STAS MEETING ON U.S.-JAPAN FRAMEWORK INITIATIVE FOR A SAFE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 005221 SIPDIS DEPT FOR STAS, OES, AND EAP/J PASS TO WHITE HOUSE OSTP PASS TO NSF FOR JWING/SIACOND/AEMIG PASS TO DOE JGLASER PASS TO DOD WMCCLUSKEY PASS TO CDC JNICHOLSON PASS TO FBI GBISHEA/SLENZENWEGER/DHICKEY/MMILLER/ DHS FOR OFFICE OF S&T U/S DEPT PASS TO NIH/NIAID WESTERN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TNGD PTER TBIO TSPL KSCA JA SUBJECT: STAS MEETING ON U.S.-JAPAN FRAMEWORK INITIATIVE FOR A SAFE AND SECURE SOCIETY TOKYO 00005221 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. Summary. Dr. Nina Fedoroff, S&T Advisor to the Secretary of State and Mr. Yasutaka Moriguchi, Director-General, Science and Technology Policy Bureau of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) co-chaired a meeting on October 10 to discuss the U.S.-Japan Framework Initiative for a Safe and Secure Society (FIS3) in Tokyo. Attendees reviewed FIS3 activities in the areas of biodefense, explosives countermeasures, and sensor technology. Both sides discussed the date of the fourth FIS3 Workshop and the possibility of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) signing a cooperative agreement. End Summary. ¶2. Dr. Nina Fedoroff led a U.S. delegation consisting of representatives from the Department of Homeland Security, National Institues of Health, National Science Foundation, and U.S. Embassy Tokyo in meetings on October 10 with the GOJ to discuss progress of the FIS3 and next-steps. In addition to Director-General Moriguchi, the Japanese delegation included representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cabinet Office, Japan Science and Technology Agency and Keio University. The meeting began with presentations by both sides on joint U.S.-Japan workshops held over the last year in the areas of biodefense, explosives detection, and sensor technology. ¶3. Following the presentations, both sides engaged in a general discussion of next-steps for FIS3. Regarding the timing of the next FIS3 Plenary Workshop, the GOJ proposed holding the workshop in Tokyo in the spring of 2008 after confirmation of the GOJ's budget for JFY08. The GOJ's budget for JFY08, which starts April 1, 2008, will be finalized at the end of March. The GOJ believes holding the workshop after that date would allow it to address the details of possible JFY08 activities under FIS3. At the next FIS3 Workshop, the GOJ hopes to agree on specific cooperative projects in biodefense and explosive countermeasures. The GOJ requested the USG provide the GOJ with its own list of priority areas for cooperation to help identify Japanese counterparts. Dr. Fedoroff replied the USG would respond on dates for the next workshop and desired topics for discussion after completion of interagency consultations. ¶4. As for the way forward, Dr. Fedoroff emphasized the importance of securing funding for the initiative and also requested the GOJ consider the possibility of private sector participation in the initiative. She added the two sides had carried the project from the top down very well, but now that the "doors had been opened" it should move to being "scientist initiated." Embassy DHS Senior Representative commented that DHS was interested in collaboration with the top priority being detection of improvised explosive devices. Moriguchi said there were several subjects that could move ahead: the second explosives workshop for early 2008, the second biodefense workshop, and the Fourth FIS3 Plenary Workshop for next spring in Japan. He hoped for as many participants as possible. Dr. Fedoroff said long lead times before meetings and inviting several participants on each topic would help ensure robust participation. ¶5. Regarding amending the U.S. Japan Science and Technology Agreement to include cooperation in FIS3 areas, ESTOff explained the diplomatic note from the USG proposing such an amendment was in the final clearance process in Washington. Moriguchi commented amendment of the S&T Agreement had been discussed favorably among Japanese agencies. However, he said a separate agreement between DHS and a Japanese ministry would require time for consensus building within the Japanese government. From this perspective, Moriguchi proposed to promote specific cooperative projects under an amended S&T Agreement including FIS3, while continuing parallel efforts to discuss the possibility of a DHS cooperative agreement. Dr. Fedoroff said the USG was still considering such a cooperative agreement and would respond later. ¶6. In conclusion, Dr. Fedoroff recommended the approach used by NIH and universities to integrate basic and applied research as one possible model for FIS3. Bringing industrial partners to the table could be part of this effort. The representative from the NIH National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Disease explained the TOKYO 00005221 002.2 OF 002 paradigm shift at the NIH in the last decade away from research to evaluating products and working with the private sector to license products. The NIH is now looking to expand partnerships globally. The Japanese representative from Keio University agreed that active involvement from industry is a top priority. He wanted to revive interest in the Japanese pharmaceutical industry in biodefense. Dr. Fedoroff said this could be a good topic for the next FIS3 workshop. ¶7. STAS cleared this cable in substance subsequent to Dr. Fedoroff's departure. DONOVAN