History of RISTEX

April 2000: Study Group on R&D of Science and Technology for Society was organized by the former Science and Technology Agency under the Prime Minister's Office (Chairperson: Hiroyuki Yoshikawa, then chairman of the Science Council of Japan)
December 2000: The group submitted a policy recommendation concerning the concept of Science and Technology(S&T) for Society, its research necessity, possible research structure and focus areas.
July 2001: Research Institute of Science and Technology for Society (RISTEX) was established as a result of cooperative partnership between the former Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute (JAERI) and the former Japan Science Technology Corporation, now the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST).
April 2003: The research activities that had been promoted by JAERI and RISTEX were integrated into JST.
May 2005: RISTEX was restructured, and its R&D focus areas were re-established(*1).
April 2006-: RISTEX has been promoting R&D activities with strong emphasis on setting clear goals for its R&D programs and promoting collaboration among stakeholders who work to solve social problems.

(*1) Under the former structure of RISTEX, R&D Focus Areas contained relatively large-scaled R&D Projects with selected teams of full-time and part-time researchers within and outside of RISTEX. Since its re-organization in May 2005, R&D projects in R&D Focus Areas are selected through a public solicitation process.

R&D Focus Areas / Research Areas that are completed

R&D Focus Area Safety and Security : Mission-Oriented Research Program Ⅰ (FY2001-2005)
Research Area Sustainable Society (FY2001-2007)
Research Area Social Systems/Science and Technology for Society (FY2001-2007)
R&D Focus Area Information Technology and Society R&D Program: Challenge in Identifying the Vulnerabilities Hidden in Our Highly Sophisticated Information Society and Exploring Solutions (FY2003-2007)