JST Singapore Office

An integrated organization of science and technology in Japan that establishes an infrastructure for the entire process from the creation of knowledge to the return to the society

• As an organization which plays a central role in the implementation of the Science and Technology Basic Plan, Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) comprehensively promotes all of the process from the creation of knowledge, which leads to innovation in Japan, to the return of research results to the society/nation. As the bases of such process, JST also provides scientific and technical information, increases the understanding of science and technology (S&T), and promotes strategic international activities.
• History
  

Specific JST programs are conducted in accordance with the mid-term plan compiled by JST and approved by the Government, in order to achieve the mid-term objectives set by the Government. During the second mid-term plan (April 2007-March 2012), the following five activities are being carried out:

• Creating Advanced Technology
• Promoting Business Using Advanced Technology
• Promoting Dissemination of Scientific and Technological Information
• Researcher Exchange and Research Support
• Promoting Science Communication

When the mid-term plan has been completed, a thorough evaluation will be conducted, and the results of the evaluation will be reflected in the next mid-term plan.

• CREST
  CREST is JST's flagship funding program which has supported top scientists leading teams of researchers in politically prioritized strategic & innovative areas such as green innovation, life innovation and ICT, etc., with the aim of achieving innovations with big impact. The budget of CREST per project is approximately USD1.9-6.3M/year for 5 years and project funding is awarded through a strict process of fair competitive selection. Professor Shinya Yamanaka, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2012, was director of a CREST research project when he was younger, from March 2003 to October 2009. More than 1,000 top researchers have been supported by this program, including those involved in about 450 on-going projects (as of 2012).
• PRESTO
  PRESTO is another major funding program implemented by JST. PRESTO promotes the independent research of young researchers in politically prioritized strategic & innovative areas, with the aim of generating new innovative science and technology (the same as CREST), with the advice of a Research Supervisor or Area Advisors, providing a place for exchange among researchers from various institutions and backgrounds involved in the same fields of research. The budget of PRESTO per project is approximately USD380K - 500K/year for 3 years, or USD625K - 1.3M/year for 5 years. There are more than 700 projects on-going (as of 2012).
• SICORP
  SICORP provides a larger scale of research fund to projects selected through open call. The financial support scale of about JPY 50-100 million is granted on Japanese side per project per year, for 3-5 years. The equivalent level of support will be funded to counterpart research institutions by the counterpart FAs. JST operation of this program is implemented under the supervision of Program Director (PD) and Program Officer (PO).
  https://www.jst.go.jp/inter/english/index.html
• e-ASIA JRP
  The e-ASIA Joint Research Program is a matching-fund program which seeks to realize innovative and robust economies and societies in the East Asian region, by pursuing state-of -the-art technologies as well as solutions to common issues, such as those concerning the environment, natural disaster prevention and infectious diseases. In doing so, it also aims to strengthen research and development capabilities across the region.
  https://www.the-easia.org/jrp/
• SATREPS (Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development)
  SATREPS is a Japanese government program that promotes international joint research targeting global issues. Global challenges cannot be met by a single country or region acting on its own, so engagement by the international community is essential. To address these issues, SATREPS works through three- to five-year projects involving partnerships between researchers in Japan and researchers in developing countries. SATREPS projects are expected to lead to outcomes with potential for practical utilization, and to enhance research capacity in the developing country. The program is a collaboration between two Japanese government agencies: the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)New window and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)New window.