Foreign Technology: Collection and Dissemination of Japanese Information Can Be Improved

DOD concurred with the recommendation. DOD and the Department of Commerce are part of the State Department's interagency group established to plan how to better accomplish the subject mission. The group developed a plan for improved integration and use of U.S. government and private-sector assets involved in technical information collection in Japan. In addition, DOD responded that the establishment of the Technology Initiative Policy in September 1993 was intended to strengthen cooperation in the development and exchange of defense-related and dual-use technologies. This initiative emphasizes the need to achieve a more balanced transfer of U.S. defense technologies through licensed production and joint research and development programs with transfers of defense-related technologies, dual-use as well as military, from Japan.

The State Department concurred with the recommendation and set up an ad hoc working-level interagency group on foreign science and technology information to better accomplish the subject mission. The working group, which includes representatives from DOD and the Department of Commerce, developed a plan for improved integration and use of U.S. government and private-sector assets involved in technical information collection in Japan. Also, the working group met in early January 1996 to clear the handbook entitled, "The Compendium of Foreign Science and Technology Information Sources in the Federal Government and Select Private Sector Organizations." The 13 participating agencies approved the handbook for public dissemination. The handbook will be available in hard copy, as well as electronically, through the Science and Technology Information System and its home page in the World Wide Web.

DOD concurred with the recommendation and stated that the Defense Technology Office in Tokyo would add a statement to its quarterly report specifically requesting consumer feedback and identification of consumer requirements.

The State Department stated that the recommendation was consistent with continuing U.S. government priorities in the area of data collection and dissemination. However, State does not plan to commence any new initiatives in response to the recommendation because it believes that it is explicitly incorporated in the mission assignments of the relevant offices in Japan.

DOD partially concurred and agreed to take action to improve the coordination of foreign technology information. DOD believes that there is already substantive communication and informal coordination between the various U.S. government technology offices operating in Japan.

The State Department stated that technology gathering offices in Japan already communicate regularly and in depth with U.S. government consumers of the information they generate. Communication with private-sector consumers is best accomplished from within the United States through the National Technical Information Service (NTIS). This service regularly surveys its consumers to enhance the relevancy of the products that are available to the public.

DOD concurred with the recommendation but added that its efforts are hampered by a severe shortage of suitably qualified personnel. As a result, DOD's technology office in Tokyo must rely primarily on: (1) language training for in-house personnel; (2) use of language-proficient personnel; and (3) the hiring of Japanese scientists and engineers. By using these approaches, the DOD technology offices have made significant progress in acquiring appropriate staff.

According to the Department of State, it continues to recruit or train language-proficient staff for future positions on a best-efforts basis. The Department stated that, especially considering federal budget constraints, it is difficult to lure highly trained technical experts fluent in Japanese away from higher-paying private-sector positions.