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JST Press Release

December 22, 2014
Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)
5-3, Yonbancho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-8666

JST is to fund 4 research projects coordinated by Japan and France within the
framework of the Strategic International Collaborative Research Program (SICORP)

On the 22nd December 2014, Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) and L'Agence nationale de la recherche (The French National Research Agency) (ANR)*1announced that they would commence support for 4 coordinated projects on the topic of “Molecular Technology”. This support, within the framework of JST-ANR Coordinated Research, will be provided as an activity of JST's FY2014 Strategic International Collaborative Research Program (SICORP)*2. The selected projects are as follows:

(1) “Molecular Photocathodes for CO2 reduction and H2 evolution” : (PhotoCAT)

This collaborative research project aims to develop molecular photocathods for CO2 reduction and H2 evolution using solar light as an energy source.

(2) “Molecular Materials for Mg batteries”: (MoMa)

This collaborative research project aims to develop novel molecule-based electrode materials for Mg batteries.

(3) “Molecular technologies for hybrid folded architectures”: (COFFIT)

This Japanese-French collaborative research project aims at generating novel hybrid 3D structural molecules by means of the Japanese team’s molecular technology for rapid screening of ligands to targets and the French team’s molecular design technology of high-order structural molecules.

(4) “Molecular Engineering and Controlled Assembly of Nano Objects built on porphyrins”: (MECANO)

This collaborative research project aims to develop a photoenergy-conversion device and a hydrogen-evolution catalyst upon the assembly of porphyrin moieties, which are the framework of heme and chlorophyll in a wide range of biosystems.

* “title” : (acronym of the project)

A total of 37 proposals were submitted in response to the joint call for proposals implemented by JST and ANR, which closed in April 2014.

Separate expert evaluations were commissioned by the two parties and conducted according to their respective criteria. The evaluations assessed the quality of the research plans and expected effectiveness of exchange among other aspects. Based on those evaluations, the Program Officers, the advisors (JST side) and the panel committee (ANR side) jointly decided on the 4 successful projects to select for funding. (Appendix 2: General Comment)

Support to both the Japanese and French teams will continue for about three years.

*1) L‘Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR, fr: National Agency for Research):
L‘Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR, fr: National Agency for Research) is a French institution tasked with funding high level scientific research.
URL of ANR's homepage: http://www.agence-nationale-recherche.fr/
*2) Strategic International Collaborative Research Program (SICORP):
SICORP is a "top-down type" 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.
URL of SICORP's homepage: http://www.jst.go.jp/inter/english/sicorp/index.html

Appendixes

Appendix 1: Japan-France Collaborative Research Projects

Appendix 2: General Comment
(Prof. Hisashi YAMAMOTO, Chubu University, Emeritus professor of University of Chicago and Prof. Takashi KATO, The University of Tokyo)

Appendix 3: Japanese Advisory Board Members

Reference : Overview of the Evaluation

Contact

Satoko FUJISAWA, Hideo NAKAJIMA (Dr.)
Department of International Affairs, JST
K’s Gobancho, 7, Gobancho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0076
Tel:+81-3-5214-7375 Fax:+81-3-5214-7379
E-mail:

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JST, an integrated organization of science and technology in Japan, establishes an infrastructure for the entire process from the creation of knowledge to the return to the society. For more information, visit http://www.jst.go.jp/EN/