VZCZCXRO4352
RR RUEHHM RUEHLN RUEHMA RUEHPB RUEHPOD
DE RUEHKO #5221/01 3170712
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 130712Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9493
INFO RUEHZN/EST COLLECTIVE
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 8032
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 6770
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 5035
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 3168
RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 4365
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC

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