The fiscal 2016 budget for Japan was passed in April, totaling ¥96.34 trillion ($775 billion). At ¥3,447 billion, funding for science, technology and innovation declined 5.0%. The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology received ¥2,280 billion, down 1.4%. Much of the change reflects decreased subsidies for the country’s national universities. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry was allocated ¥481.7 billion, a decrease of 10.7%. The Ministry of Defense’s budget fell 6.1% to ¥151.7 billion. With the fiscal 2016 funding, Japan’s Fourth Science and Technology Basic Plan, in its last year, will have received in sum ¥22.3 trillion.

Source: UK Science and Innovation Network