Many young scientists in Japan find the academic environment frustrating and rigid because veteran researchers are well entrenched and career prospects seem limited.

To address this problem, the national government this year plans to introduce a few programmes to support young scientists. “So far, our investment has been focused on facilities and equipment,” says Masaaki Tanaka, director of the knowledge infrastructure policy division at the education ministry. “Now, it's time to shift our focus to invest in people.”

One key programme aims to encourage universities and research institutes to introduce a tenure system. A standard fixture at US universities, tenure has yet to be adopted in Japan. Instead, the country largely runs a system based on seniority in which young researchers end up working for their supervisors once they have completed their postdoc or stay in uncertain contract positions for many years. A tenure system promises a higher-level, more independent, permanent position if a researcher works for a certain period as a contract worker and generates good results during that time.

To fund this programme, the education ministry plans to give between ¥200 million (US$1.7 million) and ¥300 million every year for up to five years to each of about 30 universities and research institutes. The money would be distributed to young researchers in their 20s and 30s chosen to fill tenure-track positions. These researchers would be independent of professors or assistant professors and have their own labs, equipment, budgets and assistants.

The new system “will certainly provide incentives for young researchers”, says Hiroaki Suga, a chemical biologist at the University of Tokyo and an advocate of improving Japan's research and education. But he points out that it won't work well unless a system to evaluate the researchers' work properly is established.

Another programme being introduced by the government is targeted at young female researchers. One of its aims is to encourage women to return to work after maternity leave. Currently, many female postdocs and assistants can't get any benefits for childcare so they quit their jobs. With this programme, about 30 selected women researchers will receive about US$3,100 every month for two years to help pay for childcare and help them continue their research. “We want talented female students to join the science world,” Tanaka says.