There is growing realization in the scientifically expanding Asia-Pacific region of the need to improve quality through processes of research assessment (see page 114). But Japan, despite its large output, is lagging behind — most of its neighbours are far ahead in the use of external review committees and bibliographic analysis. With Japan's science-related ministries about to undergo major restructuring and with a government squeeze on money for science after a few years of largesse, the time is ripe to introduce mechanisms to target money where it will be most productive.

Under an absurdly over-democratic system, noncompetitive research funds are spread too widely and too thinly by Japan's education ministry, using formulae based on the number of faculty members in each department regardless of their productivity. One benefit that should emerge from the recently proposed merger of the ministry with the Science and Technology Agency (STA) (see Nature 388, 815; 1997) is greater application of research assessment in the dispersal of noncompetitive funds to universities. The agency has been championing that approach — the ministry and the universities have not.

But the problems are by no means confined to universities. The STA — not to mention other ministries — has been pouring billions of yen into inefficient, grossly mismanaged and scandal-prone research and development organizations. Such scandals are at long last forcing the science-related ministries to be more accountable for the way they spend taxpayers' money. Yet more is needed. Japan needs to learn from its neighbours, as well as the West, in order to make better use of its money.