Research on the historical evolution and characteristics of Japan's technical“Nationwide System”

日本技术攻关“举国体制”历史演进及特征研究

Abstract

The nationwide system is a task-oriented system that is independent of the socialist or capitalist system, as well as the planned or market economic system. Research on the foreign experience in implementing the “nationwide” system for technological breakthroughs provides a reference for further improving China’s “nationwide” system in this regard. National strategies best reflect the top-level phased goals and core development needs of a country. Through the construction of Japan’s “nationwide” system and the national strategic evolution relationship analysis framework, specific investigation at different stages of Japan’s “nationwide” system research target, technology, organization mode, summarizes the dynamic development characteristics of Japan’s “nationwide” system, analyze the relationship between the market and the government, the implementation of subject diversified changes, for China's technical research “new nationwide system” to provide reference experience.With Japan’s national strategies in different periods as defining standards, this study delved into the goals, technological fields, and organizational models of Japan’s “nationwide” system for technological breakthroughs during various strategic periods, and summarized the adaptive characteristics between its “nationwide” system for technological breakthroughs and national strategies. Based on the research on the traceability and historical evolution of the term “Nationwide System”in Japan, this paper summarizes its basic characteristics: Matching of technical research models with national strategic goals; Dynamically adjusting the direction of technical research fields; Improving the overall deployment level of the“Nationwide System”for technical research. Moreover, the analysis focused on its specific manifestations in the adjustment of the relationship between the government and the market, the functional positioning of diversified entities, and the models of collaboration among entities: In terms of government-industry coordination, the government’s role in aligning national strategies with industry-led technological breakthroughs is crucial. Regarding industry collaboration, establishing an innovation ecosystem led by major enterprises is essential. In terms of industry-academia cooperation, national research institutions and universities play a significant foundational and supportive role. This aimed to provide some foreign cases for reference to improve China’s “new nationwide system” for technological breakthroughs. Japan’s “nationwide” system for technological breakthroughs after World War II showed the following characteristics: First, it was obviously characterized by a national strategic orientation and dynamic development; second, it was one of its key features to emphasize the development of corporate research and development capabilities in its implementation; third, Japan’s national research institutions played the dual roles of “research” and “administration” during its implementation. Based on the research findings, three policy suggestions were made for further improving China’s “new nationwide system” for scientific and technological breakthroughs: First, in terms of top-level design, we should enhance scientific decision-making and give better play to the leading and guiding role of national strategies in scientific and technological breakthroughs; second, for planning and coordination, we should facilitate the effective collaboration of diversified entities and better harness the auxiliary management and coordination capabilities of national research institutions in scientific and technological breakthroughs; third, to adjust its relationship with the market, the government should understand the needs and deficiencies of industrial development to create a favorable policy environment for business innovation.