1. National Science Foundation of China:NSFC
(1) Outline of the Organization:
The NSFC was established in 1986 by the approval of the State Council. In accordance with the policies for the development of science and technology in China, the NSFC supports basic research and some of applied research by national fund from the government (4.331 billion yuan for 2007 (approx. 65 billion yen at 1 yuan=15yen)). The major activities are planning and implementation of basic research support, S&T researcher fostering and environmental arrangement for innovative research. The NSFC also promotes international cooperation with S&T governmental departments, science foundations, and related academic organizations in other countries.
(2) Speaker:
Minghong HE, Vice President
His research area is Metallurgy.
(3) Cooperation with JST
Strategic International Cooperative Program (SICP) -Research Exchange Type-
Field of Cooperation: "Science and Technology for Environment Conservation and Construction of a Society with Less Environmental Burden" since 2004.
Personel Exchange Program scince 2006.
2. French National Research Agency:ANR
(1) Outline of the Organization:
The ANR was first established as a public benefit corporation in 2005, and then formalized as a public institution in 2007. From the time of the original establishment, its purpose has been; focused investment in areas prioritized by the nation, establishment of the transparent evaluation system in accordance with the international standard, creating a flexible research implementation structure, activation of the research by building competitive environment, promoting inter-institution collaboration such as industry-academia collaboration, and maintenance of the appropriate balance between basic research and applied research. Its budget is 700 million euro in 2005, 800 million euro for 2006, and 820 hundred million euro (approx. 106.6 billion yen at 1 euro=130 yen) for 2007. For 2010, the budget is aimed to reach 1.3 billion euro (169 billion yen (same rate as above)).
(2) Speaker:
Jacques STERN, Chairman
He has been appointed as Chairman of the ANR in 2007. He is an expert in computer security and cryptography. He has been a member of the French Scientific Defense Council and of the Strategic Council for Information Technology, as well as a member of the Scientific Board of France Télécom and of the Observatory for the Security of Payment Cards.
(3) Cooperation with JST
Strategic International Cooperative Program (SICP) -Research Exchange Type-
Field of Cooperation: "Information and Communication Technologies(ICT) including Computer Science" since 2006.
Strategic International Cooperative Program (SICP) - Joint Research Type -
Field of Cooperation: "Information and Communication Science and Technologies (ICT)" since 2008.
3. German Research Foundationa:DFG
(1) Outline of the Organization:
Its predecessor was established in 1920 for the promotion of science. After the Second World War, it has been re-established, and then integrated with other institute to form an organization as of now. The annual budget is approx. 1.73 billion euro for 2007 (22.49 billion yen at 1 euro=130 yen). The investment ratio between the federal government and the state government is 62:36. Approximately 20% of the university's total R&D budget are funded by the DFG. Its main activities are research support for universities and public research institute (majority of the fund is allocated to universities), collaboration/communication support between researchers, supporting young researchers, and providing scientific advice to the legislature.
(2) Speaker:
Bernd SCHOLZ-REITER, Vice President
He has been appointed as Vice President of the DFG in 2007.
His research area is "Planning and control of manufacturing systems."
He concurrently holds the positions of Director of the Bremen Institute for Industrial Technology and Applied Work Science (BIBA) at the University of Bremen, and Head of the research centre Intelligent Production and Logistics Systems.
(3) Cooperation with JST
Strategic International Cooperative Program (SICP) -Research Exchange Type-
Field of Cooperation: "Nanoelectronics" since 2007.
Strategic International Cooperative Program (SICP) - Joint Research Type -
Field of Cooperation: "Nanoelectronics" since 2009.
4. National Research Foundation of Korea:NRF
(1) Outline of the Organization:
Following the integration of the Ministry of Education and Human Resources and the Ministry of Science and Technology in 2008, the NRF has been established in 2009 by the integration of three organizations; Korea Research Foundation (KRF), Korea Science and Engineering Foundation (KOSEF), and Korea Foundation for International Cooperation of Science and Technology (KICOS). The NRF supports basic research and source technology development through bottom-up type funding, while climate change adaptation, nuclear power research, space development, and fusion energy development are supported by target-oriented funding. The annual budget for 2009 is 2,038 million USD (approx. 203.8 billion yen at 1USD=100 yen).
(2) Speaker:
Chan Mo PARK, President
He has been the first President of NRF that was established in June, 2009. He is an expert in Digital Image Processing, Computer Graphics & Computer Vision, System Simulation, Virtual Reality Information Technology.
(3) Cooperation with JST
Strategic International Cooperative Program (SICP) -Research Exchange Type-
Field of Cooperation: "Bio Science" in 2009.
5. National Council on Science and Technology:CONACYT
(1) Outline of the Organization:
The National Council on Science and Technology (CONACYT) was created by the congress of Mexico in 1970. Its role is to promote science and technology policy in Mexico. By supporting the research regarding information technology, biotechnology, advanced material, and urban planning in particular, the CONACYT aims for improvement in living standard and social welfare standard in Mexico.
(2) Speaker:
Juan Carlos ROMERO-HICKS,, Director-General
President Felipe Calderón Hinojosa appointed Mr. Juan Carlos Romero-Hicks as Director General of the National Council of Science and Technology of Mexico, an office he has held since December 13th, 2006.
(3) Cooperation with JST
Concluding MoU between JST and CONACYT (Mexico), February 2010 for promoting cooperation under Strategic International Cooperative Program (SICP).
6. Swedish Governmental Agency for Innovation Systems:VINNOVA
(1) Outline of the Organization:
The VINNOVA is a Swedish governmental organization established in 2001 which supports innovation-oriented research. In order to strengthen the industry-academia collaborative research, it promotes the development of economical growth and innovation system though supporting target-oriented research. Its budget is approximately 190 million euro (approx. 25 billion yen at 1 euro=130 yen), which is 6.5% of the overall R&D fund in Sweden.
(2) Speaker:
Jonas BRANDSTROM, Chief Strategic Officer
He has a research background in electron microscopy and the nanostructure of renewable materials. He has been Programme Manager for R&D-programs such as Green Materials, Sustainable and Innovative use of Natural Resources and Eco-innovation.
(3) Cooperation with JST
Strategic International Cooperative Program (SICP) -Research Exchange Type-
Field of Cooperation: "Multidisciplinary BIO" since 2004.
7. Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council:EPSRC
(1) Outline of the Organization:
Promoting research in nanoscience, nanotechnology, material, environmental technology, energy, physical science, mathematical science and so on, the EPSRC is the research supporting institution with the largest budget among seven Research Councils in the UK. It has no laboratory within its organization. The annual budget of 2008 is £792 million (approx. 150 billion yen at £1=190 yen). The EPSRC supports basic research and applied research with approximately fifty-fifty budget ratio between these two.
(2) Speaker:
Catherine COATES, Director for Business Innovation
Her resaerch field is Zoology. She has started her career at EPSRC since 1990 as a Programme Manager. She has been appointed as Director since 2000 and as Director for Business Innovation since 2008.
(3) Cooperation with JST
Strategic International Cooperative Program (SICP) -Research Exchange Type-
Field of Cooperation: "Advanced Materials" since 2008.
8. National Science Foundation:NSF
(1) Outline of the Organization:
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency established in 1950 to promote the progress of science and technology. Apart from the medical fields where the National Institutes of Health (NIH) supports, the NSF provides a wide range of supports even including fields such as mathematics, computer science, and social science. The NSF is encouraging the Congress to double the annual budget of 5.6 billion USD (the amount as of 2006) within 10 years (However, the target year has been changed from 2016 to 2017 during FY2011 budgetary request). The annual budget for 2010 is expected to be 6.87 billion USD (approx. 612 billion yen at 1USD=90 yen). For 2011, the NSF is requesting 7.42 billion USD, which is 8% increase. The NSF covers 20% of overall amount of funding to university's basic research from the US federal government. Except for its polar region program, the NSF has no laboratory of its own, making it specialized for funding external institution such as universities.
(2) Speaker:TBD
(3) Cooperation with JST
Strategic International Cooperative Program (SICP) -Research Exchange Type-
Field of Cooperation: "Critical Information Infrastructure Protection" since 2004.