In May 1997 the Science Council of Japan issued a recommendation entitled ÒPromoting Computer Science ResearchÓ in which the establishment of a research institution of computer science was proposed. Also, in January 1998 the Science Council of the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture released a proposal entitled ÒPolicy for Promoting Informatics ResearchÓ calling for the establishment, as an inter-university research institute, of a core research institution charged with the task of enhancing academic research in the field of informatics.

Subsequently in March 1998, a report was submitted by an advisory committee of the Ministry of Education, based on the results of its deliberation in this area. This report set forth the basic orientation regarding the concept, purpose and role of the core research institution proposed by the MinistryÕs Science Council.

In response to this, the Office for Institution of Informatics was established within NACSIS in April 1998, and the Committee on an Institution of Informatics was inaugurated in the following month. The committee undertook a study on the fields of research, research system and organization of the core research institution and issued an interim report in August 1998. The committeeÕs final report is expected to be completed by the end of March 1999.