International Conference Report
Oct. 3, 2010
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International Conference "The Governance of Science and Technology in the European Union and in Japan" Program
The Governance of Science and Technology in the European Union and in Japan
On Sunday, October 3rd, a meeting on the governance of science and technology in the European Union and in Japan was held at Shiran House.
Time: Sunday, October 3 2010, 4pm - 6pm.
Venue: Yamauchi Hall at Shiran Kaikan at Medical School of Kyoto University
Hosted By:
Delegation of the EU to Japan
The University of Tokyo (PARI, GrasPP-I2TA)
Kyoto University (Kato Lab)
Osaka University (CSCD, DeCoCiS)
Science and technology is useful for the problem-solving of various social problems, but on the other hand, in the policy formulation there is a need to tackle a range of issues such as how to assure safety, how to allocate resources in research and development, and how to engage with the general public. In responding to these issues, the relevance of technology assessment to foresee social impacts of technology now becomes widely recognized. For this meeting prominent policy practitioners and experts in Japan and Europe, including the chair of STOA (Science & Technology Options Assessment) and members of European Parliaments, discussed the future governance of science and technology in both regions.
The first presentation was made by the Japanese side on the past experience of technology assessment (TA) in Japan, illustrating the whole picture as well as individual case studies including the case of medicine. Then Mr. Paul Rubig, the STOA chair, reported the current status of STOA as a TA institution in the European Parliament. Following a report on the on-going development of science and technology policy in Japan from Mr. Masuo Aizawa, a member of the Council for Science and Technology Policy (CSTP), and comments from Mr. Kiyoshi Kurokawa in the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies, all the participants including Mr. Keisuke Tsumura from the House of Representatives, and Mr. Toshiharu Furukawa from the House of Councillors from the National Diet of Japan (Japanese Parliament), held a discussion.
In the discussion, first, some pointed out the necessity of collaborations beyond countries and regions and of due consideration of regional differences in TA. Today, as science and technology becomes more complex and complicated, its impacts go beyond national boundaries, so TA cannot be concluded in a sole country. Meanwhile, we must consider cultural differences varying by state. Second, some prioritized the development of human resources in implementing TA. The discussions also touched the development of young researchers and their careers, and evaluation systems for practical researchers. Third, some insisted that TA practitioners have to use political language for policymakers to apply TA results into the policy making process. More generally, some addressed that TA findings should direct to a more clear target and that outreach activities develop around the target.The necessity of the institutionalization and societal embedding of TA was agreed to a certain extent by all the participants. A guest from Japan stated that now is a great chance to institutionalize and embed TA socially, when the reform of the CSTP is put on the agenda, and that TA and science communication would be regarded as one of their functions in the reformed organization.In closing, Ms. Barbara Rhode, Delegation of the European Union to Japan, mentioned that it is important to organize such a fruitful meeting continuously and constantly and they would like to examine a future possible framework for this.