The Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) decided to fund two projects in collaboration with Sweden within the framework of the Strategic International Collaborative Research Program (SICORP)*1 (Appendix 1).
(1) “Continuous health status monitoring of elderly people using flexible skin patch sensors”
Japanese Side
【Project leader】Takao SOMEYA, Professor, The University of Tokyo
【Academia】The University of Tokyo,
【Industry】NEC Corporation
Swedish Side
【Project leader】Magnus BERGGREN, Professor, Linköping University
【Academia】Linköping University,
【Industry】Cuviva AB
(2) “Solutions for independence and social participation of active, pre-frail and frail seniors by innovative food and monitoring technology systems combining with physical exercise program”
Japanese Side
【Project leader】Koichiro MATSUO, Professor, Fujita Health University
【Academia】Fujita Health University,
【Industry】Food Care Co., Ltd
Swedish Side
【Project leader】Mats STADING, Professor, Research Institutes of Sweden
【Academia】Research Institutes of Sweden,
【Industry】Findus R&D
In the Japan-Sweden Collaborative research program, JST, in collaboration with Swedish Governmental Agency for Innovation Systems (VINNOVA*2), aims for early-stage implementation of innovation in aging societies through the bilateral academia-industry partnership. The program adopts a “stage-gate” funding scheme which is composed of 2 research phases, 2-year Phase 1 and 3-year Phase 2. This scheme is designed for smooth transition of projects’ research development from the preparatory Phase 1 to the long-term Phase 2 via a stage-gate evaluation (Annex).
JST and VINNOVA jointly opened the call for research projects in the fields of “Innovative Solutions, Community Design and Services for Elderly People” in 2016. Four projects selected by the call started Phase 1 from January 2017.
For the stage-gate evaluation towards Phase 2, all the four projects submitted their proposals. Based on the results of scientific evaluations among experts conducted in each country (Appendix 2) as well as the subsequent joint consultation between the two countries, JST, with the consent of VINNOVA, decided to fund two projects to continue their research in Phase 2.
The research period for Phase 2 is scheduled to be three years.
- *1) Strategic International Collaborative Research Program (SICORP):
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Based on intergovernmental agreements on science and technology cooperation, JST has been executing the international joint research program SICORP since FY2009, together with leading countries and regions in research fields that have been strategically prioritized by Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan (MEXT).
https://www.jst.go.jp/inter/ - *2) Swedish Governmental Agency for Innovation Systems (VINNOVA):
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Vinnova is Sweden's government agency for innovation established in Stockholm in 2001.
https://www.vinnova.se/en/
Appendices
Appendix 1: Abstract of the selected projects
Appendix 2: List of experts for evaluation (JST)
Annex : Abstract of the program and the stage-gate evaluation
Contact
Shinji KANAYAMA, Ph.D.
Department of International Affairs, JST
K's Gobancho, 7 Gobancho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0076 Japan
Tel: +81-3-5214-7375 Fax: +81-3-5214-7379
E-mail: 