Overview of 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 France in the field of “Molecular Technology”, as designated by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT).

2. Field of collaboration

The field of “Molecular Technology”

3. Prospective Applicants

Japanese and French 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

Three years

5. Amount of Funding

23 million yen (plus overhead costs 7 million yen) from JST to the Japanese researchers per project, over three years

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.

7. Evaluation Process

JST and ANR independently evaluated and ranked proposals according to their respective peer review processes. Based on the results of their evaluations, JST and ANR 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) Intellectual Merit (Scientific quality and innovativeness of the joint research plan);
2. 2) Conformity with the Call Scope;
3. 3) Research Plan (Concrete and challenging goals to be accomplished/Feasibility and appropriateness of the methodology);
4. 4) Research Foundation (Accessibility to experimental facilities, data and samples/interdisciplinary/ inclusion of all necessary expertise);
5. 5) Team Members (Competences and expertise of the Japanese and French research teams regarding the proposed work/diversity and complementarities of their research expertise);
6. 6) Synergy from the Collaboration (Added value from the equal partnership among Japanese-French teams);
7. 7) Collaboration Management (Feasibility and appropriateness of the member exchange plan/the management plan of research resources and outcomes);
8. 8) Sustainable Development of the Collaboration (Networking especially among PhD students and post-docs, Co-funded Laboratories, etc.);
9. 9) Budget Justification (Appropriateness of funding requested);
10. 10) Potential Impacts (not only for academia but also for industry and society).