Outline of the Strategic Technology Roadmap of METI (Ministry of Trade and Industry of JAPAN) and Trial Approach for Technology Convergence with the Methodology of Technology Roadmapping

摘要

Ministry of Trade and Industry of JAPAN (hereinafter referred to as "METI") formulated the Strategic Technology Roadmap (hereinafter referred to as "the STR") as a navigating tool for strategic planning and implementation of R&D investment in cooperation with industry, academia, and public institution. Formulating the STRM is the first attempt ever not only by METI but also by Japanese government as a whole. The purpose of formulating the STR is to realize the following: 1) Refining tools for R&D management in industrial Technology Policy METI seeks to understand the technological and market trends of major industry areas, prioritizes critical technologies, and develops a policy infrastructure for planning R&D projects; 2) Providing information on critical technology for R&D pioneers in industry The STR will provide directionality on technology development as "common R&D scenarios" among industry, academia and public institutions, while putting the needs of the future society in perspective. It will also promote cooperation between the three parties mentioned above, and collaboration between different sectors. 3) Enhancement of public understanding METI seeks public understanding by providing an explanation of the perspective, details, and achievements of METI's R&D investments; The STR consists of 1) The Scenario for Introduction that includes relevant policies that should be dealt with in order to provide the public with findings of R&D as products and services, 2) Technology Overview in which Prioritized critical technologies are described in addition to technological challenges, elemental technologies, and desired functions in order to satisfy market and social needs, and 3) The Roadmap in which improvement and progress of elemental technologies generated from R&D, and the enhancement of the desired functions are displayed on a time axis as milestones. Also, a reference and summary containing the main ideas are attached.