國立臺灣科技大學材料工程與科學系學術演講

 On 9/29 @ E1-102

題目

Introduction of Science and Technology in Japan and Importance

 of Its Risk Management

「從日本經驗看科技文明的風險與未來」

村上理一 Murakami, Riichi

Emeritus Professor, Tokushima University, Japan

Abstract

Japan's technological prowess may often be obscured by the brand power of finished products. It plays an indispensable role in global supply chains. Many of the products which look like smartphones and automobiles support our daily lives. Also, the factories driving such as industries across the board, actually rely on Japan's lesser-known "innovative technologies". This lecture introduces the innovative Japanese technologies that serve as the "unsung heroes" supporting global industry. Technologies inherently entail both benefits and risks, and it is crucial to clearly articulate both aspects. However, the presentation of benefits is often either inadequate or exaggerated. In the cases of genetic modification and nanotechnology, for example, there is a significant gap between the technology and its tangible societal benefits—such as increased food production and poverty alleviation in developing nations, or the introduction of medical diagnostic technologies that enable preventive care through simple, continuous monitoring and ultimately reduce healthcare costs. Technology developers often feel frustrated that the focus falls solely on risks while the benefits are overlooked. Conversely, because developers seek research funding, they may assert the effectiveness of their technologies in ways that could involve exaggeration. These are discussed by using examples.