Summary of the International Symposium on Strategies for Regional andInternational Collaboration in Science and Technology
The Takeda Foundation has organized a study committee inviting intellectuals from theJapan Science and Technology Agency (JST), the Japan International Cooperation
Agency (JICA), the National Institute for Policy Studies, the Shibaura Institute ofTechnology, the University of Tsukuba, the Response Ability.Inc., and the University ofTokyo to discuss strategies for international collaboration in science and technology. TheCommittee reached a conclusion, and last December, submitted to the Japanese
Government a policy proposal for the creation of an Asian Research Area (ARA) as aregional collaborative mechanism to enable cross-border research collaboration andregional human development. Since the proposal has found some sympathy in theJapanese Government, the Foundation has decided it is time to reveal the concepts ofthe ARA to the world at large. On May 12, 2010 the International Symposium on
Strategies for Regional and International Collaboration in Science and Technology washeld at Soukairo Hall of GRIPS to promote the concepts of the ARA in cooperation withGRIPS, JST and JICA. The symposium was supported by the Ministeries of Education,Culture, Sports, and Science and Technology (MEXT), Economy, Industry and Trade(METI), Foreign Affairs (MOFA), and the Cabinet Office. The symposium had anattendance of 196 including 46 participants (23.5%) from the Japanese Government andrelevant organizations, 35 (17.8%) from universities and public research institutes, 33(11.7%) from private companies, 20 individuals (10.2%), and 16 (8%) from foreignembassies. Thus the ARA concepts have been presented to many Japanese and foreignscience and technology policy groups and relevant people through the symposium.
Opening Remarks
The symposium began on time and the opening remarks
were made by Dr. Hiroyuki Yoshikawa from JST and Mr. KenzoOshima from JICA. Dr. Yoshikawa, Director General of theCenter for Research and Development Strategy, JST, has also
been a member of the Council of the Takeda Foundation since
its establishment and made opening remarks on behalf of theTakeda Foundation and JST. He stated that the purposes ofDr. Hiriyuki Yoshikawa

scientific research have expanded beyond research forscience to broader concepts including research for development and research for society
as the 21st Century unfolds. He continued to state that, especially, research for the1sustainable development will be very important, and that a regional collaboration in Asiawill be vital for the promotion of sustainable development.
Mr Oshima is the Senior Vice President of JICA. He stated that
official development assistance in Asia has been changing
from vertical assistance (from the developed northerncountries to the developing southern countries) to a horizontal
collaboration (from Asia to Asia), and explained a JICA-JST
collaborative program, "Science and Technology ResearchPartnership for Sustainable Development," in which JICA will
support project implementation in partner countries inMr. Kenzo Oshimacooperation with research institutes in Japan, and that JST will support the research
institutes for project activities and expenses incurred in Japan.
Keynote Speech
The keynote speech, “Science and Technology Diplomacy” wasgiven by Dr. Takashi Shiraishi, Executive Member of the Council
for Science and Technology Policy (CSTP) of the Cabinet Office.
He stated that just recently various layers of the science andtechnology community have begun to realize that it will be quitedifficult to maintain competitiveness in science and technology,
since Japan has been losing population. He stated that inDr. Takashi Shiraishi order to resolve this situation, Japan should open its closed society,and promote a regional collaboration in science and technology in Asia. He explained that
CSTP has been discussing a regional collaborative framework similar to the ARA, and theycall it the “East Asian Science and Technology and Innovation Area” placing stress oninnovation, which is the driving force of the economic growth of a nation. According to Dr.
Shiraoshi, CSTP is trying to incorporate this framework into the 4th Science and Technology
Basic Plan.
As for the ARA framework, the three basic institutions of the ARA were explained bythree members of the Committee for Strategy for Collaboration in Science and Technology.
First, Mr. Tateo Arimoto, Director General of the Research Institute of Science andTechnology for Society (JST), also Chairman of the Committee, explained the Asian
Research Fund, which will be established with multinational donations to support
multinational collaborative research. Dr. Shinichi Kobayashi of the University of Tsukuba
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explained the Asian Technology Assessment Center, which will assess the impact onsociety of technology developed in the ARA, and the “Smart Society” reflecting thecommon values of Asian societies. Finally, Mr. Takashi Watanabe of the Shibaura Instituteof Technology explained the Asian Technology Incubation Center, which will provide
technical assistance for the development and marketing of new technologies in Asia, andfoster entrepreneurship in Asia.
Toward the Foundation of an Asian Research Area
Mr. Arimoto pointed out the following facts:
1) Asia has a huge population with a high average rate of literacy
and strong work ethics.
2) Many Asian scientists and engineers leave Asia for better
research environments and the ratio of scientists and engineers
to the entire population is still low.
3) Asia suffers from many common problems including
Mr. Tateo Arimoto

environmental and water problems, infectious diseases, andfrequent natural disasters.

He stated that Asia can grow further and lead the world economy if it can solve its common
problems, and proposed the following means to resolve them.
1) Asia should promote regional collaboration in science and technology.
2) The collaboration should go beyond simple multinational exchange programs.
3) Asia should build specific systems to realize a regional collaboration.
As these specific systems，he proposed the following.
1) Asia should build a platform, an Asian Research Area, for a regional collaborative
framework, and establish a regional research fund with multinational donations that canmake cross-border grants for multinational collaborative research as the infrastructureof the ARA .
2) Asia should build a society that places high value on the happiness of people and an
environmentally- friendly life style so that the development of new technologies will notlead to greedy market fundamentalism. An Asian Technology Assessment Center
should be established to support the development of environmentally friendly
technologies that will make contributions to the happiness of people.
3) The promotion of science and technology in Asia should not be confined to research,
but lead to the actual production of goods and services. An Asian Technology
Incubation Center should be established to support the commercial development ofnew technologies.
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Smart Society and Technology Assessment Center
Dr. Kobayashi from the University of Tsukuba presented thefollowing ideas.
1) Asia should build a Smart Society reflecting the common
values of Asian Societies.
2) A Smart Society is a society in which the environment, Earth,and future human beings are not sacrificed for the pursuit ofeconomic prosperity, and would not expand economicDr. Shinichi Kobaeayshi disparity for the sake of economic growth.
3) In order to build a Smart Society, developing technologies should conform with four
essential elements: sustainability, safety, security, and solutions.
4) Asia should conduct technology assessment to develop new technologies that conformwith these four essential elements, and establish an Asian Technology Assessment
Center (ATAC).
According to Dr. Kobayashi, we should consider appropriate solutions under specific local
conditions rather than pursuing optimal solutions under the best conditions. We should also
assess not only individual technologies, but also develop integrated and holistic technology
assessment by expanding it to systems and services. This integrated and holistic
technology assessment involves the dynamic evaluation of systems and services that
include technology forecasting, risk analysis, and classical technology assessment. ATAC
will be a core institution in the region, and target the development of region-wide risk
management, and regulatory systems for infective diseases, natural disasters,environmental problems, and safety, and the development of new concepts, theories, andtechniques to support the new technology assessment.
Development of Entrepreneurship and Technology Incubation Center
Mr. Watanabe of the Shibaura Institute of Technology pointed outthat the economic growth in Asia is accompanied by anexpansion in economic disparity and environmental destruction,and that Asia should create business models based on BOP(Bottom of Pyramid) to avoid such problems. He also pointed outthat Asia should cultivate entrepreneurship and develop humanresources. An Asia Technology Incubation Center (ATIC) will be acore institution for the development of entrepreneurship andMr. Takashi Watanabe

human resources in the region, and assist the commercial
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development of start-ups that try to address local needs. The ATIC will recruit projects thattry to address local problems including poverty, the environment, and energy shortages,and provide advice and necessary costs for development for commercialization. Asexamples, he described the development of a human-powered water pump that can berepaired by local people, and the generation of electric power with bio-diesel in an
un-electrified area. He stressed that it is essential to develop technologies that local people
can use and repair themselves.
Panel Discussion
The panel discussion entitled “Regional and International Collaboration in Science andTechnology” was moderated by Dr. Atsushi Sunami, Associate Professor of the National
Institute for Policy Studies, following a coffee break. The panelists included Dr. Machi F.
Dilworth, Head of the Tokyo Office, National Science Foundation, Dr. Jay Young Hur,Counsellor, Embassy of the Republic of Korea to Japan, Dr. Visweswan Navaratnam, Headof the DNDi Regional Office, Malaysia, Dr. Barbara Rhode, head of the Science andTechnology Section, Delegation of the European Union to Japan, Dr. Xiangping Ruan,
Counsellor, Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Japan, and Mr. Keisuke Saito,Director General, Energy Conservation and Renewable Energy Department, Agency forNatural Resources and Energy, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. During the panel
discussion, Dr. X. Ruan stated that China is very interested in a regional collaboration inscience and technology with Japan because China has many things to learn from Japan,
and he pointed out that the ARA should be incorporated into the current cooperation andcollaboration mechanisms in Asia including APEC. Dr. J.Y. Hur pointed out that Japan
should open up its closed society to Asia if it wants to take the initiative in promoting
regional collaboration in Asia. Dr. B. Rhode stated that the creation of the ARA would beviewed as a long-term endeavor for Asia, because it took 50 years for Europe to construct
the current collaboration mechanisms including the European Research Area. She also5pointed out that diversity in Asia should not be viewed as a hurdle for the creation of theARA, but as a potential strength for the ARA once it is established.
Dr. V Navaratnam pointed out that a regional collaboration in Asia has already started insome non-profit sectors, referring to the fact that the DNDi (Drugs for Neglected Diseases
initiative) has been conducting a collaborative project to develop drugs for neglected
tropical diseases in collaboration with public institutes and private companies in Japan,Korea, China, Indonesia, Singapore, India, and Australia. There were also many comments
and opinions expressed from the audience. One member of the audience stated that Asiancountries would not join an alliance for the creation of an ARA just because Japan says thatsuch a regional collaboration is necessary because of its declining population. He said thatJapan should develop a concept that would benefit all Asian countries. At the last momentof the panel discussion, moderator Dr. Sunami, revealed that a regional collaboration inscience and technology will proceed among three East Asian countries, Japan, Korea andChina, and that a joint statement on the foundation of a regional fund with multinational
donations from the three countries will be released at the Japan-China-Korea summit to beheld on Jeju Island at the end of May.
Overview
Mr. Arimoto summarized the symposium in his overview remarks.
The concepts for an Asian Research Area (ARA) were recognized at the symposium. From thispoint forward, it is necessary to expand the discussion and dialogue on the various aspects ofthe ARA including its concepts, naming, projects, systems, and characteristics of Asia to lead
toward the realization of the ARA. It is also important to take into consideration mid- to long-term
points of view, and to coordinate the ARA framework with current cooperation and collaboration
frameworks in Asia including APEC.
1. Points to remember for further advancement
The ARA should construct regional collaboration systems that are open to the rest of theworld. The ARA should have as its aim the mutual benefits and prosperity of systems thatconnect with other world collaboration systems.
2. The Foundation of the ARA should not be an act of hegemony.
3. The ARA should allow the participation of multi-layered actors including governments, theprofit and non-profit sectors, NGOs, and citizen groups.
4. The cooperation framework from developed to developing countries is becoming dated inAsia. Regional collaboration should not fall into the old realm of vertical cooperation, butshould involve equal partnership.
5. Current regional collaboration activities remain simply an exchange of researchers. Asia
6needs to construct systematic and sustainable regional cooperation systems.
6. The ARA should be a platform on which various stake holders, including social scientists aswell as scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, NGOs, NPOs, governments, and citizen groups,
can grasp and analyze common regional problems and needs, and discuss measures toaddress them.
7. The ARA should construct networks of researchers, develop human resources and facilitate
their world circulation, and foster entrepreneurship in the region. The networking of young
researchers is especially important.
8.The ARA should maintain good governance of its activities including scientific integrity,transparency and independence.
Mr. Arimoto proposed that the establishment of an advisory group consisting of intellectualsfrom relevant countries should be considered. This group would become a core organization topromote the foundation of the ARA by facilitating free discussion among multilayered-actors
including governments, the profit and non-profit sectors, NGOs, and citizen groups. He pointed
out that it is important to start specific collaborative projects early regardless of their scale, andthat it is necessary that the public, including the science and technology communities andordinary people, understand and have a growing interest in the concepts of the ARA.

Closing Remarks
At the end of the symposium, Dr. Mistuo Akagi, Senior Managing
Director of the Takeda Foundation made closing remarks onbehalf of the organizing foundation. He pointed out the importantroles of entrepreneurs who create value for people using theresults of the scientific research, and people who select createdgoods and services on the market. He stated that it will also be
important to consider knowledge, entrepreneurship, and people
in the creation of the ARA. He closed the symposium byDr. Mitsuo Akagi

acknowledging the participation of the many people at thesymposium.

GET-TOGETHER PARTY
A Get-Together Party was held in the Meeting room adjacent to the symposium venue tofacilitate exchanges among the symposium speakers, panelists and participants.
About 100 people attended the party. At the beginning of the party, Mr. Keisuke
Tsumura, Parliament Secretary of the Cabinet Office in charge of the National Policy
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Unit, Economic and Fiscal Policy, Science and Technology Policy, and Promotion of Local
Sovereignty, gave welcoming remarks. Mr. Akihiko Furuya, Ambassador in chargeof science and technology of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs also made welcomingremarks and gave a toast for the party.

Mr. Keisuke Tsumura

Mr. Akihiko Furuya

During the course of the party, Mr. Masaharu Nakagawa, Senior Vice Minister of MEXT,
showed up despite his busy schedule and reported the current events concerning the ARA.
During the Golden Week, he visited several Asian countries including China, Korea, andsome of the ASEAN countries with Dr. Sunami to promote the Japanese initiative for theARA. Mr. Nakagawa stated that he was able to demonstrate the Japanese initiative for aregional collaboration in science and technology by presenting the interim report of the ARA
in response to a proposal by Korean representatives for the same kind of collaboration
scheme. We are quite happy to hear that the interim report played a vital role in his crusadein Asia. The party was bustling with discussion and dialogue on the regional collaboration inscience and technology in Asia, and the perception of the ARA by the attendees wasdeepened during the party.

Mr. Masaharu Nakagawa
Norio Ohto
Director
The Takeda Foundation
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