The Science and Technology (S&T) budget for Japan’s fiscal year 2008 (April 1, 2008–March 31, 2009) was approved in December 2007 and totals ¥3.57 trillion ($32.5 billion), an increase of 1.7% (see IBO 1/15/08). Sixty-five percent of S&T spending will go to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). Within the MEXT, the largest category of projects funded are in the form of “Grants-in-Aid,” with ¥193.2 billion in funding, followed by subsidies for private universities with ¥159.5 billion. The next-largest funding allocation—¥503.3 billion—will go to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). Two large-scale projects with in METI’s allocation are “Innovation Creation in Local Areas” with ¥9.7 billion in funding and “Personnel Fostering for Industry-University Cooperation” with ¥2.8 billion. Major continuing projects include those for basic research on producing pharmaceuticals (¥5.2 billion), molecular imaging (¥3.9 billion) and the development of advanced measurement technology and equipment (¥5.5 billion).

Source: NSF Tokyo