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Reference

"FY2014 Strategic International Collaborative Research Program (SICORP)"
Japan-New Zealand Collaborative Research Projects
Overview of the Program and the Evaluation

1. Aims of the Program

The Program aims at promoting cooperation in science and technology as well as developing Japan’s science and technology capacity for the future. The Program is administered based on an intergovernmental agreement between Japan and New Zealand in the field of “Bioscience and Biotechnology”, as designated by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT).

2. Field of collaboration

The field of “Functional Foods”

3. Prospective Applicants

Japanese and New Zealand researchers at universities, research institutes or companies were invited to submit proposals for cooperative research projects in the research field described above.

4. Period of Research

Two years

5. Amount of Funding

20.8 million yen from JST to the Japanese researchers per project over two years, inclusive of overhead costs.

6. Funded Expenses

Funding provided within this call is intended to enhance the capacity of the applicants to collaborate. Funding will therefore be provided mainly in support of collaborative activities such as travel and holding symposia/seminars and may also support local research expenses such as in the provision of facilities, equipment and consumables that are necessary for the collaboration. Indirect costs may also be claimed though they should be no more than 30 percent of direct costs.

7. Evaluation Process

JST and MBIE independently evaluated and ranked proposals according to their respective peer review processes. Based on the results of their evaluations, JST and MBIE exchanged views and successfully negotiated to jointly decide on the selected projects.

8. Evaluation Criteria

The following general evaluation criteria were applied to each application:

  1. 1) Conformity with Program Aims and Designated Research Fields
  2. 2)Capability of Research Leaders and Current Research Activities
  3. 3)Effectiveness and Synergy of the Joint Research Activity
  4. 4)Validity of Research Plan
  5. 5)Effectiveness and Continuity of Exchange
  6. 6)Validity of Exchange Plan

JST, an integrated organization of science and technology in Japan, establishes an infrastructure for the entire process from the creation of knowledge to the return to the society. For more information, visit http://www.jst.go.jp/EN/