By KYOTO, JAPAN — As the global research landscape undergoes a historic transformation, the United States has stepped forward to helm an ambitious international pact aimed at reshaping the future of discovery.
At the 23rd Annual Meeting of the Science and Technology in Society (STS) Forum in Kyoto, the U.S. and 16 partner nations officially endorsed the Kyoto Vision for a Golden Age of Science, a landmark joint declaration designed to renew national science ecosystems and drive economic prosperity.
Led by White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director Michael Kratsios, the coalition recognizes that modern research stands at an unprecedented frontier. By harnessing advanced capabilities like super intelligence (SI), nations hope to unlock automated experimentation at scale, paving the way for entirely new paradigms of scientific inquiry and economic growth.
Seizing the Frontier of Super Intelligence
At the heart of the Kyoto Vision is the integration of super intelligence into the scientific workflow. Far beyond simply accelerating existing tasks, SI is viewed as a revolutionary force capable of democratizing research and opening lines of inquiry previously thought impossible.
“The way we make scientific discoveries has changed, and the Kyoto Vision is a recognition of that shift and a call to action,” stated Director Kratsios. Emphasizing the economic and strategic implications of this technological leap, Kratsios noted that under President Trump’s leadership, the United States is taking the charge to ensure global research enterprises adapt and thrive.
To capitalize on this shift, the international framework outlines three core pillars:
- Modernizing Institutions of Discovery: Recognizing that legacy structures may constrain modern breakthroughs, the agreement encourages a diverse mix of funding mechanisms—including long-duration awards, rapid grants, prizes, and competitive challenges. Ministers also endorsed “metascience” as an empirical field to systematically improve how research is organized, conducted, and funded for maximum public benefit.
- Expanding SI Access: Participating nations pledged to broaden researcher access to critical computing infrastructure, specialized SI tools, high-quality scientific data, and advanced experimental facilities.
- Cultivating and Empowering Talent: Sustainable scientific progress relies heavily on human capital. The declaration commits nations to investing in meritorious students and early-career researchers, granting them the freedom and resources necessary for ambitious work. Furthermore, the framework emphasizes hands-on training for technical instrumentation, cross-sectoral doctoral programs, and international research partnerships.
Grounded in Domestic Reform
The international alignment in Kyoto closely mirrors sweeping domestic changes taking place in the United States. In July 2026, Director Kratsios delivered Science: A New Golden Age to President Trump—representing the most comprehensive overhaul of the American R&D enterprise in eight decades. That report established modernized directions for federal agencies regarding how they conduct, fund, and measure the economic and societal impact of research.
A Unified Global Front
The economic significance of the Kyoto Vision is underscored by the broad coalition of nations that signed on to the agreement. Alongside the United States, the declaration was endorsed by:
- Argentina
- Bulgaria
- Chile
- Cyprus
- Germany
- Greece
- Indonesia
- Italy
- Japan
- Kazakhstan
- Republic of Korea
- New Zealand
- Poland
- Singapore
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
As these 17 economies align their financial resources, institutional frameworks, and technological infrastructure, the Kyoto Vision stands as a unified blueprint for a high-growth, technology-driven global economy.
