Prime Minister Takashi announced a policy to effectively double Japan's science and technology research funding to strengthen national industrial competitiveness.

The initiative marks a strategic pivot to transform Japan into a "science-technology powerhouse." By increasing research and development investment, the government aims to close gaps in global technological leadership and secure future economic growth.

The policy follows a formal proposal submitted by Keidanren Chairman Tsutsui during a meeting in Tokyo on Wednesday. The framework focuses on a critical five-year period spanning fiscal years 2026 to 2030.

Financial targets for this period are substantial. Public R&D investment is projected to reach 60 trillion yen over the five-year window [1]. Furthermore, the government has set a combined public-private R&D investment target of 180 trillion yen for the same period [2].

There are varying reports regarding the specific timeline for the funding increase. Some reports indicate that the doubling of funding to 60 trillion yen is the primary goal of the FY2026-30 plan [1], [2]. However, other reports state the broader objective is to double current science and technology research funding by 2040 [3].

Prime Minister Takashi said the measures are necessary to ensure the country remains competitive in a rapidly evolving global market. The collaboration with Keidanren, Japan's largest business lobbying group, suggests a coordinated effort between the state and the private sector to modernize the nation's industrial base.

“Japan aims to achieve a 'science-technology powerhouse' status.”

This policy represents a significant escalation in Japan's state-led industrial strategy. By tying government spending to a massive private-sector counterpart, Tokyo is attempting to synchronize corporate innovation with national security and economic goals. The scale of the investment suggests a high-stakes effort to recover ground in critical emerging technologies where Japan has faced increasing competition from the U.S. and China.