Subsidy for Security Study

Ministry of Defense introduced new subsidy for studies that could be applied to defense equipments last year. The ministry can confide basic study to academic institution and expend annual ¥30 million at most. Researchers in universities are getting interested in the offer. On the background, there is an environment of academic study falling short of achieving necessary budget. Military is getting an incentive for academic study.

The subsidy is named Security Technology Study Promotion System. To encourage creative study that is applicable to defense equipments, the ministry asks colleges or corporations proposals. “This system is to collect technological proposals on projects selected by MoD from various researchers outside,” says MoD webpage. The ministry stresses that the achievement of subsidized study will not only be used in research and development of MoD, but also for non-military purposes.

Last year, MoD requested development of engine that enables aircraft to fly with speed of mach number 5 or small aircraft with the size of insect or small bird. The ministry adopted nine proposals out of all 109 and spent ¥300 million for them. Asahi Shimbun reported comment of a researcher who applied to the subsidy with research of new material that could absorb poisonous gas. While expecting development of versatile mask, the researcher was worried about misunderstanding on his study that he might be supporting MoD to make lethal weapons.

Science Council of Japan declared in 1950 that they would never obey to scientific study aimed to waging war. That was based on deep regret that science had been taken advantage of by military section of Japanese government. However, there comes up various technologies for public use that can be transformed for military purpose, such as robot technology. Although SCJ launched a committee for studying relationship between security and academism last month, some researchers appealed not to apply to the subsidy. “Even how they emphasize it to be basic study, it must be military study as long as it is subsidized from security budget,” told Satoshi Ikeuchi, Professor Emeritus of Nagoya University.

But, Japanese government is saving money for academic studies, because of financial difficulties. There is an extreme argument that all divisions for liberal arts in national universities should be closed. Status and employment of researchers is unstable. It is likely for a researcher who deadly wants financial resources to rely on governmental money, regardless the purpose of the system. The government knows it well.