Technology Governance Policy Research Unit
Established : Dec. 18, 2008
Photo by AP/AFLO
Overview
Recent advancements in science and technology have made our lives more convenient and comfortable. However, there are still many unknowns in modern advanced technology, which may yield not only benefits but also risks. In order to minimize the societal risks involved in the application of science and technology and to maximize the benefits, proper management is necessary of the processes of scientific and technological research and their application. Insufficient regulation may increase risks, while excessive command and control measures could stagnate research. We conduct research on technology governance policies by adopting methods for social impact assessment (a new kind of technology assessment), and communicate our findings on appropriate regulation and maintenance of regulatory systems that will respond to changes in the times.
Research
In considering the nature of current technological systems, we raise issues and propose choices. Our goal is to provoke societal policy discussion based on the views of stakeholders regarding the frameworks that underpin social decision-making. One such framework is social impact assessment, referred to above. We also seek to stimulate debate on how we might innovate regulatory systems such as nuclear power legislation to make them more responsive to changes in technology and societal demands, by a comprehensive evaluation of the benefits and risks of various technological innovations.
Medical Device Innovation and Development Policy Research Unit
(The unit was abolished in June 2016, part of their research continuing under and Technology Governance Policy Research Unit)
Technology Assessment Research Demonstration Project
(The project was abolished in March 2015, part of their research continuing under Technology Governance Policy Research Unit)
Project on Space Policy and Cyber Security Studies
(Ended in March 2015)
Translation: Texts of Japanese Courts' Decisions relating to Nuclear Energy
(January, 2019)
Director
- Hideaki Shiroyama (Vice Director and Professor, Policy Alternatives Research Institute / Graduate School of Public Policy / Graduate Schools for Law and Politics)
Members
- Taketoshi Taniguchi (Professor, Policy Alternatives Research Institute)
- Hisashi Yoshikawa (Professor, Policy Alternatives Research Institute)
- Atsuo Kishimoto (Professor, Institute for Datability Science, Osaka University / Visiting Professor, Graduate School of Public Policy)
- Satoru Otake (Visiting Professor, Policy Alternatives Research Institute)
- Masahiro Matsuura (Visiting Professor, Graduate School of Public Policy)
- Chiaki Sato (Project Associate Professor, Graduate School of Public Policy)
- Masahiro Sugiyama (Associate Professor, Policy Alternatives Research Institute)
- Go Yoshizawa (Fellow, Oslo Metropolitan University)
- Makiko Matsuo (Project Assistant Professor, Graduate School of Public Policy)
- Motoko Mizuno (Manager, Legal and Compliance Section, JAXA)
- Yuichiro Nagai (Assistant Professor, College of International Relations, Nihon University / Visiting Researcher, Graduate School of Public Policy, the University of Tokyo)
- Kyoko Ohta (Lecturer, Faculty of Law and Letters, Ehime University / Visiting Researcher, Graduate School of Public Policy, the University of Tokyo)
- Arisa Ema (Project Assistant Professor, Policy Alternatives Research Institute)
- Quentin Verspierne (Researcher, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Graduate School of Engineering / PHD Student, Graduate School of Public Policy)
- Ayako Hatanaka (Research Fellowship for Young Scientist, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science)
- Yuri Takaya (Visiting Researcher, Waseda Institute of the Policy of Social Safety)
- Sotaro Shibayama (Senior Lecturer, Lund University School of Economics and Management)