Trends and Future Tasks in Industrial Technology: Developing Innovative Technologies to Support the 21st Century and Contributing to the International Community. Summary of the White Paper on Industrial Technology

摘要

The document is an English-language summary of a 'white paper' issued by the Japanese Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI). It analyzes the speed of the development of Japanese industrial technology and the degree of its competitive power. The paper suggests that Japan lags in key areas of basic research because of the research environment and educational system. It also mentions that R&D in Japan has a lower ratio of support by the Government than is the case in either Europe or the United States. In addition, the paper provides a 'report card' which compares progress of Japan over the past five years, in 40 high-technology product areas, with that of Europe and the United States. This is the first time that MITI has issued a white paper in the 40 years of its existence. It will be made a guideline for the Government's technology development policy.