MEXT announces Survey Results on International Research Exchange for FY2023

The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) announced the Survey Results on International Research Exchange for FY2023. This survey is conducted annually by MEXT to understand the annual research exchange situation between Japan's national, public, and private universities, technical colleges, and incorporated administrative agencies, and other countries, and to serve as basic data for international exchange promotion policies. The survey targeted a total of 927 institutions including national, public, and private universities, technical colleges, and incorporated administrative agencies, with effective responses obtained from 849 institutions (response rate: 91.6%).

Since the survey began, the number of researchers dispatched overseas for short-term periods (30 days or less) showed an increasing trend until FY2018, but a significant decrease was observed in FY2020 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. In FY2023, the number reached 106,613, which, although not reaching pre-COVID-19 level highs (FY2018), represents an increase of 52,640 from the previous year, showing a trend of recovery. Regarding the number of researchers dispatched for medium- and long-term periods, the level was at around 4,000-5,000 people, but it decreased significantly in FY2020. In FY2023, it was 3,623 people (an increase of 378 people compared with the previous year), continuing to increase from FY2022 and showing a recovery trend. However, the number of researchers dispatched for medium- and long-term periods remains at a low level compared with researchers dispatched for short-term periods.

The number of short-term researchers accepted from overseas showed an increasing trend until FY2009 but decreased until FY2011 due to the impact of the Great East Japan Earthquake and other factors, then recovered over the following four years. A significant decrease was observed in FY2020, but in FY2023, the number reached 14,472 people (an increase of 6,388 people compared with the previous year), showing a recovery trend. Regarding the number of researchers accepted for medium- and long-term periods, the level had generally been maintained at around 12,000-15,000 people since FY2000, but it decreased significantly in FY2020. In FY2023, it was 12,793 people (an increase of 697 people compared with the previous year), recovering to the previous level.

Looking at regional distribution, the top three countries with the highest number of short-term researchers dispatched from Japan in FY2023 were the United States, South Korea, and China, in that order. For medium- and long-term dispatching, the United States has been the most common destination since FY2002, with the United Kingdom and Germany alternating as second and third places since FY2006. On the other hand, the top three countries from which the highest numbers of researchers were accepted were the United States, China, and South Korea for the short term, while for the medium and long term, the order has been China, the United States, and South Korea since FY2010.

International research conferences hosted by universities and research institutions were held 2,490 times in FY2023. Of these, 388 were held online (15.6% of the total), 1,021 were held in hybrid format combining in-person and online (41%), and 1,081 were held in person only (43.4%). The number of conferences held showed an increasing trend, from a total of 108 in April 2023 to 304 in December of the same year. The percentage of online-only conferences in April 2023 was 27.8%. The online-only format has been decreasing, reaching 16.5% in March 2024.

International research conferences hosted by academic societies (academic research organizations cooperating with the Science Council of Japan) were held 422 times in FY2023. Of these, 51 were held online (12.1%), 179 were held in hybrid format combining in-person and online (42.4%), and 192 were in-person only (45.5%). The number of conferences was highest in June 2023 with 63 events. In March 2024, the percentage of online conferences was 14.6%, hybrid format conferences were 36.6%, and in-person only conferences were 48.8%.

Since academic conferences require not only knowledge exchange but also human interaction, there is a trend toward returning to in-person formats.