Research Fields & Areas

Research Fields & Areas

Research fields and areas eligible for SATREPS projects

1. Environment and Energy (Provisional Translation)

For this fiscal year, three categories have been established in the field of Environment and Energy: two "Specific Research Areas" targeting projects in a particular area of research aimed to realize policy needs, and a "Non-specific Research Area" targeting projects which is not included under the "Specific Research Area" but is expected to yield significant results. Selection this year will also target research projects in which there is a high degree of demand for implementation in developing countries and capacity building of researchers in those countries. Projects also ought to envisage their outcomes being applied to the benefit of society including those in counterpart developing country and towards the resolution of global issues. A project is not be eligible if it consists merely of transfer of Japanese technology without entailing any joint research, and of simple operations that do not make any contribution to the advancement of science and technology.

1 ) Research Area 1 (Specific Research Area) "Research contributing to adaptation to or mitigation of climate change"

The Fourth Assessment Report of the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) indicated that climate change would have a major impact on issues such as water, ecosystems, food, coastal areas and health, and proposed policy measures in the specific areas of energy supply, transport, architecture, industry, agriculture, forests and waste that could be applied by national governments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Mitigation strategies currently being planned and implemented will be insufficient to address climate change into the future: further enhancement will be necessary. Current conditions are already prompting forecasts of protracted expansion of impact across almost all areas, meaning that climate change cannot be addressed through measures for mitigation alone. We need to reduce the pace of climate change and diminish the risks associated with it through a combination of adaptation and mitigation approaches.
In light of these views, in FY2010, applications will be accepted mainly in the following research projects.

• Research contributing to adaptation to climate change
• Research contributing to mitigation of climate change

Research projects which include above components but targeting biological resources (including biomass energy, conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem) shall be categorized in research area 2.

2 ) Research area 2 (Specific Research Area) "Research contributing to energy systems for low carbon society"

At the Group of Eight meeting in L'Aquila summit in July 2009, it is recognized that the increase in global average temperature above pre-industrial levels should not exceed 2°C and all countries will set the goal of achieving at least a 50% reduction of global emissions by 2050. As part of this, the Leaders of the Group of Eight meeting also supported a goal of developed countries reducing emissions of greenhouse gases in aggregate by 80% or more by 2050 compared to 1990 or more recent years. Japanese government also formulated action plan for achieving low carbon society in July 2008 and is steadily implementing the action plan.
It is essential for not only developed countries but also developing counties to take part in the implementation of achieving low carbon society in order to reduce global emissions. Furthermore, research on energy systems for low carbon society contributes to the reduction of consumption of fossil fuels.
In FY2010, applications will be accepted for following types of research projects. These are provided simply by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of eligible projects.

• Research on the utilization of renewable energy or new energy including biomass energy.
• Research on basic technologies and systems for advanced utilization of energy, energy saving, carbon separation/ capture/ storage, etc.
• Research contributing to optimization and efficiency improvement of energy systems for industry, transportation, and buildings.

3 ) Research area 3 (Non-specific research area) "Research contributing to the resolution of global-scale environmental issues"

Outside the scope of research area 1 and 2 above, applications will be accepted for research projects contributing to the resolution of global-scale environmental issues. These projects must be congruent with social needs in developing countries and related closely to the advancement of science and technology in Japan.
In FY2010, applications will be accepted for following types of research projects.These are provided simply by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of eligible projects

• Research contributing to the biodiversity and ecosystem conservation including bioremediation.
• Research contributing to the acquisition and processing of safe water supply
• Research contributing to the secure management of chemical risks
• Research contributing to the development of recycling-oriented societies
• Other important research projects

2. Bioresources Utilization (Provisional Translation)

Research area: "Research contributing to sustainable utilization of bioresources" (Provisional Translation)

At Toyako G8 Summit in 2008 and international meetings, G8 expert leaders were concerned that the steep rise in global food prices and deforestation in a number of developing countries are threatening global food security. Desertification, spread of pest and salinisation etc. are also major issues endangering the security. In order to resolve these issues it is essential to enhancing research and development on bioresources production, utilization and management as well as to increase accessibility to the outcomes and resulting new technologies, which may lead to improvement of food productivity and functionality. In order to continue enjoying the benefits produced from bioresources, it is crucial to come up with innovative ways to produce and utilize bioresources in a sustainable manner.
Applications are acceptable for research projects, in which there is a high demand for research implementation and capacity building in developing countries. Projects should also be the kinds which both the counterpart developing country and Japan can hope that collaboration between the two countries would bring about further advancements of bioresources production and utilization.
Proposed research projects must envisage the outcomes of the project contributing to the resolution of global issues in the developing country. Projects that consist merely of technology transfer and provision of knowledge from Japan without entailing any joint research, as well as research whose contribution to bioresources production and utilization is limited to only either of the countries involved, will not be eligible.
Examples of eligible research projects are given below. These are just examples and are not intended to limit the scope of eligibility.

• Research contributing to sustainable production of bioresources: breeding and cultivation methods for bioresources, resource management of marine bioresources
• Research contributing to utilization and evaluation of bioresources

However, the following research topics are excluded.

• Research contributing to the utilization of biomass energy, conservation and adaptation of bio-ecosystem and biodiversity
• Research activities that lead to resolve environment and energy covered under Research Field 1 above

3. Natural Disaster Prevention (Provisional Translation)

Research area: "Natural Disaster Prevention attuned to the needs of developing countries"

Natural disasters in developing countries have many aspects in common with those experienced in Japan in the past. Japan is a leader in the field of natural disaster prevention, and there are many possibilities for application of the knowledge accumulated in Japan up to now. For the purposes of natural disaster prevention in Japan, too, it is hoped that further advancements will be made in technology such as earthquake and tsunami early warning systems and high-precision weather forecasting. To achieve this, it will be important not only to gather observation data of Japan and apply it to research and development here, but to adopt an integrated and organized approach to advancement of research and development within a broader global framework.
The United Nations World Conference on Disaster Reduction held in January 2005 produced the "Hyogo Framework for Action", a worldwide strategy for natural disaster prevention f the next ten years. This framework underlines the need for each country to engage in focused efforts toward natural disaster prevention, and the importance of providing technical assistance to developing countries.
This background has lead the decision to invite applications for research projects related to natural disaster prevention. Applications will be accepted for research projects, in which there is a high degree of demand for implementation in developing countries and capacity building of researchers in those countries. Projects should be ones that are shared by both a developing country and Japan, and in which collaboration between the two countries can be expected to yield even greater advancements.
Proposed research projects must envisage the outcomes of joint research being returned to the society towards the resolution of global issues including those in the developing country. Projects that consist merely of transfer of technology and provision of knowledge from Japan without entailing any joint research, and research whose contribution to natural disaster prevention/ mitigation is limited to only one of the countries involved, will not be eligible. On the basis of these considerations, several examples are given below of the types of research projects that will be eligible. These are provided simply by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of eligibility.

• Research related to explication of natural disaster mechanisms through measurement of natural phenomena associated with earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, etc.
• Research and development for the purpose of collection, organization, effective provision and utilization of natural disaster-related information
• Research and development relating to technology for damage mitigation in natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunami and floods

4. Infectious Disease Control (Provisional Translation)

Research area: "Research on measures to address infectious diseases attuned to the needs of developing countries"

H1N1, highly pathogenic avian influenza, HIV/AIDS, malaria, dengue fever, tuberculosis and other emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases not only pose a threat to health in developing countries, but act as a major impediment to social and economic development. The frequency with which people and goods are now moving across national borders means that these problems are not confined to developing countries. By contributing to efforts to address infectious disease issues in developing countries, we can in turn play a part in protecting the health of individuals from Japan who reside in or travel to those countries, and in curbing the entry of infectious diseases into Japan itself. For these reasons, Japan needs to work in cooperation with developing countries on research to address Infectious Disease Control on a global scale.
In light of these conditions, in FY2010, applications are invited for projects involving research on prevention, diagnosis and treatment, etc. of infectious diseases, implemented through joint research with research institutions in a developing country and thereby contributing to the enhancement of public health, science and technology in the developing country and Japan. Applications must involve projects in which, founded on the conditions of and needs relating to Infectious Disease Control in developing countries, there is a high degree of demand for research implementation in developing countries and capacity building of researchers in those countries.
Proposed research projects must envisage outcomes of joint research being returned to the society towards the resolution of global issues including those in the developing country. Projects that consist merely of transfer of Japanese technology without entailing any joint research, and simple operations that do not make any contribution to the advancement of science and technology will not be eligible. On the basis of these considerations, several examples are given below of the types of research projects that will be eligible. These are provided simply by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of eligibility.

• Research and development on technology of diagnostics, vaccines and therapeutics necessary to detect and control infectious diseases such as highly pathogenic avian influenza, HIV/AIDS, malaria, Dengue fever, Tuberculosis and other emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases
• Establishment of public health, hygiene and medical care systems based on new scientific knowledge

(Complementary explanation) Examples described above shall not be understood that comprehensive proposals covering all aspects of diagnostics, vaccines and therapeutics are recommended. Rather, it is highly requested to sharply target the subject of proposals based on research results obtained so far, supported by existing cooperative activities and thereby expected to smooth operation of joint activities.As for proposals relating to the Program of Founding Research Centers for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases operated by MEXT, it is expected that proposals based on needs of counterpart countries, including future plan for utilizing research outcomes to the society such as an improvement of research capability and enhancement of public health of counterpart countries will be submitted, rather than proposals which are merely extension of research activities, that is , identical activities from aspects of objectives, target diseases, approaches and PIs of research in the centers. Also, it is expected that proposals which include research activities in regional center of excellences cooperating with neighboring countries will be submitted.

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