GRIPS ALLIANCE

About GRIPS

GRIPS ALLIANCE, founded in 2013 as a laboratory of the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS), contributes to the dissemination of democratic governance to the world and to its enhancement through strategic policy research on emerging issues. GRIPS Alliance also develops and delivers high-level training programs in policy studies.

GRIPS ALLIANCE is structurally different from GRIPS. Whereas GRIPS is an educational institute dedicated to the fostering of administrative officers from all levels of government and to conducting policy research in general, GRIPS ALLIANCE is a research institute which conducts more practical high-level policy research by addressing emerging and difficult-to-solve problems through the application of flexible and innovative concepts and frameworks.

For optimum effectiveness, GRIPS ALLIANCE requires human resources capable of exemplary practical and theoretical work in policy studies and of delivery of cutting edge instruction in all aspects of policy. To that end, GRIPS ALLIANCE maintains a solid and well-defined relationship with GRIPS while conducting its activities in an original and autonomous fashion.

>> Objectives of GRIPS ALLIANCE

The objectives of GRIPS ALLIANCE are:

• To serve as an interministerial and intersectional policy studies laboratory for use by statesmen and government policymakers;

• To identify problems and raise issues from new perspectives rather than relying on conventional wisdom;

• To provide a venue for discussions based on specialized knowledge relevant to policy questions that are not easily addressed by a single ministry;

• To provide cross-ministerial training programs; and

• To ensure academic freedom and a supportive environment for the achievement of the above objectives.

In its work to achieve the above objectives, GRIPS ALLIANCE:

① Conducts research in collaboration with statesmen, government officials, and the private sector on policies and strategies which are difficult to place within existing concept arrays or frameworks;

② Develops professional human resources with specialized knowledge and expertise who are available for the solution of pressing policy problems; and

③ Provides opportunities for international policy dialogs open to all ministry personnel and to individuals from Japan, Asia (ASEAN), the Americas and Europe who have relevant policy background.

>> Organizational Structure

GRIPS ALLIANCE was established within GRIPS, but it operatessemi-independently. This reflects the unique structure of GRIPS ALLIANCE, which encourages the participation of ministries and related institutes in GRIPS ALLIANCE research projects so as to create an integrated organic and pluralistic network of highly qualified contributors. The name “ALLIANCE” reflects both the above network and the relationship between GRIPS ALLIANCE and GRIPS.

The operating policy of GRIPS ALLIANCE is shaped and refined in an ongoing manner at the monthly board meetings. Based on the discussions and decisions of the board, GRIPS ALLIANCE organizes research project meetings involving ministries, related institutes, and GRIPS faculty.

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Board of GRIPS ALLIANCE（as of April 1, 2024）

Hiroto Ishida	President, Honda Foundation
Yasuhiko Endo	Adviser, Japan Foundation for Regional Art-Activities
Mitsuo Ohashi	Honorary Advisor, Resonac Holdings Corporation
Teiichi Sato	Honorary Executive Director, Tokyo National Museum
Yuki Takagi	President, Japan Professional-Agriculture Total Support Organization
Makoto Taketoshi	Senior Adviser, Mitsubishi Estate Co., Ltd.
Yasutake Tango	Honorary Company Fellow, Japan Tobacco Inc.
Tetsuo Tsuji	Visiting Researcher, Institute of Gerontology/ Institute for Future Initiatives, The University of Tokyo
Osamu Watanabe	Director, Special Advisor, Japan Petroleum Exploration Co., Ltd.
Hiroko Ota	President, National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies