Establishment of molecular technology, which is the free control of molecules to bring innovation to environmental and energy materials, electronic materials, and health and medical materials

The purposes of this research area to cultivate and establish "Molecular Technology" that freely controls the functions and behaviors of molecules, strongly promote further development and new expansion of studies and industrial capabilities of molecular materials in Japan, and contribute to the sustainable development of society in order to produce molecular-based new materials, new devices, and new processes. This research area targets innovative, challenging, and unique molecular technologies concerning technologies for designing, synthesizing, and altering molecular structures to produce functions of clearly defined molecular materials, technologies to create and control integrated or combined structures of molecules, technologies to develop molecular functions, and technologies to produce devices and processes. The field of study includes studies of fundamental technologies of molecular materials, such as studies founded on common bases, including challenging approaches that take into account the technical flow of design → conversion→ assembly and complexation → development of functions → production of materials → production of devices and processes, as well as research that integrates molecular designs and conversions.
Specifically, advanced, unique, and fundamental studies that contribute to the production of molecular technologies are targeted as important studies. Such studies include technologies to design, synthesize, and convert molecules with a clear goal of producing functions; technologies to construct orders of one-dimensional, two-dimensional, and three-dimensional molecular assemblies and complexes; technologies to build energy device materials that control behaviors of electrical charges and ions; studies based on comprehensive perspectives of the flow from fundamental studies for constructing environmental and medical materials that selectively transport molecules and ions using complex structures, such as artificial membranes and micelles to the process of turning them into materials; and studies on molecular measurement and analytical technologies.

Molecular materials are expected to be used for solving various problems in the world, such as the environment, resources, safety and security, and health and medical issues, as well as for the continuous advancement of mankind. This is because molecular materials are expected to be applied to the reduction of environmental burdens and the limited use of resources as well as to deliver great biological compatibility. Molecular technology that realizes these goals is the series of technologies that create molecular functions and utilize them based on scientific knowledge of physics, chemistry, biology, and mathematics for the purpose of using them to create new materials, new devices, new processes, and useful materials. The structure of this research area enables fundamental technologies hat establish innovative production of materials by designing and synthesizing molecules with clear objectives, freely controlling the molecule, precisely integrating and combining the molecules, and effectively using the molecular features. Meanwhile, there is a field of study called “ Molecular Science”. This research area aims to study structures and properties of molecules and molecular complexes at molecular levels and to clarify chemical reactions, mutual interactions of molecules, and their principles based on theories and experiments. “Molecular Technology” creates the desired functions of molecular materials based on the knowledge and understanding gaind in molecular science.

Japan is maintaining strong global competitiveness in academics and industries in the field of molecular-based functional materials. This research area will be further strengthened and expanded by building and establishing the concept of “ Molecular Technology”, making it one of the sources of national strength and contributing to the happiness of mankind. This research area deals with such molecular technologies and strengthens the academic structures that result in the production of new and innovative materials.

The establishment of “Molecular Technology” as an independent field of technology requires essential development of “technology for control of molecular electronic states”, “technology for control of molecular shapes and structures”, “technology for control of molecular assemblies and complexes”, and “technology for control of transportation of molecules and ions” based on “technology for molecular design and creation” and “technology for molecular conversion and processing”. It is necessary to deepen the fundamental understanding of the behaviors and characteristics of molecules and molecular complexes to construct innovative functional materials to freely achieve strategic goals aiming to create targeted functions. The behaviors of individual molecule and molecular complexes are closely related to the development of functions, but molecules are diverse and complicated. The mission of this research area is to understand their relationship and lead the understanding to the development of astounding functions. In order to complete this mission, a series of flow from designing molecules to controlling molecular assemblies and complexes is important rather than being limited to exploring one of the technologies mentioned above. Therefore, this research area welcomes proposals that also cover combinations and cooperation among different field.

Through this open recruitment, we are expecting to receive proposals for innovative, challenging, and unique molecular technologies concerning technologies to design, synthesize, and convert molecular structures for creating clearly defined functions of molecular materials; technologies to create and control assembled and combined molecular structure; technologies to develop molecular functions; and technologies to create devices and processes. We target advanced, fundamental, and cross-boundary research on technologies to design, synthesize, and convert molecular structures to develop functions of molecular materials; technologies to create and control molecular assembly and complex structures using processes that require low energy and low environmental loads, such as self-assembly; technologies to development molecular functions; and technologies to produce devices and processes. IN addition, the target also includes studies, such as ones founded on common bases, including challenging approaches that take into account the technical flow described above and studies that fuse mathematical approaches, such as theories and simulations with molecular designs and alterations.

Specifically, advanced, unique, and fundamental studies that contribute to the production of molecular technologies are targeted as important studies. Such studies include technologies to design, synthesize, and convert molecules with a clear goal of producing functions; technologies to construct orders of one-dimensional, two-dimensional, and three-dimensional molecular assemblies and complexes that cover from nano-level to micro and macro levels; technologies to build energy device materials that control behaviors of electrical charges and ins; studies based on comprehensive perspective of the flow from fundamental studies for constructing environmental and medical materials that selectively transport molecules and ions using complex structures, such as artificial membranes and micelles to the process of turning them into materials; and studies on molecular measurement and analytical technologies.

In terms of the research area, we are expecting applications from researchers in a wide range of fields, such as chemistry, material science, biology, engineering , electronics, systems science, physics, and mathematics. The important point is that proposals should be original, unique, and based on researchers’ own ideas. The basic concept is that researchers from different fields can get together at the common platform of this research field and produce new and fundamental academic developments and become leaders of this field. We are expecting flexible ideas. Proposed research projects should be based on the autonomous activities of applicants. Yet, PRESTO(Sakigake) research may be conducted through the close cooperation among different fields if joint research among applicants or integrated research from different field is needed for the purpose of implementing field-binding research. In such cases, please describe the autonomous aspects of the PRESTO(Sakigake) research (specialty and roles of an applicant) and types of cooperation with different field (specialty and roles of joint researchers). Joint researchers may belong to either public agencies or private companies.

We strongly encourage cooperative studies among researchers from different field by providing many opportunities for them to exchange information and engage in discussion so that they can share an awareness of merging different fields. In addition, joint study sessions and symposiums are provided to maintain close cooperation with relevant CREST researchers. The research area aims to build and establish molecular technology structures, thereby invigorating academic sectors and industries and contributing to building human societies that keep advancing.