Abstract
System plays a key role in contemporary world. The world is now at the age of systems
in which systems in various kinds play crucial roles in every aspect of human life. If we think that the
innovation is an advent of a new life style due to the advance of sciences and technology, the system
building must be a key factor of innovation. Therefore, systems science and technology must lead
the innovation. In this article, we advocate the importance and implication of systems sciences and
technology in the process of realizing innovation. The notion of systems buliding strategic research
(SBSR) which was proposed by JST as a powerful device to promote systems science and technology
is fully discussed. It is emphasized that SBSR can provide a good platform for the collaboration of
various disciplines and rational decision making in the planning stage of systems building projects.
Systems science and technology has many distinguishable characteristics which the other traditional
sciences and technology do not share. Its real achievements cannot be presented in a concrete form.
Its message is always represented as an abstract and invisible theory. So, it needs some special consideration
to appreciate the importance of its result. The relevance of systems science and technology
to a new growth strategy is discussed extensively.
