20世紀の日本は膨大な技術革新を行い今日の発展を遂げました。この20世紀の日本が行った「技術革新の経験」は、21世紀に我が国の更なる技術開発・技術革新を行うための膨大な知識の宝庫です。しかし、20世紀から21世紀にかけて、我が国は産業構造の急激な変化、終身雇用制の崩壊、戦後の技術革新を支えてきた技術者の高齢化などにより、「技術革新の経験」は、急速に失われつつあり、今のうちに経験を集積し、役立つ知識として知識の基盤を形成する必要があります。

本領域では、このような20世紀の日本が行った技術革新の貴重な経験を蒐集 (collection)するとともに、これらを分析(analysis)し、解釈(interpretation)を加えることによって、21世紀に更なる技術革新に役立つ「知識基盤」を形成するための、総合的･体系的な研究を展開します。

1. Title of Project
   Japanese Technological Innovations _ Compiling Experience and Forming a Knowledge Base
2. Head Investigator Name
   Name：　Keiichi Shimizu
   Institution，Department，Title of Position: National Science Museum, Chief of the Division of History and Science and Technology, Department of Science and Engineering
3. Abstract of Research Project
   During the 20th century, Japan achieved countless technological innovations that have made it the advanced country that it is today. The “experiences in technological innovation” accumulated during the past 100 years represents a massive storehouse of knowledge that can be put to use in further technological development and innovations in Japan during the 21st century. At the same time, however, these “experiences in technological innovation” are rapidly being lost, as a result of numerous factors including the dramatic changes in the industrial structure, the breakdown of the lifelong employment system, and the aging of the engineers that contributed to post-war technological innovations. It is essential that we compile this experience while we are still able, and form a knowledge base that can be put to use in the future.
   In this project, we will collect valuable experiences gained through the technological innovations in Japan throughout the 20th century, and then, by analyzing these experiences and interpreting the results, we will conduct comprehensive and systematic research aimed at forming a “knowledge base” that will be useful in achieving further technological innovations in the 21st century.