The National Institute of Science and Technology Policy (NISTEP) Dictionary of Names of Universities and Public Organizations contains basic information of organizations in Japan that are engaged in research and development (R&D). Although the main subjects are higher education institutions (universities, inter-university research institutes, junior colleges, and technical colleges) and public research institutions (e.g., national organizations, national research and development institutes), organizations of local governments, private companies, non-profit organizations and other organizations are also included as much as possible.
The Japanese version of this Dictionary was publicized in December 2012 at first and thereafter has been revised about once a year. The English version has also been revised since its release in January 2021. In July 2024, it was updated to “The NISTEP Dictionary of Names of Universities and Public Organizations ver.2024.1_E.”
In this version in English, 15.738 primary organizations and 5.183 subsidiary organizations are recorded.
A Usage Manual provides guidance with definitions, criteria, status, the degree of information covered, etc. in relation to the listed organizations.