ESRI International Forum 2009

Objectives

The financial crisis that originated in New York has triggered a worldwide economic recession. The effects of this have reached the shores of Japan, and various social and economic issues have sprouted up as a result. Needless to say, the most effective way to overcome this situation from a medium- to long-term perspective is to build a sustainable society through technological and social innovation.

In the past, Japan's innovation strategies have mainly focused on developing technology "seeds" and raising productivity, as can be seen in Innovation 25, a long-term strategy initiative approved by the Cabinet in June 2007. However, innovation policy should not be limited to science and technology policy; it should be designated as a comprehensive national strategy, discussed afresh based on social issues and needs. Innovation policy should be designed as a framework for sharing a vision throughout society, and should be created and implemented with everyone's participation.

This forum aims to provide a setting for fresh discussion of innovation policy. With the recent launch of the Obama administration in the United States, American policy in this area has been the focus of widespread attention. This forum will delve into innovation policy as a national strategy, and will feature keynote addresses and a panel discussion by guest speakers from Japan and overseas. We will discuss the Obama administration's science, technology, and innovation strategy, the EU's innovation strategy, and Japan's policy issues and innovation policy.

We believe a diversity of viewpoints will help advance the discussion of innovation policy, and look forward to welcoming all of you to the ESRI International Forum 2009.

Speakers

Opening Remarks:	Ryo Hirasawa Chair, Organizing Committee, ESRI International Forum 2009; Professor, the University of Tokyo, Japan
Keynote Speakers:	Cita M. Furlani Director, Information Technology Laboratory, NIST, USA Ralph Dum Scientific Officer, Future and Emerging Technologies, European Commission Yoshitake Suwa Senior Director, Waku-Consulting Ltd., Japan Barend J.R. van der Meulen Associate Professor, Dept. Science, Technology and Policy Studies, University of Twente; School of Management and Governance, the Netherlands
Panelists:	Yuko Harayama Professor, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, Japan Shinichi Kawarada Executive Research Fellow, ESRI, Cabinet Office, Government of Japan

Opening Remarks:

Ryo Hirasawa
Chair, Organizing Committee, ESRI International Forum 2009; Professor, the University of Tokyo, Japan

Keynote Speakers:

Cita M. Furlani
Director, Information Technology Laboratory, NIST, USA

Ralph Dum
Scientific Officer, Future and Emerging Technologies, European Commission

Yoshitake Suwa
Senior Director, Waku-Consulting Ltd., Japan

Barend J.R. van der Meulen
Associate Professor, Dept. Science, Technology and Policy Studies, University of Twente; School of Management and Governance, the Netherlands

Panelists:

Yuko Harayama
Professor, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, Japan

Shinichi Kawarada
Executive Research Fellow, ESRI, Cabinet Office, Government of Japan

About the Forum

・If applications exceed the capacity, participants will be determined by 　 a lottery system.
Date:	Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Venue:	Marunouchi Building Hall
Languages:	English and Japanese (simultaneous interpretation provided)
Capacity:	200
Registration Fee:	Free(pre-registration required)

Access

to Marunouchi Building 　1-minute walk from Tokyo Station, JR 　Tokyo Station, Marunouchi Line / Nijubashimae Station, 　Chiyoda Line 　(connected to the stations)

Organizing Committee

Chair:	Ryo Hirasawa Chair, Organizing Committee, ESRI International Forum 2009; Professor, the University of Tokyo, Japan
Members:	Masahiro Kuroda President, Tohoku University of Community Service and Science, Japan
	Hiroshi Nagano Professor, Science and Technology Policy, National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS), Japan
	Shinichi Kawarada Executive Research Fellow, ESRI, Cabinet Office, Government of Japan
	Hideaki Shiroyama Professor, the University of Tokyo, Japan
	Fujio Niwa Visiting Professor, Science and Technology Policy, National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS), Japan
	Takashi Watanabe Dean, Graduate School of Engineering Management (MOT), Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan
	Dai Senoo Associate Professor, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan