Introduction

Abstract

In the long history of science, the unique research originated from each researcher's revolutionary ideas has often brought about innovative developments in scientific progress. As such research matures and becomes more influential in the surrounding research fields, it will be established as a new scientific field. Such areas come to the subject of project research and become promoted according to policy demands, social needs, or the intentions of the majority of the scientific community. Large-scale projects built on such a foundation will advance that area further by investing large amounts of budgets. However, behind that, new seeds of science that would revolutionize the next era are secretly born. Large-scale project research and small individual research by individual researchers, like the two wheels of a car, are of equal value to scientific progress, although there are significant differences in size and investment. Based on this understanding, it is important to take a bird's-eye view of the master plan and the large-scale academic research plan and consider the flow of contemporary science, the ideal form of Japanese science, and an individual's research itself. The Science Council of Japan has formulated the "Master Plan" to systematize large-scale research plans with high academic significance and serve as guidelines for Japan's large-scale research plans and academic policies. The ones that have high priority and should be promoted immediately are selected as priority large-scale research plans. This introduction provides an overview of these topics discussed at this symposium.