train, and improve the qualifications of the following human resources, as well as to ensure their appropriate treatment:
(a) researchers and other research-related personnel;
(b) human resources who support research and development (excluding those falling under (a));
(c) human resources who create new businesses utilizing research and development results; and
(d) human resources who support the creation of new businesses utilizing research and development results.
(iii) policies that the government should adopt comprehensively and systematically to maintain research facilities and equipment, promote informatization in research and development, and establish an environment conducive to the promotion of research and development;
(iv) policies that the government should adopt comprehensively and systematically to establish an environment that facilitates the practical application of research and development results, thereby promoting the creation of innovation; and
(v) other necessary matters concerning promoting science, technology, and the creation of innovation.
(3) When formulating the Science, Technology, and Innovation Basic Plan, the government must consult with the Council for Science, Technology and Innovation in advance.
(4) The government must review the Science, Technology, and Innovation Basic Plan as appropriate, taking into consideration such factors as the progress in science, technology, and the creation of innovation, as well as the impact of policies it has adopted to promote them. If the government determines that revision is necessary, it is to revise the Plan accordingly; in such cases, the provisions of the preceding paragraph apply mutatis mutandis.
(5) When the government has formulated the Science, Technology, and Innovation Basic Plan pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1), or has changed it pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, it must make the Plan public.
(6) To secure the necessary funding for the costs required to implement the Science, Technology, and Innovation Basic Plan, the government must endeavor to take necessary measures to ensure the smooth implementation of the Plan, such as allocating the necessary funding in the budget each fiscal year, to the extent permitted by the national finances.
Chapter III Promotion of Research and Development
(Balanced Promotion of Diverse Research and Development)
Article 13  The national government is to adopt necessary policies for the balanced promotion of diverse research and development across a wide range of fields, taking into account the characteristics of each field. It is also to adopt necessary policies for such aspects as planning and implementation in order to conduct research and development in the important fields of science and technology, thereby further promoting them at the national level.
(Securing Researchers and Other Research-Related Personnel)
Article 14  (1) The national government is to adopt necessary policies to enhance graduate education and research, and to secure, train, and improve the qualifications of researchers and other research-related personnel, in order to promote research and development that responds to scientific and technological progress.
(2) The national government is to adopt necessary policies to ensure appropriate treatment of researchers and other research-related personnel, in order to make their duties and working environment attractive and commensurate with the importance of their work.
(3) In consideration of the fact that the human resources stated in Article 12, paragraph (2), item (ii), (b) are indispensable for the smooth promotion of research and development, and that the human resources stated in (c) and (d) of the same item are indispensable for promoting the creation of innovation through the practical application of research and development results, the national government is to adopt policies in accordance with those prescribed in the preceding two paragraphs to secure, train, and improve the qualifications of those human resources, and to ensure their appropriate treatment.
(Maintenance of Research Facilities and Equipment)
Article 15  (1) The national government is to adopt necessary policies to maintain research facilities and equipment at research and development institutes (meaning institutes engaged in research and development at national research organizations, research and development agencies, universities, research institutes, private businesses, and other relevant entities; the same applies in the following Article and in Article 17), in order to promote research and development that responds to scientific and technological progress.
(2) The national government is to adopt necessary policies to enhance research and development support functions, such as the smooth supply of materials used in research, in order to promote research and development effectively and efficiently.
(Promoting Informatization in Research and Development)
Article 16  The national government is to adopt necessary policies to promote informatization in research and development, such as advancing scientific and technological information processing, enhancing scientific and technological databases, and building information networks among research and development institutes and other relevant entities, in order to effectively and efficiently promote research and development.
(Promoting Exchanges in Research and Development)
Article 17  The national government is to adopt necessary policies to promote exchanges in research and development—such as exchanges among researchers and other research-related personnel, joint research and development by research and development institutes, and the collaborative use of research and development institutes' research facilities and equipment—taking into consideration that integrating the diverse knowledge of researchers and other research-related personnel through reciprocal exchanges among research and development institutes and among researchers and other research-related personnel serves as a wellspring for new developments in research and development, and that such exchanges are indispensable for the effective and efficient promotion of research and development.
(Effective and Efficient Use of Research and Development Funds)
Article 18  The national government is to adopt necessary policies to allow for the effective and efficient utilization of research and development funds and for other related purposes, in accordance with the evolving nature of research and development, to ensure that such activities are conducted smoothly.
(Utilization of Research and Development Results)
Article 19  The national government is to adopt necessary policies to disseminate research and development results—such as by appropriately protecting and disclosing those results, and by providing related information—and is also to adopt necessary policies to promote their appropriate practical application and the creation of innovation through such application, in order to ensure their utilization.
(Facilitating Private Business Efforts)
Article 20  The national government is to adopt necessary policies to promote research and development and the creation of innovation through the practical application of research and development results by private businesses, by facilitating the independent efforts of private businesses, taking into consideration the important role they play in Japan's scientific, technological, and innovation-related activities.
Chapter IV Promoting International Exchange
Article 21  The national government is to adopt necessary policies to promote international exchange in science and technology and the creation of innovation. Such policies include facilitating international exchange among researchers and other research-related personnel, international joint research and development, and the international flow of scientific and technological information. These efforts aim to ensure that Japan plays an active role in the international community, contributes to further progress in science and technology, and fosters innovation in Japan by promoting international scientific, technological, and innovation-related activities.
Chapter V Promotion of Scientific and Technological Learning
Article 22  The national government is to adopt necessary policies to advance scientific and technological learning in school and social education and to disseminate scientific and technological awareness and knowledge, so that not only young people but all people are afforded every opportunity to deepen their understanding and interest in science and technology.
Supplementary Provisions
This Act comes into effect on the date of its promulgation.
Supplementary Provisions  [Act No. 160 of December 22, 1999]  [Extract]
(Effective Date)
Article 1  This Act (excluding Articles 2 and 3) comes into effect on January 6, 2001.
Supplementary Provisions  [Act No. 31 of May 1, 2014]  [Extract]
(Effective Date)
Article 1  This Act comes into effect on the date specified by Cabinet Order within a period not exceeding one month from the date of promulgation.
Supplementary Provisions  [Act No. 63 of June 24, 2020]  [Extract]
(Effective Date)
Article 1  This Act comes into effect on April 1, 2021; provided, however, that the provisions of the following Article and Article 6 of the Supplementary Provisions come into effect on the date of promulgation.