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Q&A for Application for Research Proposals for the Strategic Basic Research Programs (CREST, PRESTO, ACT-I)

　Q&A for Application for Research Proposals for the Strategic Basic Research Programs (CREST, PRESTO, ACT-I) is included in Application Guideline.

Q&A of Japan France Joint call based on CREST program Question from researchers in Japan

Questions

（On the applications and review processes）

Q

Should we submit the proposal to Japan (JST) or France (ANR)?

Q

When applying for a joint call between Japan and France, what form should we use?

Q

How should I apply?

Q

When is the period of submission for JST and ANR?

Q

How do you conduct the screening process?

Q

When will the results be published?

Q

Is it possible for a principal investigator to apply for both domestic CREST and the Japan-France joint call, if it is a different content and member configuration?

Q

In the field of “Creation of an innovative quantum technology platform based on the advanced control of quantum states” and “Creation and development of core technologies interfacing human and information environments”, do I have to submit the proposal to joint call?

Q

Is it possible for Japanese who are studying at a research institute in France to apply as a principal investigator of the French side group?

Q

When a researcher of French nationality who belongs to a research institution in Japan applies as a principal investigator, which group will he/she apply for?

Q

Do members of the French group have to register in e-Rad?

Q

Does the principal investigator of the French group have to come to Japan during the interview screening?

Q

Can I cancel the application and switch to the domestic application if I apply for a joint call?

Q

Is it possible to make corrections when submitting to CREST after submitting to ANR?

Q

Please tell me the examination criteria of the joint call.

Q

I am currently conducting a CREST project as a principal investigator. Can I apply to the joint call to extend the ongoing project with French group?

（On conducting research）

Q

After adoption, how will research funds be paid?

Q

How much is the amount of research funds supported by CREST?

Q

How do I bear research expenses that occur in joint research?

Q

What kind of procedures should I take when I take the research equipment purchased by the Japanese side of the CREST budget to France during the research period?

Q

On the midterm/post evaluations carried out in CREST, are they evaluated including the research of the French group?

Q

Does the ANR program have a top-down management mechanism as practiced in CREST?

Q

How can I handle intellectual property?

Answers

（On the applications and review processes）

Ｑ

Should we submit the proposal to Japan (JST) or France (ANR)?

Ａ

Apply and submit your proposal to both JST and ANR. The principal investigator on the French side should apply and submit to ANR, and the principal investigator on the Japanese side should apply and submit to JST. To be accepted, the proposal must be submitted to both ANR and JST.

Ｑ

When applying for a joint call between Japan and France, what form should we use?

Ａ

Please fill out the Common application form, which is specially prepared for the joint call of Japan and France.
Download here. Submissions to JST must include an overview written in Japanese. Please check the information here for submission to ANR.

Ｑ

How should I apply?

Ａ

Both ANR and JST require electronic applications. Check the information of ANR for submission to ANR. Please submit your applications to JST via e-Rad.
We will inform you of the JST application method from this website at a later date. For reference, please refer to the application guidelines for last year.

Ｑ

When is the period of submission for JST and ANR?

Ａ

For ANR, the solicitation period is from Thursday 15 February 2018 to Monday 16 April 2018 10:00 (CET). Regarding the solicitation period for JST, we will notify you on this website at a later date. Note that the deadline of ANR is prior to that of JST.

Ｑ

How do you conduct the screening process?

Ａ

After conducting separate evaluations at ANR and JST, both organizations will consult on the evaluation results.

Ｑ

When will the results be published?

Ａ

The timing of the announcement of the results is planned to be concurrent with that of CREST, which is generally made in September.

Ｑ

Is it possible for a principal investigator to apply for both domestic CREST and the Japan-France joint call, if it is a different content and member configuration?

Ａ

The same principal investigator may only make one CREST application. The Strategic Basic Research Programs clearly sets out restrictions on duplicate applications based on the management policy. For details, refer to Chapter 9 "Limitations on the Overlap of Proposals within the Strategic Basic Research Programs" of the Application Guideline of 2017. In fiscal year 2018, rules will conform to the 2017 call requirements.

Ｑ

In the field of “Creation of an innovative quantum technology platform based on the advanced control of quantum states” and “Creation and development of core technologies interfacing human and information environments”, do I have to submit the proposal to joint call?

Ａ

No, you can select either the joint or the domestic call. Note that the deadline for ANR is prior to that of JST.

Ｑ

Is it possible for Japanese who are studying at a research institute in France to apply as a principal investigator of the French side group?

Ａ

For applications to ANR, please contact ANR directly.

Ｑ

When a researcher of French nationality who belongs to a research institution in Japan applies as a principal investigator, which group will he/she apply for?

Ａ

Regardless of nationality, you can apply for CREST as a principal investigator in Japan if you belong to a domestic research institution. In such cases, principal investigators must register for e-Rad.

Ｑ

Do members of the French group have to register in e-Rad?

Ａ

It is not necessary for members of the French group to register.

Ｑ

Does the principal investigator of the French group have to come to Japan during the interview screening?

Ａ

The French group does not need to attend the CREST interview. Only the Japanese principal investigator is required to do so.

Ｑ

Can I cancel the application and switch to the domestic application if I apply for a joint call?

Ａ

You may not switch to domestic application once submitted to ANR.

Ｑ

Is it possible to make corrections when submitting to CREST after submitting to ANR?

Ａ

You may not change the contents of proposals once submitted to ANR.

Ｑ

Please tell me the examination criteria of the joint call.

Ａ

It is the same as the review points of domestic CREST. In addition to the review of each area of CREST, JST values the potential for complementarity and synergy between the research groups in both countries. On the selection perspective, refer to Chapter 5 “Common subject matters of CREST, PRESTO and ACT-I Program” of the Application Guideline of 2017.

Ｑ

I am currently conducting a CREST project as a principal investigator. Can I apply to the joint call to extend the ongoing project with French group?

Ａ

No. You may not conduct multiple CREST projects as a principal investigator in parallel unless the project finishes in FY2018.

（On conducting research）

Ｑ

After adoption, how will research funds be paid?

Ａ

The Japanese side is paid from JST, and the French side is supplied from ANR. In principle, every research organization of the Japanese group will conclude a research contract with JST. In addition, JST, under the research contract, pays research institutions funds up to 30% of the research budget to cover overhead.

Ｑ

How much is the amount of research funds supported by CREST?

Ａ

The amount of support to the Japanese group is determined according to the provisions of CREST. CREST is generally 5.5 years in duration and the "Creation and development of core technologies interfacing human and information environments" area’s upper range is 300 million yen for 5.5 years. The limit of "Creation of an innovative quantum technology platform based on the advanced control of quantum states" area is 200 million or 350 million yen. For more information, please visit "the Research Supervisor's Policy on Call for Application, Selection, and Management of the Research Area" of each Research Area. ANR supports an average of €500,000 (Full year: 5 years). For support by ANR, please refer here.

Ｑ

How do I bear research expenses that occur in joint research?

Ａ

In principle, the costs required for research carried out by the Japanese side are covered by the Japanese side, and the research costs of the French side are covered by the French group.

Ｑ

What kind of procedures should I take when I take the research equipment purchased by the Japanese side of the CREST budget to France during the research period?

Ａ

Please follow the rules for each institution and the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act (Foreign Exchange Law).

Ｑ

On the midterm/post evaluations carried out in CREST, are they evaluated including the research of the French group?

Ａ

Yes. The research activity of the French group will be considered in the evaluations in CREST. JST and ANR are scheduled to evaluate independently. JST evaluates joint research based on reports prepared by Japanese researchers. Evaluation results may differ because JST and ANR evaluate independently.

Ｑ

Does the ANR program have a top-down management mechanism as practiced in CREST?

Ａ

ANR programs basically do not perform top-down management as practiced in CREST. If the French group is working differently than the research proposal, or there is a serious problem, such as poor progress, JST will contact ANR and try to resolve such issues.

Ｑ

How can I handle intellectual property?

Ａ

After adoption, the Japanese group is required to conclude a joint research agreement with the French group, so please discuss the handling of research results among stakeholders from the time of application. Please refer to the following documents for reference examples of joint research agreements.
(Strategic International Research Cooperative Program)