On December 2020, 12, the Science Council of Japan held an extraordinary secretariat meeting to compile an interim report on the organizational reform proposal that it had been considering independently.After the secretariat meeting, Chairman Takaaki Kajita visited the Minister of Science and Technology Shinji Inoue and handed him an interim report on the reform plan.
According to the Science Council of Japan, the interim report on reform proposals focused on expanding the secretariat function to strengthen proposals and public relations activities, and disclosing information to make the member selection process transparent.Regarding the point of making it an organization independent of the country, it is necessary to continue to consider whether it meets the requirements of the National Academy, and he avoids making a statement.
As a mandatory requirement of the National Academy,
・ Academic status as a representative institution of the country
・ Granting official qualifications
・ Securing stable financial resources through national fiscal spending
・ Independence in terms of activities
・ Ensuring independence in member selection
-Listed 5 items.Even if it becomes a non-national institution such as a special corporation, it is said that whether or not all of these five items are applicable will be the criterion.
The government requested that the reform proposal be submitted by the end of the year, but it was difficult to discuss all the issues in time, so it was made an interim report.The Science Council of Japan will continue to hold discussions.
The Science Council of Japan began to be discussed when Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga refused to appoint six candidate members.In particular, within the Liberal Democratic Party, there are voices calling for reforms, saying that the activities of the Science Council are largely contrary to the government's policy.
