PART Recent Trends and Developments in Government Policies in Education, Science and Culture
Chapter 6 Promotion of Scientific Research
5 Promotion of Systems for Gathering and Distributing Scientific Information
Due to the increasing amount and diversity in the types of information
accompanying the fast paced development of scientific research, it has become
an urgent task to upgrade information systems which can speedily and accurately
provide researchers with the information that they need.
For this purpose the Ministry is striving to promote a nationwide,
integrated science information network. With the National Center for Science
Information System (established as a national inter-university research institute
in April 1986) at the center, this network includes libraries, computer centers
and other related facilities at national, public and private institutions of
higher education all linked together by leased lines. The Ministry is also actively
promoting improvements in campus information networks, advancing the functions
of university libraries and creating data bases, etc. Furthermore, in order to
secure essential research specimens and genetic resources, the Ministry is endeavoring
to improve systems for gathering, preserving and utilizing such materials.