Promotion of Large Facility Science Projects by MEXT

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Promotion of Large Facility Science Projects by
MEXT
October 16, 2013 Shintaro SETO Scientific
Research Institutes Division, Research Promotion
Bureau, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology (MEXT)
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Large-Scale Science Frontier Promotion
Framework Promotion of Large Scale Science
Projects based on Strategic Road Map
Budget FY201323.584 B
FY201228.949 B (FY2012 Supplementary13.285 B)
Objectives
? Large scale science projects by Japan yielded
world frontier science achievements (e.g.
Nobel prize supported by B-Factory
experiments). ? This Promotion Framework aims at
strategic realization of Large Scale Science
Projects according to the Road Map ()
established by MEXT.
() The Science Council of Japan produced a
Master Plan where 46 Large Scale Science
Projects from various science discipline are
listed. The Road Map was designed by the
Academic Panel (Gakujutsu-Bunkakai) of MEXT to
show high priority Large Scale Projects for
funding based on peer reviewing.
Expected Outcomes

? Revolutionary Science Achievements. ?
Project Visibility Attracts top class
researchers from all over the world. ? Promotion
of Next Generation Scientists Bring up young
scientists. ? Challenging RD yields Engineering
Innovations.
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Large Scale Science Frontier Promotion
Framework 8 projects (FY 2013 budget)
LHD
Subaru Telescope
JPARC
TMT
New Entry
National Astronomical Observatory of Japan
2.237B
High Energy Accelerator Research Organization,
Japan Atomic Energy Agency,J-PARC Center 6.617B
National Institute for Fusion Science 4.377B
National Astronomical Observatory of
Japan 1.244B
ALMA
KAGRA
Super Kamiokande
B Factory
Institute for Cosmic Ray Research, The University
of Tokyo 0.463B
Institute for Cosmic Ray Research, The University
of Tokyo 0.675B
High Energy Accelerator Research
Organization 5.302B
National Astronomical Observatory of
Japan 2.669B
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Science Projects with Large Facilities

Challenging Big Questions and yielding Frontier
Scientific Achievements e.g.) Experimental
demonstration by B-Factory of Kobayashi /
Masukawa theory on violation of CP symmetry
that led to Nobel Prize. e.g.) First discovery
of neutrino oscillation by SuperKamiokande
But Needs major investment for long period
Requires Strategic funding support based on peer
review
not just from science community
Need for Master Plan Road Map
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The 4th Base Plan for Science and Technology
(Cabinet approval on Aug. 9, 2011)

• 4. Developing international-level research
  environment and infrastructure
• (1) Developing RD environment at universities
• and other public research
  organizations
• ｷDeveloping university facilities and equipment
• ｷDeveloping advanced research facilities,
  equipment and promoting their joint utilization
• (2) Developing intellectual infrastructure
• (3) Developing research information
  infrastructure

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MEXT Promotion Policy of Large Scale Science
Projects
Master Plan as developed by the Committee for
Large Scale Research Project of the Science
Council of Japan
Evaluate purely from Scientific point of view
Road Map as developed by the Panel for Large
Science Facilities, Council for Science and
Technology, MEXT
Evaluate urgency, strategic aspects, and public
accountability to judge the Priority of projects
in the Master Plan
MEXT makes budget request to Ministry of Finance
for high priority projects in the Road Map,
considering the results of assessment by the
Large Projects Panel.
Large Scale Science Frontier Promotion
Framework(MEXT)
TMT project ranked highly in the Road Map got
newly started funding from FY2013.
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MEXT Evaluation Process of Large Projects
MEXT protocol established on 17 Feb 2009
Preliminary Evaluation
Evaluation for funding decision Objectives,
Needs, Feasibility
Intermediate Evaluation
Evaluation to see the soundness of the project
progress. Recommendation for modification of the
project goals, schedule, and management, or even
close down of the project can be advised.
Progress Check
Progress check for facility construction etc.
Not for evaluation.
Retroactive Evaluation
Evaluate the level of achievements of the initial
goals at the end or one year prior to the end of
the project to judge if further support to
develop the project is necessary and useful.
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Evaluation of individual project in Road Map
? To develop a Road Map, MEXT introduces
evaluation category ? to judge the priorities of
projects, in addition to category ? to list
projects in the Master Plan by the Science
Council of Japan. ?Road Map review evaluates each
project by commenting on 徒ey advantages