Science Council's Future To Be Decided By Year - End
Japan's Science and Technology Policy Minister Inoue Shinji says the government plans to decide its policy on the country's leading academic body by the year-end.
Inoue was speaking to reporters after he received reform proposals for the Science Council of Japan from the main governing Liberal Democratic Party on Friday.
The LDP is proposing that the council restart as a new body that would be independent of the government.
It also wants the council to introduce a transparent method such as voting for choosing its members, and to consider accepting researchers working at companies and younger candidates.
Inoue responded that the government has asked the council to discuss various possibilities.
The minister also said the government will consider a future-oriented path after getting a report back from the council.
The head of the LDP's working group on the council, Shionoya Ryu, told reporters that he hopes the government will make a policy in line with their proposals, and implement it.
Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide recently refused to appoint six scholars nominated by the council for membership. The move sparked criticism over infringing academic freedom.
