Author: Daniel Bugan
Stellenbosch University Japan Centre on Wednesday (7 December 2022) hosted a seminar that shed more light on Japan’s Science and Technology (S&T) ecosystem and policy, and its efforts to expand its international S&T footprint and deepen collaborative networks among scientists and researchers.
The seminar, in collaboration with the Embassy of South Africa in Tokyo, was presented by Prof Motoko Kotani, a S&T co-advisor to Japan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and a professor in mathematics. Kotani also served on the Council for Science and Technology in Japan’s Cabinet.
Japan’s Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) landscape
Kotani said Japan has prioritised STI under the country’s growth strategy. This involves the utilisation of a fund of 10 trillion yen to provide support to universities, strengthen the cultivation of innovative human resources in both the public and private sectors, and to promote start-ups on a large scale through a five-year plan (the Science and Technology Basic Plan).
She says the current 6th Science and Technology Basic Plan (2021-2025), is the first STI Basic Plan based on the revised Basic Act on Science, Technology and Innovation and aims to:
- Facilitate the transformation of a sustainable and resilient society through, among other things, support for start-ups, development of smart cities and the Moonshot research and development (R&D) programme which plans to develop radical solutions for difficult societal challenges;
- Create “knowledge” by strengthening support for doctoral students and young researchers; promoting the activities of female researchers and promoting basic and academic research and the humanities and social sciences; and
- Develop human resources by fostering an environment/culture to promote recurrent education (re-learning/re-education).
Science and Technology diplomacy
According to Kotani, Japan’s science diplomacy efforts aim to provide scientific advice to inform and support international policy objectives, facilitate international science cooperation and utilise science cooperation to improve and strengthen international relations.
“To this end, the government established the Advisory Board for Promoting Science and Technology Diplomacy. This body utilises the expertise of 20 board members with a variety of disciplines to develop policies on S&T diplomacy, to strengthen STI networks in Japan and overseas, to support public relations and to hold seminars to improve S&T literacy.”
Japan and South Africa cooperation/collaborations
Kotani said South Africa is the only sub-Saharan country to have agreements in place with Japan, with the first, an Agreement for Science and Technology Cooperation, being signed in 2003. Under this agreement Japan and South Africa consented to share information on the developments of collaborative activities and discuss future activities.
Since then various cooperation frameworks have been signed. This includes the JSPS-National Research Foundation(NRF) Joint Research MoU signed in 2005, the JST-NRF collaborations MoU signed in 2008 and the ODA + Funding by JST and AMED (2008).
A Japan-South Africa Bilateral Development Cooperation Agreement on Technical Cooperation was signed in 2011. Under this agreement Japan agreed to assist South Africa to enhance human capacity and to promote infrastructure development, support the socially vulnerable to participate in the economy and the society and to develop the southern Africa region.
“Recent projects under this agreement include a project to support the transitioning from conventional plastics to more environmentally sustainable alternatives; the development of a carbon recycling system by using mineral carbonation, a capacity development programme of pilot TVET colleges for artisans and a project to empowerment persons with disabilities and disability mainstreaming,” said Kotani.
South Africa and Japan have also entered into a multilateral collaboration framework – called AJ-CORE –where the two countries, and another African country, collaborate on joint research, as well as a Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development (SATREPS).
Current AJ-Core projects include an application of eDNA metabarcoding for assessment and prediction of faunal biodiversity of the African Mangrove ecosystem involving Dr Nasreen Peer of Stellenbosch University. A current SATREP project involves the development of a new ammonia synthesis system using renewable energy and hydrogen,” said Kotani.
She also alluded to the Japan-South Africa exchange programmes which places a “huge emphasis on human resource exchange and development”. These include the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarships, Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme, the JST Sakura Science Programme and the JICA Programme.