Basic Policies for Structural Reform of Independent Administrative Institutions were decided in a Cabinet decision on December 24, 2013 (hereafter called "Basic Policies for Reform"). Based on these policies, the National Maritime Research Institute (NMRI), Port and Airport Research Institute (PARI), and Electronic Navigation Research Institute (ENRI), which were National Research and Development Agencies operated under the jurisdiction of the MLIT, were integrated into the National Institute of Maritime, Port and Aviation Technology (hereafter called "MPAT") to implement the policies.
Article 2, paragraph 1 of the Act on General Rules stipulates as follows: some clerical tasks and business require sound implementation from the viewpoint of general welfare including stabilization of people's life and socioeconomy, but at the same time do not require government-led implementation. Some of these clerical tasks and businesses face the risk of neglect when their operation is entrusted to private entities, so MPAT was established to effectively and efficiently conduct their operation.
In consideration of the previous roles of each institute, MPAT is required to continue to make full use of its accumulated wealth of knowledge and stature, and to proceed with research and development according to the Basic Policies for Reform. In addition, MPAT will constantly review research contents and select research areas to address changes in the social environment. At the same time, MPAT will more actively engage in research and development activities to solve policy challenges in each field, such as conducting research in emerging fields.
MPAT has promoted research and development in each field, cultivated technological seeds, and accumulated specialized knowledge. Thanks to MPAT's legacy, such multidisciplinary research became viable. In consideration of this background, MPAT will efficiently and effectively implement multidisciplinary research including "Promoting the protection of maritime interests and the utilization and application of marine-resource/marine-renewable-energy development and other projects". Through such implementation, MPAT will help put national policies into practice.
Furthermore, MPAT considers that it is important to return the benefits achieved through research and development to society, as well as to cooperate with external institutes and to widely disseminate research results. In addition, MPAT is committed to strategically implementing international activities as follows: active participation in projects to formulate international criteria and standards; international promotion of Japanese technologies and systems through international cooperation; and other activities.
As outlined above, MPAT's missions are based on the MLIT's Basic Plan for putting MLIT-recommended policies into practice. Today, Japan faces various important challenges. By realizing these policies, we can solve such challenges.