Japan's Interdisciplinary Research Crisis and Path to Breakthrough
Japanese research has long been hampered by disciplinary silos, with interdisciplinary research severely lacking funding support, leading to a decline in innovation. The article argues that Japanese research funding agencies should learn from Western counterparts, shifting from project-based funding to supporting talented researchers, embracing high-risk, high-reward interdisciplinary projects, and expanding the diversity of their review panels. This would foster interdisciplinary research and enhance Japan's global competitiveness in science. The Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST) serves as a successful example with its flexible funding model and emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration.
Read more
