There are three dangers1) emerging in Japan’s research environment: the crisis over the challenge and continuity of research (the decline in funds and time available for research), concerns over the next generation of researchers (deteriorating employment opportunities and research environments for young researchers), and threats to knowledge integration (the decline in research hubs).
The situation is even more obvious in fundamental research, which usually requires an extended period to realize its outcomes. Even before these dangers emerged, Honorary Professor Yoshinori Ohsumi, a Nobel laureate in Physiology or Medicine 2016, addressed the need to develop an environment where young researchers are able to work on challenging topics. In his Nobel Lecture, he expressed his sincere hope that “society is able to nurture not only purpose-oriented science, but also science as a core cultural activity.”
The Organization for Fundamental Research (OFR) was established in 2018 under the Institute of Innovative Research (IIR), in response to the weakening capabilities of fundamental research in Japan and to Professor Ohsumi’s remarks. The OFR’s mission is to foster specialists in fundamental research to explore cutting-edge research areas. For that goal, we aim to raise the so-called “research effort” ratio (proportion of hours dedicated to research projects to the researcher’s total work hours) of young researchers from about 60% to about 90% (estimate based on a 2014 survey by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)), as well as to develop an open-minded environment where researchers can concentrate on their work.
The OFR consists of three Specialized Academies and the Comprehensive Academy which provide an appropriate research environment according to the field. Respective Specialized Academies are headed by prominent researchers with an outstanding track record in the cutting-edge research fields for which Tokyo Tech takes a lead role. In addition, all junior faculty members at Tokyo Tech spend their first three months at the Comprehensive Academy. The academies have accepted more than 90 junior researchers to date.
Through small but steady efforts, we aim to support the activities of researchers who are willing to avoid the trap of developing short-term research perspectives. We are determined to bring about a new horizon of knowledge in society, where outstanding research outcomes are consistently produced from 2030 — after the 10 years or so that fundamental research is said to take to bear fruit.
We sincerely appreciate your understanding and kind support.
1)
“Efforts to strengthen basic science capabilities: overcoming the “three dangers” and transforming science into a form of culture”
(A MEXT taskforce for strengthening basic science capabilities, April 24, 2017) (in Japanese).
I took up the position of Associate Director in April 2019. I am in charge of administration of OFR includeing the operation of the he Comprehensive Academy. Our mission is to create an environment in which young researchers can carry out original and innovative basic research on a sustainable, long-term basis. It is very important for the future of Japan to create an environment in which young researchers can establish their own fields of inquiry with a long-term perspective and secure in their career path. We need your understanding and support to make such an environment a reality. We will do everything we can to allow young researchers to conduct research with intellectual freedom.
The Organization for Fundamental Research (OFR) consists of three "Specialized Academies" and a "Comprehensive Academy". The OFR strongly supports junior scientists to find original and innovative research ideas based on their own academic interests, and provides an excellent environment to drive their research based on their own intuition and the expectations and responsibilities of society.
