Yasumasa NISHIURA

Professor PI, WPI Advanced Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University
Research Director of the JST Mathematics Program

PERSPECTIVE

Alliance for Breakthrough between Mathematics and Sciences (ABMS) is a grant program established for supporting research activities in mathematical science. It is in particular designed for such a research activity by mathematical scientists that is motivated by social needs, conducted in cooperation with scientists in non-mathematical fields, and is expected to make a scientific breakthrough. It may be viewed as attempting to integrate the rationalism of Descartes and the empiricism of Bacon in the 21st century.
The program will cover studies of the mathematical problems in diverse fields of science: materials science, life science, environmental science, information science, telecommunication science, financial engineering, etc. Research activities in other fields will also be within the scope of the program if those activities propose new research topics arising from social needs, and explore mathematical approaches to those topics.
Priority will be given to such a research activity that develops new mathematical ideas through the study of natural or social phenomena in a field of science while applying existing mathematical methods to that study. The program therefore emphasizes research activity which contributes to the integration of mathematical and experimental sciences.

STRUCTURE

The program has two grant categories: Sakigake and CREST Grants. The Sakigake Grant is awarded to individual researchers, and the CREST Grant to research groups. A Sakigake Grant awardee receives grant over a period of three years, and a CREST Grant awardee five years.

SCHEDULE

The program started in October, 2007. Research proposals for Sakigake project were accepted in 2007, 2008 and 2009, and those for CREST project in 2008, 2009, and 2010. Program will continue until March, 2016.