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- About The Program
Individual-type research to develop the sources of scientific and technological innovation
The purpose of PRESTO is promoting unique and challenging, internationally high-level basic research to address the important problems facing our country and to produce creative and innovative technology seeds (new technology seeds) based on new scientific knowledge as a source of scientific and technological innovation that can transform society and the economy. For this purpose, under the management principles of the Research Area specified by the Research Supervisor, young researchers selected by the Research Supervisor form a network with researchers inside and outside of the Research Areas to promote challenging and independent research.
3 years and 6 months or less
Total of 30-40 million yen / project
・Research Supervisors call for research proposals based on the Research Areas they manage, adopting 30 to 40 research projects in each area. Research Supervisors consider the balance between the science and scientific and technological innovation as they establish networks of researchers with different viewpoints in a Research Area or across Research Areas by accepting a variety of researchers and portfolios. For this purpose, we call for proposals several times separately and criteria for accepting proposals are clarified each time in the application requirements.
・Approximately 40 million yen has been allocated to support each research project, which is sufficient to enable young researchers to pursue/conduct their independent projects. Moreover, we give support to help young researchers become independent as well as organize the research environment.
・We expect young researchers to not only produce results but also develop themselves as researchers. For this purpose, in PRESTO, Research Supervisors and Research Area Advisors give advice and guidance through area meetings held once or twice a year, and visits to the laboratories of PRESTO researchers. Furthermore, we provide a variety of support services to promote research, including exchanges with overseas researchers and opportunities that let young researchers review their research from the viewpoint of science in society depending on necessity.
・In order to maximize achievements, our Research Supervisors adopt a flexible management approach by giving instructions to PRESTO researchers on changing, accelerating, or cancelling research depending on their progress. We assign about ten Research Area Advisors to support Research Areas by giving advice and perform evaluations in terms of science and technology. In addition, we have experts who can give advice from a legal point of view such as lawyers, and other experts from industry when needed.