About SATREPS

• About SATREPS
• Focus of SATREPS projects
• Program Director and Program Officers

About SATREPS

SATREPS: Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development

SATREPS (Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development) is a Japanese government program that promotes international joint research targeting global issues. Global challenges cannot be met by a single country or region acting on its own, so engagement by the international community is essential. To address these issues, SATREPS works through three- to five-year projects involving partnerships between researchers in Japan and researchers in developing countries. SATREPS projects are expected to lead to outcomes with potential for practical utilization, and to enhance research capacity in the developing country. The program is a collaboration between two Japanese government agencies: the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Background: Global issues need international collaboration

Many of the greatest threats that we face today—including global warming, infectious diseases, and natural disasters—are global issues that are intractable without further advances in science and technology. In order to resolve such issues it is essential to have an active commitment from the research community to develop and apply new technology, acquire new knowledge, and encourage innovation and economic development. Global issues affect more than a single country or region, and cannot be resolved without international collaboration. Developing countries tend to be hit particularly hard by such issues, and have a strong need for research and development based on local needs. Japan has strengths in science and technology, so partnering with Japan is an excellent way for a developing country to address these issues.

Many developing countries also have an urgent need to enhance their independent capacity to comprehensively handle global issues and train appropriate human resources. Japan is often approached by countries working towards sustainable development and hoping to boost their capacity for science and technology. They aim to do this by enhancing the self-reliant R&D capabilities of universities and other research institutes, and by constructing sustainable systems for problem solving. In order for human society to develop in a sustainable manner, and in order to make progress with research on the global issues that are increasingly important for the research community, Japan considers it essential to put more effort into collaborative research between researchers in Japan and in developing countries.

Addressing global issues, advancing science, developing capacity

SATREPS is a collaboration between JST and JICA with the following aims.

SATREPS joins and coordinates functions, activities, and capabilities that were once separate, using scientific research potential as a mediator for developmental diplomacy.

Projects selected

SATREPS projects are selected each year from project proposals submitted by Japanese research institutions. In the first five years beginning in April 2008, a total of 68 projects commenced in 35 countries.

Area	Number of eligible countries	Number of projects
Asia	10 countries	34 projects
Latin America/Caribbean	7 countries	11 projects
Africa	14 countries	19 projects
Other regions	4 countries	4 projects

(Details)

Amount of support available

JST + JICA total : About ¥100 million per project per yearJST : About ¥36 million per project per year

JST and JICA work together to fund research projects

SATREPS projects are conducted through collaboration between JST and JICA. JST uses research contracts to support research costs incurred in Japan (and in other locations outside the developing country involved in the project). In contrast, JICA provides support through its technical cooperation project framework to cover costs* in the developing country. Overall R&D management of the international joint research is handled jointly by JST, which has expertise in funding research projects at research institutions in Japan, and JICA, which has expertise in technical cooperation in developing countries.

* Costs in the developing country: Since costs are covered by JICA through its Technical Cooperation Framework, self-help efforts by the developing country are crucial. Consequently, personnel costs and office usage costs in the developing country, consumables used by the developing country research team, operation and maintenance of equipment provided, and local in-country travel costs for the developing country's researchers are normally covered by the developing country itself. Equipment, machinery, and materials for research are covered where possible by the developing country facilitating the use of existing equipment, but JICA provides support for additional procurement where necessary for the project. JICA also covers travel and subsistence costs when researchers travel between the two countries.

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