Japan Press Weekly

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2016 November 30 - December 6 TOP3 [POLITICS]

Military-academia cooperation under Abe government is researcher-version of economic conscription

Nagoya University Professor Emeritus Ikeuchi Satoru criticized the Abe government’s move to increase military-academia cooperation as a form of economic conscription of researchers.

Ikeuchi made this remark in a lecture meeting held on the campus of Osaka University. The event was hosted by the Kinki regional group of the Japan Scientists’ Association.

Ikeuchi noted that the Defense Ministry in 2015 introduced a system to provide funding for research projects benefitting the Self-Defense Forces. “Universities and research institutions are likely to be turned into mere servants of military research and development projects under the name of military-academia cooperation,” Ikeuchi warned.

Regarding the current situation where researchers are struggling to secure funds for their research projects, Ikeuchi pointed out, “The Education and Science Ministry is using its budget to pressure scientists to accept military research,” calling the situation a researcher-version of economic conscription.

Ikeuchi referred to universities’ hesitation in voicing opposition to giving a hand to military research. He stressed that scientists should organize a group of anti-military research academics at their universities and work to strengthen public opinion against military-academia cooperation not only on campus but also in communities.

Past related articles:
> Citizens and scientists form network to oppose military-academia cooperation [October 1, 2016]
> Professors criticize Hokkaido Univ. for promoting military-academia cooperation [September 28, 2016]
> How far military-academia cooperation has advanced under Abe administration [November 19, 2015]