Overview of the Evaluation

1. Aims of the Program

The Program aims at promoting cooperation in science and technology as well as developing Japan's science and technology capacity for the future. The Program is administered based on an interministerial agreement between Japan and the V4 countries in the field of “Advanced Materials”, as designated by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT).

2. Field of collaboration

The field of ‘Advanced Materials’ includes but is not limited to such areas as:

• - Materials for extreme environments
  Multiphase alloys for application in extreme conditions (high temperatures, radioactive environments, aggressive media, etc.), as thermal barriers and ultrahard coatings
• - Materials for electronics and energy harvesting
  Microelectronics, photovoltaics, thermoelectrics, laser technologies
• - Lightweight construction materials
  Light construction materials for machine engineering (foam aluminium, composites with a metallic matrix, nanostructured materials, metastable metallic alloys, etc.)

3. Prospective Applicants

JST invited researchers at universities, research institutes and/or companies in Japan to submit proposals for cooperative research projects in the research field described above.

4. Period of Research

Three years

5. Amount of Funding

18 million yen from JST to the Japanese-side researchers per project over three years, inclusive of overhead costs

6. Funded Expenses

Funding provided within this call is intended to enhance the capacity of the applicants to collaborate. Funding will therefore be provided mainly in support of collaborative activities, such as for travel and holding symposia/seminars and may also support local research expenses such as in the provision of facilities, equipment and consumables that are necessary for the collaboration. 30 percent of direct costs will be provided additionally as indirect costs.

7. Evaluation Process

Based on the results of evaluation conducted by experts from third countries, the Scientific Committee comprising 6 senior researchers nominated by the participating organizations made their recommendation to the Funding Organizations Meeting, according to defined assessment criteria. In the Funding Organizations Meeting, the participating organizations discussed the scientific recommendation in depth and jointly decided on the 5 successful projects to select for funding.

8. Evaluation Criteria

The following general evaluation criteria were applied to each application:

1. (1) Scientific excellence of the project and the project partners
   • Sound concept and quality of objectives
   • Originality, innovative character, uniqueness of the research idea
   • Scientific track–record of the partners/publications in scientific journals
   • Scientific standing of the organisations the applicants belong to
2. (2) Methodology and work plan
   • Quality and effectiveness of the methodology
   • Feasibility of the work plan (in relation to governance, adequate budget, resources, time schedule, etc.)
3. (3) Expected impact of project results
   • Impact of the project on the scientific field/community
   • Expected exploitation of the results
4. (4)Added values of multilateral cooperation
   • Level of the collaborative interaction between project partners
   • Added value of the international project consortium
   • Sustainability of the collaboration
   • Interdisciplinarity
   • Involvement of early-stage researchers and gender balance