The recipe for the wisdom and mindful society : Over the Japanese myth of technological innovation

チエ　ト　ココロ　ニ　ミチタ　シャカイ　ノ　ツクリカタ　イノベーション　シンワ　ヲ　ノリコエテ

カスガ, ショウ

Kasuga, Sho

池田, 光穂

イケダ, ミツホ

Ikeda, Mitsuho

研究と開発

大学の役割

The Basic Act on Science and Technology （Act No.130 of November 15, 1995）

Research and Development （R&D）

Intermediate social role of university

Since early 1990s Japanese Research and Developments (R&Ds) scenes gradually have been losing global competitiveness and many thought that they were in the cul-de-sac of “catch-up and pass” model. Japanese government had tried to transform their role in international societies from catch-up challenger to one of the global leaders. The scientific R&Ds and higher education policies were defined as key factors to promote creativity and keep global competitiveness of the society by the government. The Basic Act on Science and Technology, Act No.130 of November 15, 1995, “Kagaku-Gijyutsu-Kihon-Hou,” and many other means are implemented in mainly national universities and public research institutions. The outcomes of this policy change have not been sufficient at least in the aspect of the economic success. Till now there are many inconsistencies between the policy and social structure of Japan. In new policy, Japanese government recommended freelance professionals model of work, however, people have recognized that large enterprises are providing good welfare and freelance workers have big disadvantage under the semi-neo-liberal economic policy of the government. In Japanese society, the private big enterprises are strong and influential, and the small entrepreneurs and the other forms of intermediate organizations, e.g. NPO/NGO, are relatively weak. Many of innovations can be driven by ethics or human values because human values define what we need to solve economic dilemma of R&D. And human values are dealt by non-profit intermediate organizations locally or globally in general. Lack of strong non-profit organizations like global NGOs, professional associations, glass-roots religious bodies, and many other social groups, can induce series of weak points not to make Japanese society more innovative than before. We conclude that it needs to redefine the social value we will pursue and to build intermediate organizations between university and civil society.

池田, 光穂