The Problem and Future of Research Institutes　～　For the Development of the Civil Engineering Technology　～

The "Science and Technology Basic Law" of Japan was enacted in 2005. This Law stipulates the guidelines for the promotion of science and technology, and also stipulates that besides the formulation of the Science and Technology Basic Plan, endeavors shall be undertaken to ensure the availability of necessary funds for the implementation of the plan.

At the present time, the 4th Science and Technology Basic Plan which was launched after the Great East Japan Earthquake has been implemented, and five target visions for the country are described in the plan. Of the five target visions, three are closely related o civil engineering, namely 1) A nation achieving sustainable growth and societal development into the future, while accomplishing restoration and rebirth from the disaster; 2) A nation realizing a safe, full and high-quality life for citizens; 3) A nation leading in the resolution of global problems such as large-scale natural disasters, indicating that technological advances in the civil engineering field will be in great demand in the future.

While the technological advance of civil engineering is required, it is difficult to understand the positioning and activities of research institutes in the civil engineering field in spite of its importance for the development of civil engineering technology. Hence, focusing on research institutes, this special issue takes up the topics including what efforts are necessary to achieve beneficial results, and what are the specific issues that need to be tackled on at present, such as the role of research institutes, cultivation of human resources and communication, cooperation with other fields, etc.