HOME > The purpose of Research Grant Programs
Research Grant Programs: Purpose
As we head towards an uncertain world whose societies and natural environment are changing rapidly, expectations for scientific and technological innovation that create new value and realize richer societies are increasingly growing. Researchers, who are counted upon to uphold the creation of new knowledge, will be called upon more than ever to apply their free-flowing thoughts towards the conception of a future image of societies and the opening of paths to a new world.
The Canon Foundation offers the below two research grant programs with the intention of supporting research that goes beyond traditional confines to tackle new challenges, research with a considerable vision, and other forms of research. Our hope is that these programs will facilitate the development of innovative research that creates new value with a view to the future.
Research Grant Programs: Overview
“Science and Technology that Achieve a Good Future:” Aiming to resolve social challenges with a view to the future
Science and technology have enriched human societies over time. At the same time, they have also brought forth difficult problems from humanity’s perspective, an example of which is environmental issues on a global scale. Furthermore, in the future, various forms of science and technology that we have yet to know about will surely exert a myriad of complicated effects on the societies of mankind.
Simultaneously, for humanity to realize societies in which we can live richer lives, it is also necessary for us to create new value that we still have to discover.
This program aids the research of innovative science and technology for addressing social challenges foreseen in future societies and achieving a good future.
The Canon Foundation wants researchers to personally outline their concept of an ideal future and challenge themselves to address increasingly complex social issues and establish social systems.
“Science and Technology that Create New Industries:” Aiming to realize innovation in industry
Over time, science and technology has given rise to new industry, considerably altered industrial structure and, at times, made societies previously believed to be infeasible a reality. Certainly, an example of this is how artificial intelligence has ushered in a significant transformation of societies.
This program aids the research of innovative science and technology that leads to the creation of new industry that greater society is not yet familiar with.
The Canon Foundation wants researchers to set highly creative challenges based on a long-term vision for new industry creation that they themselves outline and challenge themselves to engage in innovative, original research.
Research Grant Programs: Characteristics
- Under these two programs, the Canon Foundation has made the amount of grant money for each application relatively large in order to encourage researchers to take on challenges with a considerable vision. Additionally, the Foundation flexibly accommodates changes to initial plans for the application of grant budgets (purpose of purchases, expense items, monetary amounts, etc.) by reducing limitations on that application.
- The Canon Foundation has also reduced limitations on the application of grants so that they can be flexibly changed to match progress in the pertinent research.
- Through the Screening Committee and Foundation staff, the Canon Foundation will carefully follow up on research during the grant period in order to help researchers meet their challenging research objectives. Forums for researcher exchange, etc. to take place after the grant period has come to an end are arranged for as well.
- The Canon Foundation also takes a proactive stance towards accommodating the life events, etc. of researchers.
| Amount of grants | maximum amounts per application Science and Technology that Achieve a Good Future : 30million yen Science and Technology that Create New Industries : 20million yen |
|---|---|
| Numbers of grants adopted | Science and Technology that Achieve a Good Future : around 3 Science and Technology that Create New Industries : around 10 |
| Grant period | Three years, in principle |
| Grant targets | Researchers employed by Japanese universities, graduate schools, technical colleges, public research institutes, etc |
| Screening method | First screening (of documents) and second screening (interviews) by members of the Canon Foundation Screening Committee |
