Appeal for themes for the 12th Innovations Inspired by Nature Research Support

May 20, 2013
SEKISUI CHEMICAL CO, LTD.
SEKISUI INTEGRATED RESEARCH, INC.

Sekisui Chemical supports research into
"innovations inspired by nature" We are also soliciting joint proposal themes from teams of researchers in different fields.

Towards the formation of a sustainable society that focuses on a 100 years or even 1,000 years into the future... Currently, we are seeking design technologies for new functional materials and the development of futuristic technologies to reduce the environmental impact through biological resources.

"SEKISUI CHEMICAL Innovations Inspired by Nature Research Support Program" offers financial assistance totaling 25 million yen per annum for researches to use in creating "natural" functions by putting into practice basic science knowledge learned from nature.
We are seeking biomimetic sciences that will play an important role in the advent of richer life, biotechnology, materials sciences that employ reusable resources, and related-technologies by protecting the global environment and replacing dried-up underground resources.
From this fiscal year, in addition to the existing individual research, we are soliciting joint research from teams of researchers in different fields.
SInnovations Inspired by Nature Research Support Program




As a rule, consideration will be given to single-themed independent individual research or joint research by teams of researchers in different fields.
Totally free application system.


The total sum is 25 million yen per annum.
The maximum amount is 3 million yen per "individual research", and 5 million yen per "joint research from different fields".
Further, the amount of research support received may differ from the amount applied for. The research support is processed as a "scholarship".
(Applications for "joint research from different fields" will be processed as individual scholarships for each researcher)


There are no particular restrictions to how the research support is used. The money can be used for experimental equipment, to purchase consumables, materials, and indirect materials, for heating and lighting costs, to purchase software, for document reproduction, to purchase books, to create reports, or for assistant personnel costs, etc.


The 12^th period is one year (from October 2013 to September 2014)
Research support within the period is possible if the period of one year needs to be exceeded due to the nature of the research, so please consult Sekisui Chemical.


1. Participation in the Research Results Presentation
You must participate in the forum that is scheduled after the end of the research support period, and present your research results. (Approximately October 2014)
2. Presentation of Documents upon Conclusion
Final results report (Deadline: Last day of November 2014)
3. Research Support Description Obligations
During presentations and paper submissions both in-house and externally regarding the research, you must describe the research support received as the "SEKISUI CHEMICAL Innovations Inspired by Nature Research Support Program".
4. Paperwork Obligations
Present the designated "Research Support Consent Form" separately, which obligates you to report the balance of payments and any other procedures before changing the purpose of use.
Further, if the research for which the research support was granted is stopped or changed greatly, depending on the circumstances, the decision on the submission may be cancelled, or you might be asked to repay the research support money.
5. Other
The award ceremony will be held on October 17, 2013 (Thursday), and you will be required to participate. (Note: This year, the ceremony is scheduled to be held in Tokyo.)


The evaluation committee shall make their selection by examining the documents.
Committee chairman: Mikiharu Kamachi
Honorary Professor, Osaka University, and former head of the Society of Polymer Science / Macromolecule Synthesis



The results will be notified in writing to all applicants by the beginning of September 2013 once the decision has been made.
Note that the judges cannot give reasons for their decision, so please refrain from asking.


May 20, 2013 (Monday) to July 1, 2013 (Monday) (Application must arrive during this period.)


Applicants must apply using the following procedure.
1. Apply via the website (online registration) → 2. Check the confirmation e-mail → 3. Send the "Application Form for Research Support" and the "Electronic Data" by mail
1. Online application registration from the website
Apply using the following URL.
The representative researcher for "joint research from different fields" should complete the online application registration.
Click here for online registration
2. Check the confirmation e-mail
We will send a confirmation e-mail to the e-mail address you registered when you entered your application. (Automated system response)
The confirmation e-mail is required for the application, so print a copy.

3. Use the postal service to supply a complete set of the application form for research support and electronic files
Prepare the following documents and electronic data (on CD-ROM), and then use the postal service to mail them.

Documents to Be Supplied	Printouts	Electronic Data (CD-ROM)
1. Application Form for Research Support Note: Download from the following URL.	necessary (Application form (original) x1 and x12 copies signed and stamped by the head of your organization)	necessary (PDF format) (Does not require signature or seal of the head of your organization)
2. Printout of the confirmation e-mail	necessary (x1)	-
3. Reference materials for evaluation •Establishment of the research, and papers, etc.	necessary (x1 each)	-

Note: Downloading the "Application Form for Research Support"
As a rule, download and use the "Application Form for Research Support" from the following URL in MS-Word format.

Research Support Application file form A (individual research):
MS-Word format PDF format
Research Support Application file form B (joint research from different fields):
MS-Word format PDF format
Note: Precautions when Completing the Form
Enter your application for research support using a computer. When applying for research support, make sure to obtain approval from the head of your organization (or the department head in a university, head of a faculty, or greater in the case of a university). (For joint research from different fields, approval must be obtained from the head of your organization for each individual researcher.) Further, note that your "Application Form for Research Support" cannot be returned. However,the personal information in your application form will be handled in strict confidence according to Sekisui Chemical's Privacy Policy.
4. Check that all "Application Form for Research Support" and "Electrical data" documents have been received
•We will send a confirmation by e-mail within ten days of receipt by mail (or parcel delivery service).



SEKISUI INTEGRATED RESEARCH, INC.
"SEKISUI CHEMICAL Innovations Inspired by Nature Research Support Program" Office
2-2 Kamichoshi-cho, Kamitoba, Minami-ku, Kyoto 601-8105, Japan
Contact: Mr. Sano, Mｒ. Iwane
Tel: +81-(0)75-662-8604