In accordance with the Science and Technology Basic Law established in 1995, the Science and Technology Basic Plan ("Basic Plan"), consisting of 3 5-year terms (15 years total), was formulated to ensure steady promotion of S&T in Japan. However, it cannot be denied that the S&T policies have been implemented mainly to promote S&T independently, not in organic coordination with essential policies on industry, economy, diplomacy, etc. On the other hand, many foreign countries position S&T policy as a basis of national strategies and develop S&T policy actively in organic / integrated coordination with other policies on industry, economy, diplomacy, etc.
In view of what other countries are doing, as seen in the first acknowledgement of "Creation of innovation" by law, i.e., the 2008 Research and Development Enhancement Law, there is increasing need in Japan for the government to make an all-out effort to strongly and strategically promote S&T policies by integrating innovation policies, and tying S&T policies closely to other key policies on industry, economy, education, diplomacy, etc.
In light of these circumstances, the 4th Basic Plan aims to provide basic policies for comprehensive and systematic promotion of Japan's S&T policies by widely recognizing the "New Growth Strategy - Blueprint for Revitalizing Japan," formulated in June 2010 as a 5-year national strategy on S&T with an eye to the coming decade, deepening and embodying the policies provided by this Policy, and ensuring further coordination with other important policies.