Advances in Science Need a Multidisciplinary High-Risk, High-Reward Approach

Since 1949, two dozen Japanese researchers have been awarded Nobel prizes in the fields of physics, chemist r y, and physiology/medicine. However, in science today, Japan badly lags behind several other nations, including the United States and the United Kingdom, in terms of funding for interdisciplinary research.

A February 11 article in the science journal Nature, coauthored by ten scientists and engineers based in Japanese research institutions, addresses this. It blames the situation on funding agencies that still mostly support research being conducted within strict traditional disciplinary boundaries. For example, chemistry and engineering. Those making the funding decisions continue to play it safe by sticking to areas they are familiar with.

That is a sad situation. Many of the most exciting advances in science today are taking place on the fluid boundaries between fields.

Fund 'People,' Not 'Projects'

Related publications also attract more citations and have more impact on research. The authors of "Japan Can Be a Science Heavyweight Once More ー If It Rethinks Funding" point out that Japan has traditionally relied on science and technology to make up for its lack of natural resources. But the country's global position in these areas has been slipping badly.

It offers this bleak assessment: "The decline in its research and innovation is unmistakable, as indicated by the country's share of the world's top 10% of most-cited research articles, which has dropped from 6% to 2% over the past two decades or so."

And the situation becomes even more lamentable now that new techniques like artificial intelligence (AI) are opening up new possibilities in areas like gene editing, climate change solutions, and innovative health approaches.

The article calls for funding people, not just projects ー as has generally been the case.

*Okinawa Institute of Technology (From the OIST website)*

Diversifying Grant Panels

One specific thing that can be done is to diversify the composition of the agency panels deciding on grants.

The article cites Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST) as one institution that has adopted researcher-focused funding with remarkable success. One thing that sets OIST apart from Japan's national universities is that it is funded by the Cabinet Office rather than the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.

Also, OIST has a strong commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration among scientists from different fields. It encourages high-risk, high-reward projects. Around 20% of its publications involve contributions across more than one discipline. Unsurprisingly, Nature's Index ranks OIST as the leading research institute in Japan.

The article notes that the Ministry of Finance tends to determine budgets and how money will be disbursed according to an annual cycle. Under this system, there is no option to carry over unspent funds into the following year. The authors add, "This approach prioritizes immediate financial concerns over future research capabilities, which severely limits the growth and endurance of interdisciplinary projects."

Funding 'High-Risk, High-Reward'

The authors reject calling for reallocation of existing project funding to more high-risk, high-reward projects with longer funding periods. Instead, they suggest that the money should come from a separate pool.

This could be similar to the "high-risk, high-impact model" adopted by the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency for funding projects related to national security. Under that model, DARPA expects a success rate of just 50%. The Agency's homepage declares, "DARPA pursues research that leads to transformational change rather than incremental advances."

Attracting International Talent

Although the term kokusaika seems out of fashion, the fact is that Japan needs to internationalize if it is to compete in the 21st century. To do so, it must attract top-notch foreign talent.

In 2024, more than 60% of faculty members and 80% of students at OIST were not Japanese citizens. That success should be replicated at other research institutions throughout Japan.

Japan has often found itself at the mercy of international developments. The massive cuts to funding for scientific and medical research being implemented in the US and the harsh security environment in Europe might well cause leading foreign researchers to turn their eyes eastward.

Japan should be ready to welcome them with open arms.

If Japan's not, Beijing certainly will be.