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

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SUBJECT: STAS MEETING ON U.S.-JAPAN FRAMEWORK INITIATIVE FOR A SAFE
AND SECURE SOCIETY

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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

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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