Medium to long-term objectives are the objectives national research and development agency must achieve during a period of not less than five years and not more than seven years, decided by the competent minister and instructed to relevant national research and development agency. The Minister of MLIT and the Minister of MAFF announced the PWRI the 4th medium-and long term objectives on February 29, 2016.

Medium to long-term plan was planned to achieve the medium to long-term objectives, and created by a national research and development agency for a purpose of obtaining the authorization for such a plan from the competent minister. In PWRI we created a medium to long-term plan based on the 4th medium to long-term objectives and received the approvals from the Minister of MLIT and the Minister of MAFF on March 31, 2016.

For 6 years from April 1, 2016 to March 31, 2022

"Maximization of research and development achievements" is the mission of the Public Works Research Institute. In other words, we, as the entire nation, “maximize” creation of research and development achievements that contribute to people's lives, economy, healthy development of culture and other public interest. Based on the primary purpose of the national research and development agency, as a core research base for civil engineering in Japan, we will contribute to the promotion of efficient maintenance and the development of Hokkaido for quality public infrastructure through giving research results back to society and disseminating results. We execute our mission following the national policy for the land, infrastructure and transportation as well as for the promotion of agricultural and fishery industries.

We will conduct research and development to gain the technological knowledge that could be used for establishing the relevant policies and technical standards, thus we will maximize results of research and development. These are the examples: the risk management technology for water-related disasters occurring more frequently and severely, damage mitigation technology for snow and ice disaster due to climate change, effective implementation method of maintenance responding to aging of the stock of infrastructure, approach to river channel planning technology for the conservation of the river environment. These will contribute to building sustainable national land against disasters and also maintain, organize and use the foundation of the national land. They also contribute to formation of sustainable national land with safety and security by appropriate management.

We will strive to understand the needs of infrastructure particularly in order to fulfill its mission to support the national and local governments, which are responsible organizations of public infrastructure for road/rivers. We work closely with the business of the Regional Development Bureau of MLIT and the Hokkaido Regional Development Bureau. We also maximize the research and development efforts of the entire Japan, including research results of universities and private sectors. Therefore, we will make even more efforts to promote cooperation with people-to-people exchanges and joint research.3

Taking into account of PWRI's strong points, during this medium to long-term plan period, we will focus on our R&D efforts on:

1. Realization of a safe and secure society
2. Strategic maintenance and renewal of public infrastructure
3. Realization of a sustainable and vibrant society

We also promote R&D on civil engineering technologies adjusting to effective improvement of caliber social infrastructure in snowy and cold regions, covering approximately 60% of Japanese areas