The Basic Law on Science and Technology was enacted in 1995 and was immediately followed by the launching of a Basic Plan for Science and Technology. When the first stage of the plan was completed in 2001, the government began moving forward with the five-year (2001-2006) Second-Stage Basic Plan for Science and Technology.
Aimed at building a new relationship between science and society in the 21st century, the Second-Stage Basic Plan is being carried out from the perspective of the natural sciences, arts and social sciences viewed comprehensively and also from the perspective of science and technology as a strategic investment in the future.
The scale of the plan was decided with consideration to trends in Europe and the United States. Total outlays on government R&D during the five years are expected to total 24 trillion yen, or 1% of the national GDP.
