TOKYO: Japan's government decided Tuesday that the public and private sectors of the country will make research and development investment worth 30 trillion yen over the next 10 years to establish technologies allowing the nation to cut annual carbon dioxide emissions by 60 billion tons by 2050.

The plan is part of an environmental innovation strategy adopted at the day's meeting of a relevant government panel.

Also, under the strategy, the government will set up this month an international center for research on environmental and energy technologies, which will be headed by Akira Yoshino, honorary fellow of Japanese chemical maker Asahi Kasei Corp. and one of the three winners of the 2019 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

As part of the envisaged new technologies, the government will aim to develop concrete made of materials that absorb CO2 and solar power generation equipment that can be installed on building walls and vehicles.

At the meeting, the government also drew up a new strategy on quantum technologies for the next 20 years.

The government will expand R&D spending by designating four important areas, including quantum computers, which have far greater capabilities than supercomputers, under the strategy, while an R&D base will be established to bring together researchers and companies from in and outside Japan.

In addition, the government adopted a new policy to deal with threats such as natural disasters and cyberattacks. A panel of science experts will consider developing specific technologies and human resources.

JIJI Press