Ministry of the Environment > Environment Research and Technology Development Fund > Outline > Classes of Research
Classes of Research
It is a plan as follows, and there can be a change in the future.
1.Strategic Research and Development Region (Top-Down Type Research)
1. Top-Down Research 1
Conditions of research
Large-scale research projects that should be promoted on a priority basis, in which Japan plays a international pioneering role, and in particular, an international leadership role, or large-scale research projects in which Japan is expected to produce leading results by integration/scenario development of individual research.
In this research classification, the general outline of the research (research topic, basic composition of the research content, research project leader, etc.) is determined by the Ministry of the Environment.
Based on this, a public invitation is issued for the specific content of the research comprising the research project and the research participants (hereinafter, “details of research project”), and the details of the research project are determined based on examination by experts in the field, etc.
Qualification for participation in research
The research project leader is designated by the Ministry of the Environment, and is not selected through public invitation.
This person will have overall responsibility for the project.
Specific responsibilities will include allocation of funds among researchers, management of research progress, response to the results of evaluations of the research, etc.
Participants in the project must be persons who are affiliated as researchers with a research institution in Japan, including industry, universities, and private and governmental research organizations.
There are no restrictions on the nationalities of researchers.
However, research institutions in other countries are not eligible to receive funding.
Term of research
In principle, the term of one research project is 5 years, divided into Period 1 (3 years) and Period 2 (2 years).
However, a project may be terminated at the end of Period 1 if the evaluation of the research (Interim Review) determines that continuation to Period 2 is not appropriate, considering the possibility of development of the research, status of progress, etc.
The Interim Review is conducted in the 3rd year after the start of research, and a Final Review is made in the fiscal year after completion of the research.
Research budget
The general scale of research budgets is several \100 million/year for each project.
2. Top-Down Research 2
Conditions of research
Because this is government-led research and development which is implemented in a strategic manner under the leadership of the Ministry of the Environment, this is a type of top-down research project in which the research topic is designated in advance and proposals are solicited from the public.
In the public invitation, the Ministry of the Environment designates the research topic in advance. The research topics which are adopted are selected from among topics submitted by researchers based on examination by experts. In the implementation of the research, the Division of the Ministry of the Environment with responsibility for the project will participate periodically in discussions in order to ensure that social needs are reflected in the project.
Qualifications for participation in research and responsibilities of representative
Persons with affiliation as researchers in Japan (irrespective of nationality) in industry, academia, and private and governmental research organizations. Research institutions in other countries are not eligible to receive funding.The representative of the research project will have overall responsibility for the project for the scheduled term of the research, and will be responsible for allocation of funds among the researchers, management of the progress of the research, response to the results of evaluations of the research, etc.
Term of research
In principle, 4 years. However, when the Interim Review determines that extension of the research is appropriate based on the possibility of development of the research, status of progress, etc., 2-year extensions are possible (maximum total project term of 6 years), based on reviews of the research.
The Interim Review is conducted in the 3rd year after the start of research, and a Final Review is made in the fiscal year after completion of the research.
Research budget
Maximum of \40 million/year for one project.
2.Environmental Problem Research Area (Bottom-Up Type Research)
Conditions of research
Topics of research by researchers affiliated with research institutions in Japan, in the form of survey research or technical development contributing to solution of individual or multiple environmental problems.
In the public invitation, the Ministry of the Environment will present application guidelines describing the research fields in which applications are desired on a priority basis.
Research topics will be selected from among research topics proposed by researchers, based on examination by experts.
Qualifications for participation in research and responsibilities of representative
Persons with affiliation as researchers in Japan (irrespective of nationality) in industry, academia, and private and governmental research organizations.
Research institutions in other countries are not eligible to receive funding.
The representative of the research project will have overall responsibility for the project for the scheduled term of the research, and will be responsible for allocation of funds among the researchers, management of the progress of the research, response to the results of evaluations of the research, etc.
Term of research
In principle, 3years. However, when the Interim Review determines that extension of the research is appropriate based on the possibility of development of the research, status of progress, etc., a 2-year extension is possible (maximum total project term of 5 years), based on a review of the research.
The Interim Review is conducted in the 2nd year after the start of research, and a Final Review is made in the fiscal year after completion of the research.
Research budget
Maximum of \100 million/year for one project. (Differs depending on research framework.)
Special frameworks
Special frameworks will be established for research which is considered particularly important, and these research projects will be promoted on a priority basis. (Example) Regional framework
3.Environmental Research Innovation Research Area
Conditions of research
This research area is divided into three frameworks, as follows:
- i.Young Researcher Framework
Research topics for young researchers with priority placed on novelty, originality, and innovativeness.The research representative and all participants in the research must be 40 years of age or less as of April 1 in the fiscal year when the research begins.
(In some cases, this age restriction may be relaxed for persons who were unable to engage in research activities due to leave for childbirth/childrearing.)
- ii.Strategic FS Framework
This is framework for applications for survey research related to study of future topics (feasibility study research), in which concrete means of implementing future research topics in strategic research and development areas are studied/analyzed in advance of the actual research.The object fields will be determined by the Ministry of the Environment.
- iii.Integrated Evaluation Framework
This is a framework for applications for research topics involving integration/evaluation of recent results in connection with designated advanced research topics.It is assumed that the results of this type of research will be used by persons with responsibility for policy when drafting policies and in international negotiations.
Qualifications for participation in research and responsibilities of representative
Persons with affiliation as researchers in Japan (irrespective of nationality) in industry, academia, and private and governmental research organizations.
Research institutions in other countries are not eligible to receive funding.
The representative of the research project will have overall responsibility for the project for the scheduled term of the research, and will be responsible for allocation of funds among the researchers, management of the progress of the research, response to the results of evaluations of the research, etc.
Term of research
For the Young Researcher Framework, either 1 year or 2 years. For the Strategic FS Framework and Integration/Evaluation Framework, 1 year.
Research budget
Young Researcher Framework: Maximum of \10 million/year for one project.
Strategic FS Framework, Integration/Evaluation Framework: Maximum of \10 million/year for one project.
4.International Exchange Research
Conditions of research
Research for the purpose of international environmental research carried out as joint research by non-Japanese researchers in the environmental field who are invited to Japan (“invited researcher”) and researchers in research institutions in Japan (“host researcher”).This research is assigned/comprises part of a research topic under either item 1 or 2 above (“parent project”), and must satisfy the conditions of the parent project, including its purpose of research, achievement targets, etc.
Conditions for invited researchers
Invited researchers must satisfy all of the following conditions:
- Must not possess Japanese nationality or permanent residence visa status in Japan.
- Must hold a doctorate or other equivalent degree or qualifications in a field of natural sciences or humanities and social sciences. However, in cases where the person obtained the said degree or qualifications in a country other than an advanced country, the person concerned must have a career of at least 3 years of research activities in an advanced country, or must be recognized as possessing the same level of actual ability.
- Must have no health problems which would hinder research activities.
- Must be proficient in either the Japanese language or English language.
Conditions for host researchers
Host researchers must be affiliated as a researcher with a research institution in Japan.
Term of research
The term of research is, in principle, within one year. However, a maximum of 4 extensions (total term of research of 5 years) may be approved when continuation of the research is recognized as necessary, based on the interviews with the invited researcher and host researcher regarding the potential for development of the research, status of progress, etc.
