The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and Japan Science and Technology Agency are supporting joint projects through strategic project support measures in order to promote cooperation between the Federal Republic of Germany and Japan. On the German side, this funding measure is carried out under the Federal Government's Strategy for the Internationalization of Education, Science and Research and the BMBF's International Cooperation Action Plan and ten-point programme for more innovation in small and medium-sized enterprises known as Priority for SMEs (Vorfahrt für den Mittelstand) under the KMU-international programme. On the Japanese side, this funding measure is carried out under the Strategic International Collaborative Research Program (SICORP). The measure is aimed at promoting joint research projects of mutual interest and thus contributing to intensified scientific and technological cooperation (STC) with each country. Knowledge, experience, research infrastructures and other resources of both sides will be pooled to generate added value for the participating partners. The exchange of knowledge and joint developments are intended to provide the long-term basis for mutual market access and lasting economic cooperation. Specifically, funding will be provided for cooperation between representatives of German and Japanese industry and science in the form of “2+2 projects” in the fields of optics and photonics. “2+2 projects” is deemed to mean research and development (R&D) projects involving at least one German and one Japanese research-performing industrial partner and at least one German and one Japanese research institution. In the case of the German industrial partner, this call is targeted at small and medium-sized enterprises in particular. The funding is intended to create the basis for a lasting R&D innovation partnership.
Researchers at universities, research institutes or private companies in Japan.
Funding will be awarded as project grants usually amounting to 200,000 euros per collaborative project and year usually for a maximum period of 36 months.
The funding amount will be up to 54 million Japanese yen per project (including 30% overhead expenses): approximately 18 million Japanese yen per project per year. The project period is usually for 36 months.
A total of 35 proposals were submitted in response to the joint call for proposals implemented by JST and BMBF, which closed in November 2017. Based on the results of evaluation conducted by experts, JST and BMBF including the program officer and advisors jointly decided on the three projects for funding.
The Project description received will be evaluated on the basis of the following criteria: