"JSPS External Review Report" was issued.(PDF File 1.22MB)

promote the welfare of those involved in said industries, develop rural andfishing villages and remote regions, exploit the diverse functions ofagriculture, sustain and cultivate forests, boost forest productivity, andappropriately conserve and manage marine resources. In terms of R&D, theMinistry engages in basic research and technological development related toagriculture, forestry and fisheries.Competitive fundingA total of around 326.5 billion yen is allocated for competitive fundingprovided based on researcher applications, and around 80 percent of thesefunds are under MEXT jurisdiction.Expansion of competitive funding has been given priority among thegovernment’s science and technology measures. Based on the first Scienceand Technology Basic Plan, which began in FY1996, competitive fundingvirtually doubled over the plan’s five-year duration. The second Basic Plantoo calls for fair and highly transparent evaluations to boost researchstandards, ensuring that research is conducted in a competitive R&Denvironment, and stipulates the doubling of funding and the introduction ofindirect cost funding (30 percent).Main programs supported by competitive funds (Budgets over 10 billion yen)ProjectGrants-in-Aidfor ScientificResearchStrategicCreativeResearchPromotionProject(tentativetranslation)Institution(Ministry withjurisdiction)MEXT, JSPS(MEXT)Japan ScienceandTechnologyCorporation(MEXT)Program outlineResearch subsidies for the substantialadvance of creative and pioneeringresearch in all areas from the humanitiesand social sciences through naturalscience.Promotion of basic research in fourpriority areas by industrial, academia andgovernment researchers based onstrategic objectives laid down by thegovernment in line with economic andnational living needs as well as on scienceand technology policy, with the ultimateaim of forming intellectual assets whichwill lead to the creation of new industries.(Unit: Million yen)FY2001budget157,96540,42097