Program in Brief

Equips government officials with the skills needed to design, implement and evaluate policies related to science, technology and innovation based on a scientific approach, and trains other professionals to become experts in the theory and practice of policy making

• Program Director: Professor Takayuki Hayashi
• Associate Director: Professor Koichi Sumikura, Professor Patarapong Intarakumnerd
• Degrees Offered: Ph.D. in Public Policy/ Doctor of Policy Studies
• Scholarship (for International Students):
  • Japanese Government (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology [MEXT])
  • JICA Scholarship (SDGs Global Leader)

• Language of Instruction: English/Japanese
• Time Schedule:
  • Program Duration…3 years
  • Enrollment…April, October,
  • Graduation…March or September
• Science, Technology and Innovation Program Homepage

There is a growing need for science, technology and innovation (STI) to address economic and societal challenges. Many national and local governments, universities, research institutions and companies have been trying to find ways to design more effective and efficient STI policies and strategies to realize innovation and sustainable growth.

This program aims to train individuals who can apply a scientific approach, and who are then able to carry out the planning, design, implementation, evaluation and revision of STI policy and strategy. In particular, we intend to equip the administrative officials, practitioners and researchers with advanced skills for policy analysis, policy and strategy planning and implementation. They will become acquainted with the multiple disciplines, achieve research competence in various social science fields, and gain teaching ability in the higher education.

We host prominent professors who are experts on the research regarding science and technology policy from inside and outside Japan. To achieve more practical research education, the program also accommodates lecturers who are engaged on the frontline of current science and technology policies. Additionally, the program holds a range of research workshops and seminars and invites eminent researchers and practitioners, current policy administrators, politicians, and corporate representatives, among others.

The program is operated under the support of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) and is provided in cooperation with the National Institute of Science and Technology Policy (NISTEP), the Center for Research and Development Strategy at Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST-CRDS) and the Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry（RIETI）.

Target Group

We would welcome policy practitioners who hold master’s degrees and have the necessary practical experience and/or research skills to undertake social science research at the doctoral level. Those who have completed master’s courses in relevant areas of study (including natural science and engineering) at other institutions are also welcomed.

Program Design

In the first year, students are required to undertake course work and earn a minimum of 10 credits from the courses and seminars. In the second year, students are expected to pass the Qualifying Examination (QE). After completing QE, students can start writing a dissertation to complete it by the end of the third year. 

Career Destinations

Graduates from this program are expected to become the government officials, practitioners and researchers with advanced skills for policy analysis, planning and implementation.

Origin and Affiliation of Students

(as of October, 2023)

Egypt: Ministry of Electricity, Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources,

Indonesia: Indonesian Ministry of Research and Technology, National Research and Innovation Agency

Japan: British Embassy Tokyo, Inter-University Research Institute Corporation National Institutes for the Humanities, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) , Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), Ministry of Finance (MOF), Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), National Center for Global Health and Medicine (NCGM) , Nippon Export and Investment Insurance (NEXI), Nuclear Regulation Agency, Ocean Policy Research Institute of The Sasakawa Peace Foundation (OPRI), Tokyo College University of Tokyo, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

Pakistan: Mehran University of Engineering and Technology

Philippines: Ateneo de Manila University

Thailand: National Science Technology and Innovation Policy Office, National Science and Technology Development Agency, Office of National Higher Education Science Research and Innovation Policy Council, Thammasat University

USA: US Army Research Development and Engineering Command

Recent Theses

• Essays on Evaluation of Global Health Policy on Tuberculosis Control (2022)
• Fostering Further Participation in Agri-Food Business Global Value Chains: A Multiple Case-Study on Intermediary Roles and Capabilities in the Philippine Rice and Mango Industries (2022)
• Renewable Energy Policy and Investment Decision-Making in Electricity Markets (2021)
• Influence of Systemic Analytical Capacity on Policy Relevant Knowledge Production and Utilization: Case of Science of Science and Innovation Policy (2021)
• An Inquiry of Government’s Extending the Role of State-owned Enterprises for the Interest of Science, Technology and Innovation Policy : Case Studies from Indonesia (2019)
• Optimizing International Science & Technology Collaboration Through Scientometric Studies (2019)
• Impacts of research team diversity and top management on research commercialization of a public research institute in Thailand (2018)
• Promoting Scientodiversity through Research Grants (2018)
• Societal Impact of Open Access to Research (2017)
• University-Industry Collaboration in Japan and Thailand: Influence of Key Actors’ Characteristics and Effect of Modes (2015)