The fifth meeting of the Japan-UK Joint Committee on Co-operation on Science and Technology took place in Tokyo on 24 February. The Joint Committee, which was established in 1994 under the Agreement between the two governments on Co-operation in Science and Technology, meets every other year to exchange information and views on scientific and technological policy issues and to review and discuss progress on collaborative activities. The Joint Committee was co-chaired by Ambassador Yukiya Amano, Director-General for Arms Control and Scientific Affairs of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Professor Sir David King FRS, the UK government's Chief Scientific Adviser and was attended by representatives from the Japanese and the UK governments, as well as Japanese organisations such as AIST (National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology), JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) and the Research Councils in the United Kingdom such as BBSRC (Biotechnology and Biological Science Research Council), NERC (Natural Environment Research Council), PPARC (Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council) and the Royal Society and the British Council.

There were fruitful discussions and exchanges of views on a wide range of issues such as science and technology policy, review of collaboration since the Fourth Joint Committee, discussion of future collaboration and movement of researchers. The Joint Committee also discussed the Japan-UK Joint Programme on Emerging Technologies and the role of Senior and Respected Scientific Figures which were initiated by the Prime Ministers of Japan and the United Kingdom in July 2003. The detail of Senior and Respected Scientific Figures is provided for in the attached Annex.

All participants were very pleased with the levels of collaborative research on science and technology currently being undertaken and recognised that there was much valuable work being done. Just in the two years since the last meeting, the number of joint research projects has increased from 229 to 254. In addition, joint workshops have taken place in climate modelling, nanotechnology and the hydrogen economy. Japan-UK workshops are also planned soon on gene therapy and structural genomics. Areas for future collaboration were also discussed and both sides expressed a wish to develop the existing work and to expand collaboration into new priority areas such as life science, earth observation, climate change and nanotechnology/materials.

The Government of Japan decided to appoint Dr. Hiroo Imura, then, an executive member of the Council for Science and Technology Policy of Japan as its “Senior and Respected Scientific Figure” from 1 December 2003 for two years. This information was conveyed to the British Embassy via Note Verbale dated 28 November 2003.

Role of the Senior and Respected Scientific Figures
Based on previous experience, both governments believe the primary role of the Senior and Respected Scientific Figures will be

• To consider from the national perspective the areas of priority where both governments would wish to propose strengthening contacts between experts.

• In consultation with his/her respective government as appropriate, to make proposals to the other Senior and Respected Scientific Figure on the scientific fields where strong contacts and collaboration are desired.

• Following decisions between the two governments on a priority field, to make a suggestion to the government regarding the leader from each side who will be responsible for working with its expert counterpart to take forward the initiative in that field. The initiative can encompass joint workshops, exchanges of information or researcher visits as appropriate.

• To make a report to each meeting of the Joint Committee concerning the activity pursued under the initiative.

Facilitation


Each government is prepared to support its Senior and Respected Scientific Figure as much as possible in accordance with its availability of funds so that the Senior and Respected Scientific Figure may fill the above-mentioned role.