Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) conducted a Concurrent Call for Proposals in “Renewable Energy” and “Energy Use” research in collaboration with the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)*1 . Through a previously agreed evaluation process, JST and NSERC reached a common decision regarding which project to select for funding. The newly-selected project for the Japanese-Canadian (JST-NSERC) Research Cooperative Program*2, as part of the FY2012 Strategic International Research Cooperative Program (SICP)*3 is as follows:
Title of the selected project:
“Drying and torrefaction of biomass in fluidized beds with energy recovery and self-heat recuperation”
Japanese-side Principal Investigator (PI):
Atsushi Tsutsumi, Professor, The University of Tokyo
Canadian-side Principal Investigator (PI):
Xiaotao Bi, Professor, University of British Columbia
Topic:
This new joint project aims to drastically reduce overall energy consumption of wood pellets production compared with conventional processes by developing an innovative torrefied wood pellets production process, in which heat recuperative fluidized bed drying is integrated with biomass torrefication.
For this Call, one project has been selected out of 4 proposals, in an evaluation carried out by committees of experts independently selected by JST and NSERC. The decision on funding was made jointly by JST and NSERC, considering factors such as validity of research plan and effectiveness of exchange. The period of research will be three years, starting in December 2012.
*1 Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)
Refer to: http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/index_eng.asp
*2 Japanese-Canadian(JST-NSERC) Research Cooperative Program
Based on an agreement made at the Canada-Japan Joint Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation meeting, which was held in Ottawa in November 2010, the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) decided on “Environmental Science and Technologies” and “Energy” as the fields of collaborative research between Japan and Canada. According to that decision, JST chose “Energy” as a priority area in which to launch the first concurrent call.
*3 Strategic International Research Cooperative Program (SICP)
SICP is a “top-down type” of program that provides support to international research projects with countries and regions, in fields of cooperation designated by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) on the basis of intergovernmental agreements.
Refer to: http://www.jst.go.jp/inter/english/project/purpose.html
Attachments
1: The Selected Project for the JST-NSERC Research Cooperative Program in FY2012
2: Overview of JST-NSERC Research Cooperative Program and Evaluation
For further information
Japan Science and Technology Agency ,Department of International Affairs
7 Gobancho, Chiyoda-ku,Tokyo 102-0076
Yumiko MIYASHITA, Ms., Daiji NAKA, PhD.
Tel: +81-3-5214-7375 Fax: +81-3-5214-7379
E-mail: 