Section 3 The Desired Human Resource System

Transcription

1 Section 3 The Desired Human Resource System 1 Reform of the Human Resource System People are the main actors in promoting science, technology and innovation. One of the most important pillars To strongly of the policy promote for science, science, technology and and innovation innovation Japan, is determining a new human how resource to develop, system secure must and be promote built by reforming the activities the of conventional people as human Japanese resources. system. Based on Sections 1 and 2, the following explains what Based is required on this for understanding such a new system. and on the Science and Technology Basic Plan, Japan has been promoting various measures for developing and securing human resources that foster science, technology and innovation, (1) Building and a has system been of providing highly opportunities mobile human for resources abilities to be fully exerted. The improvement of economic The number support of young for excellent Japanese students, has been the declining establishment as result of of centers low birthrates for world-class and demographic education aging. and research, Competition the development in brain gain of has research been intensifying. environments Increasing for young the researchers pool of including human resources postdoc researchers, for science, and technology the development and innovation of various while maintaining career paths, quality, including is expected those in to industry, be more have difficult all if been Japan promoted. continues The to mobility rely on the of conventional faculty members human and resource researchers system. has been promoted by introducing a term-limit system at universities Under such and circumstances, public research to institutions. enhance the The human participation resources of Japan, female it and is necessary non-japanese to do researchers the following: has been increase promoted. the motivation Young researchers, have enable been them encouraged to pursue to new study endeavors abroad. and Human maximize resources the potential of the next of generation human resources. are being These fostered. are achieved by fairly and objectively evaluating their abilities and achievements and National by treating research them have according been designated to such evaluations. as independent administrative agencies, and national universities designated However, as treating corporations. researchers Researchers in this and manner faculty is members difficult considering at these former the present national circumstances organizations no of longer universities have civil and public servant research status. These institutions, organizational a generation changes gap eased in mobility the limitations exist. Researchers that resulted who from have the personnel been performing affairs poorly system, in which their present was an posts impediment are not given in the new promotion opportunities of research. under which The to changes apply their also promoted abilities. Young improvements researchers, in the in particular, environment are in not which given the appropriate human resources positions of even the institutions when they show apply great their abilities. potential. It is necessary to plan for enhancing the research potential of researchers as a whole by eliminating a Through generation these gap in measures, mobility the and quality improving and number the mobility of research of all researchers, papers from and Japan to are plan steadily for the creation increasing. of The an environment numbers of in the which research the researchers collaborations are able among to find industry-university-government positions that suit their abilities. research institutes are In increasing. this knowledge-based Researches society, which various it has become disciplines increasingly need to important converge to are promoted. active World-class participation basic by research human resources results, including who possess the establishment highly specialized of human knowledge ips cells, and have to been promote achieved. the Interest high mobility in Japan s of abilities researchers in science across and various technology research (S&T) fields from based other on changes parts of in the the world needs has of remained society and high industry. 1. In light of Other this, it countries is also necessary have implemented to expand their career own approaches opportunities to science, of highly technology specialized and human innovation. resources Japan s so status that they in terms may fully of the apply number their of abilities research and papers to plan published for raising has the been level declining, of human because resources of advances as a whole made in by society, other while countries, striving and to Japan s achieve representation mobility for in human research resources. activities This around can be the done world by has diversifying been declining. career paths In addition for doctoral these graduates international and by enhancing circumstances, adult the education socioeconomic in terms conditions of quality within and opportunity. Japan have been constantly We are currently changing. in The the situation population in has which begun the needs to decrease of citizens because and of society low birth have rates diversified and demographic and various aging. activities The are needs undertaken of people across and borders society because have of diversified globalization. because To address of the the maturation various issues of society. by applying The worldwide science, technology utilization and of innovation, knowledge, it technologies is necessary and for young human researchers resources has to have become experience important in diverse amidst ever-progressing institutions and cultures, globalization. and to With attain the the development abilities that of enable knowledge-based them to flexibly societies, take in the various creation viewpoints of new knowledge and ideas. and Human technological resources, innovation which play has the been main progressing role faster science, than technology ever. and innovation, need experience In light with of this, diverse to further organizations promote and science, cultures technology as young and researchers. innovation In summary, in Japan and the mobility to compete of human resources needs to be increased.85 1 For the basic research results that were achieved after the organizational changes, examples are discussed in Feature 2 and Columns 1-1 to 1-5, The Results of the Funding Program for World-Leading Innovative R&D on Science and Technology (FIRST)

2 Part I Building a Human Resources System That Maximizes Potential: Towards Making Japan Japan "the "the Most Most Innovation-friendly Country in in the the World" World" (2) Improvement of the research environment so that diverse human resources can play active roles For S&T to address various issues amidst various socioeconomic changes, there is the need for diverse human resources with varied knowledge, viewpoints and ideas. The pool of human resources for science, technology and innovation has stopped growing. It is vital to maximize the potential of such resources by improving their mobility. In addition, it is also vital to enhance human resources by utilizing women researchers, young researchers and non-japanese researchers, whose abilities have not been fully utilized due to various restrictions. It is an urgent task to provide researchers with the necessary support and to develop environments where they are able to play active roles irrespective of gender, age and nationality. Such environments will make it possible to secure diverse human resources. To enhance science, technology and innovation activities under increasingly intensifying internationalization in S&T activities, it is indispensable to build and utilize international research networks. Based on the previously mentioned viewpoint, the enhancement efforts include the provision of opportunities for young researchers to study abroad and optimizing conditions for accepting non-japanese researchers is necessary to develop research environments where human resources are able to fully exert their abilities. (3) Building platforms for the co-creation of new knowledge and value With changes in socioeconomic conditions, the way for the creation of new knowledge and value has been changing. The ability of an individual is not sufficient for innovation, and teamwork has become more and more important (Figure ). It is crucial that researchers with diverse knowledge, viewpoints and ideas to work as a team, stimulating each other in order to bring forth a fusion of knowledge, viewpoints and ideas. 86

3 Figure / Changes in the Average Number of Authors per Scientific Paper (Authors) 8.0 People are the main actors in promoting science, technology and innovation. One of the most important Chemistry pillars 7.0of the policy for science, technology and innovation is determining how to develop, secure and Clinical medicine promote the activities of people as human resources. Computer science Based 6.0 on this understanding and on the Science and Technology Basic Plan, Japan has been promoting Economics & business various measures for developing and securing human resources that foster science, technology and Engineering innovation, and has been providing opportunities for abilities to be fully exerted. The improvement of 5.0 Environment/Ecology economic support for excellent students, the establishment of centers for world-class education and Geosciences research, the development of research environments for young researchers including postdoc researchers, Immunology 4.0 and the development of various career paths, including those in industry, have all Materials been promoted. science The mobility of faculty members and researchers has been promoted by introducing a Mathematics term-limit system at 3.0 universities and public research institutions. The participation of female and non-japanese Microbiology researchers has been promoted. Young researchers have been encouraged to study abroad. Human Molecular resources biology of the & genetics next generation 2.0 are being fostered. Neuroscience & behavior National research have been designated as independent administrative agencies, and Pharmacology national universities & toxicology designated 1.0 as corporations. Researchers and faculty members at these former national Physicsorganizations no longer have civil servant status. These organizational changes eased the limitations Plant that & resulted animal science from the personnel affairs system, which was an impediment in the promotion of research. Psychiatry/Psychology The changes also 0.0 (Year) promoted improvements in the environment in which the human resources of the Social institutions sciences, general apply their abilities. Source: Adopted by the National Institute of Science and Technology Policy (NISTEP) Web of Science, Thomson Reuters Through these measures, the quality and number of research papers from Japan are steadily increasing. (SCIE. CPCI: Science, as of Dec. 2011). The Note: numbers Articles, of articles the and research proceedings, collaborations letters, notes and among reviews industry-university-government are counted. Data by year. 3-year moving average research institutes Source: NISTEP, Participations and Contributions of Young Scholars in Scientific Research, Nov are increasing. Researches which various disciplines need to converge are promoted. World-class basic Agricultural sciences Biology & biochemistry research However, results, the enhancement including the of establishment such approaches of human in Japan ips cells, falls behind have been that achieved. in other Interest advanced in nations, Japan s abilities because in mobility science among and technology sectors is (S&T) low and from the other utilization parts of of the various world has human remained resources high 1. is insufficient. Despite Other worldwide countries progress have implemented in open innovation, their own companies approaches in Japan to science, still rely technology on their own and R&D innovation. for most of Japan s their status technologies. in terms Breaking of the number away from of the research so-called papers in-house published policy has has been not declining, seen any because progress of (Figure advances ). made by Therefore, other countries, after building and Japan s a system representation of highly in mobile research human activities resources around and the enhancing world has an been environment declining. in which In addition diverse to human these resources international are able circumstances, to take active the roles, socioeconomic it is important conditions to concentrate within Japan the abilities have been of constantly team members changing. and to The develop population platforms has begun for the to co-creation decrease because of new of knowledge low birth rates and value. and demographic These new aging. opportunities The needs will help of to people promote and the society creation have of diversified research outcomes because that of surpass the maturation those done of individually. society. The worldwide utilization of knowledge, technologies and human resources has become important amidst ever-progressing globalization. With the development of knowledge-based societies, the creation of new knowledge and technological innovation has been progressing faster than ever. In light of this, to further promote science, technology and innovation in Japan and to compete 1 For the basic research results that were achieved after the organizational changes, examples are discussed in Feature 2 and Columns 1-1 to 1-5, The Results of the Funding Program for World-Leading Innovative R&D on Science and Technology (FIRST)

4 Part I Building a Human Resources System That Maximizes Potential: Towards Making Japan Japan "the "the Most Most Innovation-friendly Country in in the the World" World" To provide such platforms, several initiatives have been initiated, including the Tsukuba Innovation Arena, the World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI) and the Center of Innovation (COI). It is necessary to promote wide provisions of opportunity for collaborative creation by realizing a hub function for the research and development (R&D) institute system, which will be formulated in the near future. Figure / Breakdown of R&D Projects by Participant 1% 9% 10% 4% 76% 1.By one company 2.With other domestic companies 3.With universities & research institutions 4.With domestic venture companies 5.Other 2 Initiatives toward the Promotion of Fair and Honest Research Activities (1) On research misconduct Source: METI, Survey on Medium- to Long-term R&D which Contributes to Creation of Innovations by Japanese Companies, Feb Research activities are based on achievements by predecessors. Researchers study and make investigations based on the facts and data obtained in observations and experiments. The development of new knowledge and the systematization of knowledge through these activities are what research is about. Research misconduct, which distorts the essential quality and purpose of research activities, is an unforgivable act that undermines trust in science. Problems of research misconduct have surfaced recently (see the references below). To foster a sense of ethics among those who are involved in research, including students and young researchers, as well as to promote fair research activities, it is important to strive to gain society s trust in science by strengthening efforts to prevent research misconduct. Reference: Examples of recently disclosed research misconduct (FY2012) - Questions were raised about the blood pressure data in research papers on Valsartan, a drug for treating high blood pressure produced by Novartis Pharma K.K. Related papers were withdrawn from academic journals. - Doubts were raised about the correctness of papers written by a group of authors that included a former professor at the Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences of The University of Tokyo. The University of Tokyo identified 51 papers in which scientifically inappropriate images were used. The university is continuing its investigation. (FY2013) - It was pointed out that papers on stimulus-triggered acquisition of pluripotency (STAP) cells contained some controversial points, and an investigation committee of RIKEN recognized that there were falsifications and fabrications in parts of the papers. Note 1: The year is that in which the media publicized allegations of misconduct. Note 2: These are only major examples. The list is not comprehensive. (2) Approaches toward the promotion of honest research The problems of research misconduct are mainly the problems of individual researchers, institutions including universities, and the academic community. In conducting research, individual researchers must exercise self-discipline. An environment that prompts misconduct has to be reformed and controlled by research institutions and the academic community. The Science Council of Japan, as the representative organization of the research community, has been taking initiatives toward improving the integrity of 88

5 scientific studies. In December 2013, the council published the proposal, Prevention Measures for Misconduct in Research Activities and After Care -- Toward Improvement of Integrity of Science. Based on the proposal, the council, together with related organizations, is working to create a program for research ethics education. People MEXT are published the main a actors mid-term in promoting report at a science, meeting technology of The Task and innovation. Force for Misconduct One of the in most Research important and pillars Unauthorized of the Use policy of for Research science, Funds, technology in September and innovation The is ministry determining examined how the to develop, issue in its secure experts and promote council in the collaboration activities of with people the as Science human resources. Council of Japan. Issues related to research misconduct have generally Based on been this left understanding to individual and researchers on the Science and they and have Technology been expected Basic Plan, to address Japan has such been issues promoting on their various own initiative. measures To improve for developing on this and issue, securing the government human resources will provide that support foster so science, that organizations technology that and innovation, employ researchers and has will been be providing able to take opportunities the initiative for in abilities addressing to be these fully issues. exerted. With The a view improvement to promoting of economic approaches support to prevent for research excellent misconduct, students, the the establishment government will of centers review the for guidelines world-class for education unauthorized and research, use of research the development funds and research of research misconduct, environments as well for as young improve researchers ethics including education postdoc for researchers, and related the development personnel. of various career paths, including those in industry, have all been promoted. The mobility To combat of faculty the unauthorized members and researchers use of research has been funds, promoted the revised by introducing proposal a for term-limit the Guidelines system of at universities Management and and public Audit research of Public institutions. Research Funds The participation in Research of Institutes female and (Implementation non-japanese researchers standards) was has been approved promoted. by the Young minister researchers of MEXT have in February been encouraged 2014, and to the study new abroad. guideline Human took effect resources in April. of the next generation Based on are the being summary fostered. report of the cooperators meeting for reviewing and improving uses of The Guideline National for research Misconduct have in been Research designated Activities as independent February administrative 2014, examinations agencies, have and been national made universities by MEXT designated toward reviewing as corporations. the current Researchers guidelines. and faculty members at these former national organizations no longer To foster have research civil servant ethics status. in persons These recognized organizational as researchers, changes eased including the limitations graduate that students, resulted support from the for personnel the Collaborative affairs Institutional system, which Training was an Initiative impediment (CITI) in Japan the promotion Project 1, which of research. has been The developing changes also promoted research ethics improvements education in programs, the environment will be continued. which the human resources of the institutions apply their abilities. These initiatives will be promoted by the dissemination of reviewed guideline standards and requests for the Through thorough these implementation measures, the of quality the standards. number This of will research lead to papers the development from Japan are of systems steadily that increasing. enable The research numbers institutions of the to research consistently collaborations take measures among to industry-university-government prevent and handle misconduct, and research it will institutes promote are fair, increasing. honest research Researches activities which among various researchers. disciplines need to converge are promoted. World-class basic research The Council results, for including Science the and establishment Technology of Policy human 2 has ips been cells, examining have been achieved. measures Interest against in research Japan s abilities misconduct, in science based and on opinions technology presented (S&T) by from member other parts experts of at the its world meeting has remained April high 1. Other All divisions countries of have government implemented will continue their own to approaches promote approaches to science, for technology fostering and young innovation. researchers Japan s and status encouraging terms their of the activities, number so of that research each papers researcher published can has develop been a declining, high ethical because standard, of advances show made total by dedication other countries, to research and and Japan s achieve representation excellent research in research results. activities around the world has been declining. In addition to these international circumstances, the socioeconomic conditions within Japan have been constantly changing. The population has begun to decrease because of low birth rates and demographic aging. The needs of people and society have diversified because of the maturation of society. The worldwide utilization of knowledge, technologies and human resources has become important amidst ever-progressing globalization. With the development of knowledge-based societies, the creation of new knowledge and technological innovation has been progressing faster than ever. In light of this, to further promote science, technology and innovation in Japan and to compete 1 The CITI Japan Project enjoys the participation of six universities, including Shinshu University. It aims to develop research ethics education programs and materials for e-learning that satisfy international standards and that suit the conditions of the Japanese research environment. The program is based on the international CITI program that has been promoted in the U.S. and other countries. This project was selected as a FY2012 Program for Promoting Inter-University Collaborative Education. Support will be provided for the five years from 2012 to For The the Act for basic Partial research Revision results of the that Act were for achieved Establishment after the of organizational Cabinet Office came changes, into examples force on May are discussed 19th, 2014, in and Feature the 2 Council and Columns for Science 1-1 to and 1-5, Technology The Results of Policy the Funding was reorganized Program into for World-Leading the Council for Innovative Science, Technology R&D on Science and and Innovation. Technology (FIRST)