Press Release #1317:Reference:Overview of SATREPS(Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development)

1. Objectives of the program

The Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development (SATREPS) program is a collaboration between two Japanese government agencies: the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Based on the needs of developing countries, JST and JICA cooperate to promote international joint research targeting global issues^*1 with an objective of future utilization of research outcomes^*2. Implemented through collaboration with Official Development Assistance (ODA), the aim of the program is to acquire new knowledge and technology that lead to the resolution of global issues and the advance of science and technology, and through this process, to create innovations. International joint research under this program also aims to enhance the research and development capabilities of developing countries, and helps to create sustainable research systems able to address and resolve issues.

*1 Global issues:: Issues that are difficult to be resolved by a single country or region acting on its own and that need to be handled by the international community as a whole.
*2 Utilization of research outcomes:: The research projects should lead to future social and economic benefits, achieved by using newly obtained knowledge and technology to enhance government services or to develop products that can be deployed in the market.

2. Outline of the program

(1) Research Areas and Fields

- Environment and Energy
“Research contributing to the resolution of global-scale environmental issues”

- Environment and Energy
“Research contributing to advanced energy systems for low carbon society”

- Bioresources
“Research contributing to sustainable production and utilization of bioresources”

- Disaster Prevention and Mitigation
“Research on disaster prevention and mitigation towards social sustainability”

(2) Research Period

Three to Five years (3-5 years)

(3) Expenses Covered

- Research expenses (JST budget)
Approximately 35 million yen per year per project (including indirect expenses)
(Total research expenses covered during a five-year project: maximum of 175 million yen)

- ODA (JICA budget)

(Travel expenses between Japan and developing countries, travel expenses to invite researchers from developing countries, equipment procurement, on-site research activity costs, etc.)
Approximately 60 million yen per year per project
(Total ODA provided during a five-year project: Maximum of 300 million yen)

3. Countries and projects to date

A total of 125 international joint research projects in 49 countries^(*1)have been conducted as SATREPS projects in Environment and Energy, Bioresources, Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, and Infectious Disease Control ^(*2) since the project commencement in FY2008.

*1 The numbers of countries and projects do not include research projects in the field of Infectious Disease Control that were selected by the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) for FY2015 and thereafter. Including projects in the field of Infectious Disease Control that were selected by AMED for FY2015 and thereafter, a total of 133 projects have been conducted in 50 countries.

*2 SATREPS projects in the field of Infectious Diseases Control were transferred to AMED when it was established on April 1st, 2015. Projects that had terminated before that date were not transferred.