IP: S&T topics of interest from Japan

[Dave Farber <farber () central cis upenn edu>]

Date: Fri, 17 Nov 1995 11:25:25 -0600
From: mdunn () lanl gov (Mark E. Dunn)


Below are some S&T topics that caught my attention.  Comments?
Mark




Mitsubishi Heavy to Export Rocket Fuel Tanks to U.S.
        (11/11 Yomiuri Shimbun)  On the 10/5, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
(maker of Japan's H-2 rocket) signed a contract to sell fuel tanks to
McDonnell Douglas for the Delta rocket.  This is the first case for this
important component to be exported from Japan to the U.S.  Mitsubishi Heavy
will export both rocket fuel kerosene supply fuel tanks and hydrogen fuel
tanks for use on the Delta 3 rocket (currently under development).  The
total value of the 16 sets will be approximately =A51.5 billion ($15
million).
        According to Yomiuri sources, McDonnell Douglas also wanted to
import the LE5 engine used in the second stage of the H-2, but was unable
to reach agreement on the subject.
        Amid concerns that the tanks will be used for military means, the
Japanese government decided to allow the export, explaining that the tanks
are made by civilian industry, and that they will not contribute
excessively to America's space effort.
        COMMENT:  While this was only a small article in the Japanese
language Yomiuri, the economic competitiveness implications for U.S. makers
of pressurized fuel tanks for rockets could be significant.
        On a separate note, while the Yomiuri noted that McDonnell Douglas
wasn't able to "reach agreement" on Mitsubishi's LE5 engine, the US
National Research Council cited the LE5 case as a "refusal of Mitsubishi
Heavy Industries to license the technology," and an example of how "Japan
is withholding important military know-how from the US." (NRC report:
"Maximizing US Interests with Japan in Science and Technology," 11/3/95.
The NRC report also warned that Japan has acquired significant military/key
technology know-how in aircraft and space technology, flat panel displays,
ceramic semiconductors used in military systems' microelectronics, and
gallium arsenide transistors).  Agence France Presse (11/10) said that the
LE5 engine talks failed because the US company "rejected conditions...that
[the deal] comply with Japanese government policy banning space
developments with military applications."  If this is the case, one wonders
why Japan developed a military-use rocket for its non-military H-2 rocket
program...




NTT Procures Cray Computer
        (11/8 Yomiuri Shimbun)  As a result of a competitive bidding
process, on 11/7, NTT procured a Cray Research supercomputer for its
Musashino R&D Center.  The computer is a successor to the center's earlier
Cray computer.  The Yomiuri reports that recent purchases by the government
and NTT, as well as US industry participation in the bidding process has
secured a "certain amount of transparency."
        COMMENT:  The word usage in the article says it all:  "a certain
amount of transparency" (aru teido no tomeisei) also means that there is a
certain amount of obscurity remaining.




Japan Passes Fundamental Science and Technology Law
        On 11/8, the Diet passed the Fundamental Science and Technology
Law, over protests by the Ministry of Finance.  Originally introduced 27
years ago, but not passed until this year because the MOF wished to avoid
pressure over this part of the budget, the law will place responsibility on
national and local government bodies to promote basic science and R&D, and
will give government bodies the task of deciding outlays of funding to both
industry and private and public schools for research in areas seen as vital
to the nation's scientific fitness.  Inter-party solidarity in pushing the
law was made possible by four factors:  1) by the efforts of a MITI "old
boy" by the name of Onomi Koji (?) on the "Science, Technology and Policy
Group;" 2) by a national perception that Japan is falling behind in basic
research and research development funding; 3) by a perceived brain-drain of
researchers from Japan; and 4) by a heightened anxiety over S&T funding
arising not only in industry, but also in academia.  (11/7 and 11/10
Yomiuri Shimbun)
        COMMENT:  What is significant about the law is that now because
government bodies will be legally obligated to formulate "Fundamental
Science and Technology Plans" to satisfy requirements of the Fundamental
Science and Technology Law, government bodies will have more standing in
making budget requests to the MOF.  Before, such bodies could make budget
requests, but agencies such as the STA often would not pursue such
requests, knowing that the MOF would likely hand down rejections.  The law
does not lay out concrete actions other than a responsibility to encourage
basic science ("the spirit" of S&T is now law).  The question will be what
concrete actions will be taken in regards to the S&T plans.




Japan Develops World's Strongest Magnetic Field
        (11/4 Yomiuri Shimbun)  Japan's National Research Institute for
Metals (under the Science and Technology Agency) developed a large scale
magnet that can maintain a high power fixed magnetic field.  The institute
produced the strongest magnetic field in the world at 36.04 teslas (this
beats MIT's 5/94 record of 35.2 teslas).  The hybrid magnet combines a
superconducting magnet (niobium-titanium, titanium added to niobium, 3-tin
superconducting coil) and a water-cooled copper magnet.  As materials
demonstrate different properties under extreme magnetic fields, the magnet
will be essential for studying unknown properties of magnetic materials,
semiconductor materials, organic matter, natural high polymers; and for
developing new materials.




Japanese Government Panel Calls for Nation-Wide Fiber Optic Communications
Network
        On 10/31, the Economic Council, an advisory body to the prime
minister, proposed completing a nation-wide communications network using
fiber optics by the end of FY2010.  It also recommended that by 1999 the
nation supply one computer for every two public elementary school children,
and 1 computer for every public middle school child (11/1 and 11/2 Yomiuri
Shimbun).




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