![Japan has allocated nearly 11 trillion yen in science and technology-related spending in its next fiscal year budget request, marking a record high. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks at a Self-Defense Forces senior commanders' meeting in Tokyo on Sept. 2. [Reuters]](https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2026/09/14/news-p.v1.20260914.699859e559ec48caaa840506cea641a4_P1.jpg)
Japan's science and technology-related budget requests for next fiscal year total approximately 11 trillion yen ($71.6 billion), the largest such allocation on record.
The Nikkei reported Monday that combined science and technology requests across all ministries for the next fiscal year come to 10.99 trillion yen, a record high.
The figure represents a 73.7 percent increase from this year's science and technology budget. Science and technology spending under the uncapped "Investing in a Strong and Prosperous Japan" category alone amounts to 5.07 trillion yen, roughly half of the total.
"Strong and Prosperous Japan" has been a slogan Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi used since the lower house election earlier this year. Her cabinet has championed what it calls "responsible proactive fiscal policy," pursuing expansionary spending likened to a second "Abenomics." The overall government budget request for next fiscal year also stands at a record 143 trillion yen, fueling growing concern about fiscal deterioration.
A closer look at the science and technology budget requests shows that funding for the "Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research" program — which concentrates resources on high-quality research projects — is set at 455.2 billion yen, double last year's level.
Operating grants distributed to national universities are also set to rise by 154.1 billion yen from last year, reaching 1.25 trillion yen. The category had been cut consistently since 2004, but the government agreed to reverse the trend following calls from Nobel laureates and Keidanren, the Japan Business Federation.
Science and technology spending is expected to see further increases, as many budget items are tied to the Takaichi administration's "17 strategic fields." Those fields include aviation, space, nuclear fusion and quantum research — areas where universities and public research institutions play a central role.
Hiroaki Suga, a professor at the University of Tokyo and an expert member of the government's Council for Science, Technology and Innovation, welcomed the increase. "Doubling the research budget still is not enough, but the big boost will lift researchers' morale," he said.
kate01@heraldcorp.com
