The Japanese government unveiled a ¥10.3 trillion, or $116 billion, plan to stimulate its economy, and ScienceInsider reports that some of those funds may be going toward manufacturing and innovation as well as efforts to bolster private investments in renewable energy and induced pluripotent stem cell research, among other areas.
The Nature News blog adds that the science and education ministry requested ¥570 billion, and of that, "180 billion will encourage universities to commercialize basic research and another 20 billion for iPS cell research. That will increase the amount of money earmarked for iPS cell research over the next 10 years to 110 billion."
This, the Nature News blog notes, is an about-face from the previous government's austerity plan. The Liberal Democratic Party regained control following the December elections.