Activities

Reform history and new targets

IFENG has reformed the management in 2011, or the 40th year since the establishment, in order to enhance its function as a core organization of the knowledge-oriented society while maintaining its experience, network with specialists and the accumulated achievements. IFENG became a public interest incorporated foundation.

The purposes of the foundation’s activities are the following:

– Addressing problems related to management and policy including socio-economic events in future combined with aspects of science and technology

– Pursuing measures to solve them in engineering methodologies

 — Study, analysis, planning and strategy formation for projects, management for implementation of projects, evaluation and review of projects

 — Sharing research outcomes with the public

IFENG’s activities thus aim at contribution to promotion of science and technology as well as socio-economic development.

Nonprofit activities

Nonprofit activities are activities for the general public. We classify them into three categories:

 1. Commissioned investigations

IFENG performs investigations commissioned by governmental agencies, foundations and other organizations. The results are to be shared with the general public including the originators.

– Future analysis for policymaking

– Investigations for general strategic planning

– Design of policy evaluation systems

– Review and analysis of policies in foreign countries

 
2. Original investigations

IFENG also performs self-financed original investigations on subjects attracting much public attention. The results are open to public.

– Special projects related to the Great East Japan Earthquake

 
3. Interactive research

Another aspect of IFENG’s activity is dialogue with the general public. Various problems are studied; the results are not only open to public, but are regarded as the ource of new subjects, on which public comments and feedback from unspecified specialists are sought. The iterative dialogue is expected to attain deeper understanding and possibly to find solutions of the problem.

– Forum

– Insight

– Open lectures, training sessions and conferences

For-profit activities

For-profit activities mean activities performed for a specific party. They are categorized similarly to the nonprofit activity.

 
1. Commissioned investigations

IFENG accepts orders from business companies and other organizations in the business sector. IFENG’s accumulated knowledge and methodology as well as the networks with specialists are fully used to conduct the investigations.

 
2. Original investigations

IFENG reorganizes knowledge and findings obtained in the past think tank activities to form a useful body of knowledge for consulting services.

 
3. Interactive research

Lectures and training courses for specific participants will be provided. Publishing also falls into this category.