Asia and Pacific Research Center (APRC)

Greeting from Director-General Dr. Shiraishi

The global environment surrounding the science, technology and innovation (STI) system is undergoing enormous changes. The world's major countries are investing heavily in STI, and STI looks set to become a major driving force in global development.

The accelerating pace of digitalization and leap-frog development has led to the rise of emerging economies, especially in Asia, and rapid changes in the distribution of wealth and power both regionally and globally. Asia and the Pacific accounts for nearly 40% of the world's GDP (nominal) and R&D expenditures (IMF forecast for 2021, U.S. NSF 2017). As the dramatic increase in the number of high impact papers shows, the region has become a center of global STI progress, with significant political, economic, and social impacts.

At the same time, Japan, along with some other advanced countries, faces another set of challenges. Though it remains a stable democracy and one of the world's largest economies (even looking ahead to 2050), it is confronted with many challenges such as a declining birthrate and aging population, a decrease in the number of students studying abroad, declining competitiveness of scientific and technological research, food, energy, and other resource constraints. To meet these challenges, refashioning Japan's STI system should be a top priority.

So, what path should we take going forward?

JST has decided to establish the Asia and Pacific Research Center (APRC) for the study of Asia and the Pacific. The APRC also aims to promote collaboration among researchers in the region. Inaugurated on April 1, 2021, the APRC is expected to serve as a hub for deepening ties among researchers, fostering mutual understanding, and laying the foundation for science-and-technology cooperation. The APRC is committed to transparency and the achievement of tangible objectives based on the three pillars of research, information dissemination, and networking. Through these activities we hope to strengthen our inter-regional connections and usher in a new era of innovation.

Director-General, Asia and Pacific Research Center
Dr. Shiraishi Takashi

Overview of the center

The Asia and Pacific Research Center (APRC) is promoting the following projects with the aim of becoming a foundation that supports science and technology cooperation between the rapidly developing Asia region, Pacific region and Japan.
Through these activities, we will contribute to the promotion of exchanges and mutual understanding, and by expanding and deepening science and technology cooperation, we will contribute to building the foundation for innovation creation in Japan.

Research

Information gathering and research in a wide range of fields in the Asia and Pacific region that contribute to strategic planning and proposals for Japan's science and technology policies

Information

Two-way information dissemination, database operation, etc. regarding science and technology policies and R & D trends in the Asia and Pacific region, and related economic and social conditions

Networking

Promotion of exchanges that will serve as a bridge between research institutes in the Asia and Pacific region and Japanese research institutes

Organization

Background

In April 2021, the former China Research and Sakura Science Center (CRSC) was reorganized and reformed into the "Asia and Pacific Research Center"
Building on the center's accumulated experience promoting Japan-China relations in science and technology, we expanded the scope to cover the entire Asia and Pacific region, and now promote a more comprehensive and diverse set of activities.

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