Japan science body to become corporate entity amid autonomy concerns

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The Japanese parliament enacted Wednesday a bill to turn a government advisory body of scientists into a corporate entity, a move that academics have criticized as potentially infringing on its independence through stronger state oversight.
Under the new law, the Science Council of Japan, currently a special organization operating independently from the government, will be given the status of a special corporate entity from October 2026.
Members will no longer be appointed by the prime minister from a list of nominations compiled exclusively by the council, with third-party experts, including non-scientists, getting a say in the council's composition.
In addition, outside auditors and committee members selected by the prime minister will now oversee the council's operations in a bid to enhance transparency.
The changes "would place (the council) under political and administrative control or pressure," and "undermine (its) scientific freedom, and its freedom of choice in selecting which scholars" join it, the council said earlier in a statement.
The debate over the council's corporate status stems from 2020 when then Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, in an unprecedented move, blocked six scholars who had been critical of his predecessor Shinzo Abe's policies from joining the council. Suga has since refused to give his reason for rejecting the scholars.
The 210-member council, established in 1949, has been critical especially of the government's promotion of arms technology, such as the Defense Ministry's policy of pushing research that could be diverted to military technologies.
Ahead of the passage of the bill, submitted by the government, there had been concerns over whether the council could ensure its independence, given that the new law no longer includes a clause that says the council performs its duties "independently."
The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, the major opposition force, proposed an amendment to the bill to include a clause stating the council's independence, but this was voted down at Tuesday's upper house committee.
The council has also criticized financial aid in the form of subsidies, saying this not only restricts the entity's freedom in its activities but poses concerns about financial stability.
The new law only says the state can subsidize the necessary funds. Currently, the government disburses around 1 billion yen ($6.9 million) annually to the council.

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