Biotechnology in Japan and other Asian countries. A computer-based approach to continuous assessment

By combining information about Biotechnology in Japan manually retrieved from Chemical Abstracts (Biochemical Section) with information obtained from Japanese sources, Japanese scientific meetings and from appropriate magazines such as Nikkei Biotech, a basis was formed for a better understanding of the status and perspectives of this field. Through the development of a "biotechnology abstract analyzer" program, these data were further refined and prepared for continuous up-date. Thus, assessment of changes in institute structures and trends in research goals became possible. It is evident that similar procedures can be applied to any field of science in other geographic areas.