The Empire of Knowledge: Reforms in Scientific and Technological System

Nikolai K. Vitanov

Abstract

            This second paper on the Japan scientific system is devoted to reforms aimed to adapt the system to more functions coming from its increasing size as well as to the changing conditions and to the expected increased competition from USA, EU and China in the 21^st century. Much attention is devoted to the subsystems connected to the scientific education of the new generations, to the education of new researchers and to the human resource development in the scientific system of Japan. We discuss also the mechanisms connecting the scientific and technological systems of Japan to the Japanese industry such as the Venture Business Laboratories. Finally we compare some aspects of Japanese and Bulgarian scientific systems and come to the unavoidable conclusion that much work has to be done in Bulgaria in order to create scientific system so vital and flexible as the Japanese one is.