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Article : Launch of AIST journal Synthesiology (H. Ohsaki et al.)−210 Synthesiology - English edition Vol.1 No.3 (2009) Type 2 Basic Research is defined as “research to create something that is socially perceivable by fusing knowledge not limited to certain discipline and by creating new knowledge as needed.” The research process is unique since there is no limit set on discipline. It is known to produce less visible results in form of papers even if it is equally hard work as conventional research, because research process itself is not considered to be research result according to conventional academic standard. It is also characterized by various research risks such as requiring long time before tangible results can be obtained, and is often wrought with extensive problems that must be solved before further research can be continued.However, activities that pursue result wanted by the society using specialized skills and knowledge create opportunity where basic research and society can recognize each other. At the Research Center for Verification and Semantics where Ohsaki is currently affiliated with, research in which society is observed and framework for explaining it is created is called “fieldwork”[2]. This style of research can be an instance of Type 2 Basic Research according to the definition as described above.On the other hand, it is difficult to immediately understand the concept of the two basic researches that is not yet widely accepted, only by written description. Therefore, schematic diagram shown in Figure 1 was used to explain Type 1 and Type 2 Basic Researches in the CS Seminar.Two basic researches were represented by two ovals on left and right. Mutual interaction of the two basic researches was explained as large arrows going from one to the other. The flows from Type 1 to Type 2 Basic Research were explained by large arrows that connected the ovals. Also, to explain the characteristics of two basic researches, we explained that Type 1 Basic Research was composed of self-contained circular motion, while Type 2 Basic Research was composed of motion that flowed across all disciplines.Both Type 1 and Type 2 Basic Researches can move on to Product Realization Research. Unlike the conceptual diagram in “Research Methodology to Realize Innovation”[3], we added a cloud representing Product Realization Research between the two basic researches. The Figure shows that Product Realization Research results from constant exchange between the two basic researches.Some young researchers in the CS Seminar commented, “It seems difficult to conceive the image of shuttling between the two basic researches” (Daimon, one of the CS seminar participants), but there were no particular objections or questions to this explanation.3 “Type 2 Basic Research = Practical Application Research” ?In order to progress from results obtained in basic research to commercialization phase, it is necessary that all people who so wish can readily use the research result. This is flow from basic research phase to practical application research phase, and then to commercialization. On the other hand, as mentioned in the previous section as issue for Type 2 Basic Research, there is no guarantee that the basic research result will develop into successful business. Figure 2 shows the flow from basic research to commercialization and the problems often encountered.For presentation up to this point, the following questions were raised by the CS Seminar participants. Honorifics of the participants are abbreviated.[Minami] Then, is Type 2 Basic Research same thing as practical application research?Practical application research shown in Figure 2 is one of the research phases that lead to future commercialization. It is an attempt to obtain research result in form recognizable to the society. Therefore, according to definition in the previous section, “Type 2 Basic Research ⊇ practical application research (if practical application research, then Type 2 Basic Research)” is justified. On the other hand, if “Type 2 Basic Research ⊆ practical application research (if Type 2 Basic Research, then practical application research)” is true, according to the diagram “Basic Research → Practical Application Research → Commercialization,” the objective of Type 2 Basic Research is commercialization. However, in Type 2 Basic Research, researcher may wish to extract elemental technologies and investigate specific material, observe them with scientific eyes, and systematize this technique. The objective of Type 2 Basic Research may not necessarily be commercialization. Therefore, it is more natural to think “Type 2 Basic Research practical application research.”Synthesiology claims itself to be journal for presenting (56)−Fig.1 Two types of basic research.Type 2 Basic Research (field work)Fusion and evolutionType 1 Basic Research (academic research)Categorization and systemizationProduct Realization Research(commercialization)

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