## Section 2

## Promoting the Research and Development of Technology

## 1 The Position of Technological Research and Development in Technology Policies and Comprehensive Promotion

In the “Japan Revitalization Strategy” revision 2014 (Cabinet decision, June 2014), one of the pillars of the revitalization plan for Japanese industry is the “promotion of science, technology and innovation” and expectations for the role played by “science, technology and innovation” is increasing as seen by the intent to vigorously promote the “Comprehensive Strategy on Science, Technology and Innovation 2014” (Cabinet decision, June 2014).

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism takes into account the government’s overall policy including the “Fourth Science and Technology Basic Plan” to further improve the framework for coordination between the industry, academia, and government as well as comprehensive promotion of cross-sectoral technology research and development in accordance with the Third Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Technology Basic Plan and is actively adopting the resulting outcomes in public works, the construction and transport industry among others.

Figure II-10-2-1 Major Initiatives for FY2014 by Facility Organizations, Special Organizations, and External Bureaus

Organizations, etc.	Summary
Geospatial Information Authority of Japan	The Geography and Crustal Dynamics Research Center conducted research and development for the realization of society of enhanced geographical space utilization, and contribution to the disaster prevention and environment conservation such as “Characteristics of crustal deformation in a strain concentration zone”, “Intensive error analysis of GPS timeseries for improving detectability of crustal deformation by GEONET”, “Effective creation method of land vulnerability information for the creation of earthquake hazard map”, and “Effective ortho image generation by full-automation of aerial photogrammetry.”
Policy Research Institute for Land Infrastructure and Transport	Conducted researches such as “Rival country survey for overseas market acquisition in the field of land, infrastructure, transport and tourism”, “Relations between commissioning entities for the maintenance, management and renewal of social capital”, “Issues related to cargo and passenger transport during widespread disaster.”
National Institute for Land and Infrastructure Management (NILIM)	Conducted researches such as “sediment-related disaster and urban flood measures to respond to sudden heavy rain”, “disaster prevention”, “disaster mitigation”, and “crisis management” such as development of building to be continually used immediately following the earthquake”, “Maintenance and management of social capital” such as development of maintenance and management technologies for road structures”, “Wise usage of existing stocks” such as supports for traffic congestion avoidance and safe driving by utilizing ETC2.0”, “Sustainable and vital national and regional lands formation” such as comprehension and analysis of actual situation in ship navigation in global scale by utilizing the satellite AIS, and “Work routine innovation” such as improvement of operational efficiency of civil engineering structures management using 3-dimensional data.
Meteorological Research Institute	Conducted research on understanding the phenomena of weather, climate, earthquake volcanoes, and the ocean as well as predictions to contribute to “strengthening measures for typhoons and torrential rains”, “strengthening measures for earthquake, volcano, and tsunami disasters”, and “strengthening of measures related to climate change and global environment”.
Japan Coast Guard	Conducted testing and research for equipment and materials used for Coast Guard duties, testing and research for forensic science at sea, and advancing observation technology for seafloor crustal movements.

(1) Initiatives of Facility Organizations, Special Organizations, External Bureaus, and Incorporated Administrative Agencies

Facility organizations, special organizations, external bureaus, and incorporated administrative agencies under MLIT which are mainly tasked with research are as shown in this figure. Incorporated Administrative Agencies serve the public interests and possess transparency and independence; research that meets the society and policy needs respectively are being conducted with priority and efficiency, while striving for further coordination with relevant organizations including the private sector, and fully based on the sense of carrying out tasks appropriately and efficiently.

## (2) Initiatives of Regional Development Bureau

Technical and Engineering Offices as well as Port and Airport Technology Investigation Offices coordinate with relevant offices in their jurisdiction for tests and research of civil works material and water quality, hydraulic tests and design for the effective and efficient development of facilities, development of environmental monitoring systems, and other matters for technology development, as well as the utilization and promotion of new technology tailored to the region.