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There are concerns that the Japanese government could transfer the results of its research into critical technologies overseas for military use or otherwise endanger national interests, sources close to the matter said on Friday.
Research results on advanced technologies specified in the Economic Security Act are shared only within associations of government officials and private researchers, and some confidential information is subject to confidentiality agreements, he said.
Japan’s newly appointed Economic Security Minister Sanai Takaichi attends a press conference after a cabinet reshuffle on August 10, 2022 in Tokyo. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
The unions will serve as a test for the government’s proposed security clearance system, which will allow only vetted workers to hold sensitive information.
Twenty technologies have been listed as critical, including hypersonic technology used in missile development and technology that can be transferred to satellite tracking systems.
Japan’s eagerness to advance in high-tech sectors comes amid a rapidly changing security landscape as competition between the US, China and Russia intensifies.
The Economic Security Act passed in May provides a framework for the establishment of an association for each research sector to develop modern technologies through public-private collaboration.
The government is expected to invest about 500 billion yen ($3.8 billion) in research from the state’s economic security fund.
The results are generally made public to local universities, companies and other organizations to assist in the development and implementation of the technology, except for those expected for military use such as the defense and coast guard.
The government also imposes a nondisclosure agreement on confidential information provided for research purposes, with penalties of up to one year in prison if violated.
The introduction of the security clearance system was proposed when the new Economic Security Act was enacted, as such a system would be necessary for sharing classified information with foreign authorities.
However, it has yet to be included in the bill after several members of the ruling party expressed concern about the need for a background check to pass the vetting process.
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