BOSTON -- The Japanese government has announced plans for a new research university to be built from scratch in Okinawa Prefecture, the island chain located 2.5 hours flying time southwest of Tokyo and known mainly for its tropical weather and U.S. military bases.
One could hardly think of a more isolated location for such a university. It will focus on biotechnology and will require an investment of $600 million by the Japanese government to get it started. Japanese authorities say it will cost $160 million per year to operate -- a figure that seems unrealistically low for a science-based research university. The aim is to recruit half the researchers from outside Japan; the language of instruction is to be English.
Except perhaps for some scientists from China, it is highly unlikely that many top researchers will be lured to Okinawa, not only because of the location and surroundings, but because of the generally internationally uncompetitive salaries offered by Japanese national universities at the senior levels.