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Japan's institutions are increasingly joining huge collaborative research efforts, realizing that, on the big questions facing science, a problem shared is a problem halved.
The rising stars on Japan's research landscape include traditional big-hitters and newer institutions selected for initiatives to boost their global standing and promote autonomy.
Research breakthroughs are a global pursuit, and while there is healthy rivalry between nations, Japan and its strongest competitors are increasingly joining forces.
In most of the past 15 years, Japanese scientists have been named Nobel Laureates for work in chemistry and physics, but illustrious awards may be harder to come by in the next era.
Japan's quest to retain its status as a global research leader by enticing foreign students and faculty is the right response, say observers, but efforts are yet to have an impact.
The ambition driving China's astonishing progress in the output of high-quality science is particularly strong in some cities, whose growth far outstrips expectation.
Amid fierce international competitiveness, governments at all levels are responding by orchestrating collaborations between industry and academic institutions.
The benefits of economics and history converge with the demands of population growth and sustainability issues in China's most productive research and technology centres.
