Application Procedures for Grants-in-Aid
for Scientific Research - KAKENHI -FY2024

Fund for the Promotion of Joint International Research(International Leading Research)

This English version is provided for convenience of prospective KAKENHI applicants who
experience difficulty in reading the Japanese original, which should be referred to, in case of
dispute.

Jan 11, 2024
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science(https://www.jsps.go.jp/)

Introduction
This document describes the procedures and other matters relevant to theCall for Proposals for the Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research-KAKENHI“FY2024 Fund for the Promotion of Joint International Research(International Leading Research)” (hereinafter referred to as “International
Leading Research”).
The contents are：
Ⅰ.Outline of the Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research-KAKENHI
Ⅱ.Call for Proposals
Ⅲ.Instructions for Prospective Applicants
Ⅳ.Instructions for Administrative Staff of Research Institution
Ⅴ.Other Relevant Issues
Ⅵ.Inquiries“Ⅱ. Call for Proposals” provides for each of the Research Categories, suchbasic issues as the subjects in the research categories to be called, the range
of envisaged total budget, a project period, etc. The schedule from the callfor proposals, through the proposal submission and the review, to the grantdelivery is also described.
The subsequent sections, “Ⅲ. Instructions for Prospective Applicants” and“Ⅳ. Instructions for Administrative Staff of Research Institution” describe
the conditions for application, required procedures, and other matters, to befollowed by the respective parties. Relevant parties are requested tothoroughly check the related chapters.

Explanation of Important Matters
Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research is a competitive research funding intended
to provide financial support for creative and pioneering research conducted byindividual researchers. Therefore, the contents of the Research Proposal Document
must be original planned by the applicant.
Plagiarism and/or misappropriation of the research contents of others are strictly
impermissible. Applicants must comply with research ethics. Please note that theuse of generative AI in the preparation of the Research Proposal Document causes
the risk of inadvertent infringement of copyright and leakage of personal
information and confidential information. It is the responsibility of the individual
researcher to make appropriate decisions about the usage of generative AI.



The research using the KAKENHI fund should be carried out by the researcher(s)’own initiative and responsibility. Therefore, the implementation of a KAKENHI
research project and publication of the research results are solely attributed to theresearcher(s)’ responsibility and view, and do not reflect that of the funding sector
nor of the government.

To ensure the quality of scientific knowledge and to gain trust of society on
scientists and scientific communities, it is essential to exercise fair andconscientious research activities with the adherence to the code of conduct forscientists. Applicants must understand and practice the contents of both thestatement “Code of Conduct for Scientists -Revised Version-” (section I.
“Responsibilities of Scientists”) by the Science Council of Japan and the booklet“For the Sound Development of Science - The Attitude of a Conscientious Scientist-” (especially section I “What Is a Responsible Research Activity?”) issued by theJapan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS).

・ From the perspective of enhancing the quality of research activities among theinternational scientific research networks, researchers are urged to disseminate
their research results aggressively to the international society by publication ofscientific papers in international journals, co-authoring of international papers,
presentations in international conferences, etc.

Major changes in the Call for proposals for
Fiscal Year 2024

(1) Changes to the Structure of the Research Proposal Document○The structure of the research proposal document will be changed in order to selectcarefully the research proposals which contribute “to foster researchers”. (Refer toProcedures for Preparing and Entering a Research Proposal Document (Forms to be
uploaded))○The “Status of Application and Acquisition of Research Grants” column will not beshown in the Research Proposal Document PDF file. Instead, the content shown in
the electronic application system will be reviewed. Nevertheless, this column willremain part of the Research Proposal Document, and the method of entering the
Research Proposal Document (Items to be entered in the Website) will remainunchanged. (Refer to Procedures for Preparing and Entering a Research Proposal
Document (Items to be entered in the Website))(2) Participation of JSPS Fellows (DC) as Co-Investigators○Starting from FY2023, JSPS Fellows (DC) can participate in research projects
under KAKENHI-funded research categories as Co-Investigators.
(See III. Instructions for Prospective Applicants 1. Procedures to be Completed Prior
to Application)

Table of Contents
I. Outline of the Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research-KAKENHI-.........1
1. Purpose and Character of Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research-KAKENHI
2. Research Categories
3. Role Sharing Between MEXT and JSPS
4. Rules Pertaining to KAKENHI
5. “Guidelines on the Proper Implementation of Competitive Research Funding”, etc.
6. Dissemination, etc. of Research Achievements Supported by KAKENHI
7. Code of Conduct for Scientists to Adhere

II. Call for Proposals ....................................................................................14
1. Research Categories for which a Call for Proposals is Organized
2. Schedule from Application to Grant Delivery
3. Review Panels and Other Matters

III. Instructions for Prospective Applicants ...............................................22
1. Procedures to be Completed Prior to Application
2. Restrictions on Parallel Grant Application/Receipt
3. Preparation of the KAKENHI Application Forms (Research Proposal
Document), etc.
4. Completion of Research Ethics Education Course or Other etc.
5. Registration of the Researcher Information in Researchmap
6. Cooperation to Review

IV. Instructions for Administrative Staff of Research Institution ...........42
Ⅴ. Other Relevant Issues ..............................................................................53
Ⅵ. Inquiries ...................................................................................................62[References]
When preparing the application forms (Research Proposal Document), please refer to the“Procedures for Preparing and Entering a Research Proposal Document (Items to be entered in theWebsite)” and “Procedures for Preparing and Entering a Research Proposal Document (Items to be
uploaded)”.
* The application forms (Research Proposal Document) and other application materials can be
downloaded from the JSPS website.
(URL) https://www.jsps.go.jp/j-grantsinaid/35_kokusai/05_sendou/koubo.html

I. Outline of the Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research-KAKENHI1. Purpose and Character of Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research-KAKENHIGrants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (hereinafter referred to as “KAKENHI”) are competitive
research funds that are intended to promote development of scientific research (based on originalideas of researchers), encompassing basic to applied researches in all fields ranging fromhumanities and social sciences to natural sciences. The grants provide financial support for creativeand pioneering research projects that will become the foundation of social development. The
research projects are selected by peer-review process.
<The placement of “KAKENHI” in the policy on the promotion of science, technology andscientific research in Japan>

2. Research Categories
Different research categories of KAKENHI listed below are provided so as to meet the variety of theresearch content and budget scale.
❖ As of January 2024
Research categories

Purposes and description of each research category

Type of fund*1

Outstanding and distinctive research conducted by one or a relatively small numberof researchers expected to achieve remarkably excellent research results that opens
up a new scientific field.
The research period is 3 to 5 years. (In a truly necessary case, period up to 7 years is
acceptable.) The budget ranges from 200 million to 500 million yen per project (Onlyin a truly necessary case, budget exceeding 500 million yen is asked for.).

SG

Grant-in-Aid forThis category is intended to foster novel research areas proposed by diverse groups
Scientific Research onof researchers that are expected to lead to development and heightening of Japan’sInnovative Areas
research level in the respective fields, to be conducted by collective research efforts(Research in a Proposed through collaboration, scholarly training, shared use of equipment, etc.
Research Area)
The period is 5 years. The budget range is generally set between 10 million to 300
million yen per fiscal year per proposed area.
[A call for proposals for budget for collecting research results of Finished Research
Area only is put out in FY2023 and beyond.]

SG

Grants-in-Aid for
Scientific Research
Grant-in-Aid forSpecially Promoted
Research

1

Grant-in-Aid forTransformative
Research Area

Grant-in-Aid for
Scientific Research(A) Research areas proposed through co-creative and interdisciplinary efforts ofdiverse researchers, which aim to create research areas that will lead the way toradical transformation of and change in the existing framework and/or directionof research as well as upgrade and level-up of scientific research in Japan andnurturing young researchers, and will contribute to the development of the
proposed research areas through efforts for joint research and shared use of
equipment, etc. (5 years; more than 50 million yen and up to 300 million yen
per fiscal year per research area (In a truly necessary case, a budget exceeding
300 million yen may be requested.))(B) Research areas proposed by compact groups of researchers who will be bearersof the next generation of research with a smaller budget scale (about 3 or 4groups), which aim to create research areas that will lead the way to radicaltransformation of and change in the existing framework and/or direction ofresearch as well as upgrade and level-up of scientific research in Japan throughmore challenging and exploratory research, and expected to lead to theTransformative Research Areas (A) in the future. (3 years; 50 million yen or lessper fiscal year per research area)(S): Creative/pioneering research conducted by one or a relatively small number of
researchers.
5 years (in principle) 50 million to 200 million yen(A), (B), (C): Creative/pioneering research conducted by one researcher or jointly bymultiple researchers.
(A) 3 to 5 years; 20 million to 50 million yen(B) 3 to 5 years: 5 million to 20 million yen(C) 3 to 5 years; 5 million yen or less

SG

(S)
SG
(A)
(B)
MF
(C)

Grant-in-Aid for
Research conducted by a single or multiple researchers that aims at radically
Challenging Researchtransforming the existing research framework and/or changing the research direction(Pioneering/Exploratory) and has a potential of rapid development.
The scope of the (Exploratory) category encompasses research proposals that arehighly exploratory and/or are in their budding stages.
(Pioneering) 3 to 6 years; 5 million to 20 million yen(Exploratory) 2 to 3 years; 5 million yen or lessGrant-in-Aid for EarlyCareer Scientists

Research conducted by an individual researcher (*2) who is less than 8 years after
Ph.D. acquisition.
2 to 5 years; 5 million yen or lessGrant-in-Aid for
Research Activity Startup

Research conducted by a single researcher who has been freshly appointed to a
research position, or who has returned from his/her maternity, childcare or other kindsof leave.
Up to2 years; Up to 1.5 million per fiscal year

Grant-in-Aid for
Encouragement of
Scientists

Research conducted by an individual who is ineligible for application for other
KAKENHI categories (e.g., individuals who belong to educational or research
institutions, private companies, etc. and engage in the researches to contribute to thepromotion of the science).
1 year; 100 thousand to 1 million yen

Grant-in-Aid forSpecial Purposes

Research projects of pressing urgency and importance.

MF

MF

MF

SG

MF

Grant-in-Aid for Publication of Scientific Research Results
Publication of Research Subsidy for publication and/or international dissemination of research achievements
Resultsof high academic values executed by academic associations and other organizations.
Enhancement ofInternational
Dissemination ofInformation

Subsidy for efforts by academic societies and other scholarly organizations tostrengthen international dissemination of academic information for the purpose ofinternational academic exchange.

Scientific Literature

Subsidy for academic publication of research results (books) authored by anindividual or a group of researchers.

Databases

Subsidy for creation and operation of a database open to public use by an individual
or a group of researchers.

Grant-in-Aid for JSPS
Fellows

Funding period is up to 3 years for research conducted by JSPS Fellows (including
Foreign JSPS Fellows). As for Cross-border Postdoctoral Fellowship (CDP) the
period is up to 5 years

SG

2

MF

Fund for the Promotion of Joint International ResearchInternational LeadingThis grant aims to enable research groups led by top-level researchers in our
Research
country to play a central role in the international network, thereby achieving
research results of high scientific value internationally. With the participation of
postdoctoral fellows and graduate students, the grant seeks to foster researchers
who can play leading roles in the international research community in the future.
(7 years (extendable up to 10 years); up to 500 million yen)
Fostering Joint
Support of joint international research project conducted by a KAKENHI grantee inInternational Researchcollaboration with researcher(s) at a foreign university or a research institution overa period of 6 to 12 months. The grant seeks to markedly advance research plans forthe root research project and to foster independent researchers who can beinternationally competitive. (The budget is up to 12 million yen.) [The category nameis changed from FY2023 call for proposals.]International
Support of joint international research project conducted by multiple domestic
Collaborative Research researchers and a researcher who belongs to overseas research institution. In addition
to the development of scientific research, the grant seeks to build out infrastructureof joint international research or further strengthen joint international research and tofoster researchers who can be internationally competitive. (The period is 3 to 6 years.
The budget is up to 20 million yen.)[The category name is changed from the FY2023 call for proposals.]International Activities Support of international activities within Scientific Research on Innovative Areas.
Supporting Group(Set period of the Area, up to 15 million yen per fiscal year)[After FY2018 call for proposals “International Activities Supporting Group” hasbeen incorporated into “Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas“Administrative Group.” (It continued until the FY2019 call for proposals.)]
Home-Returning
Support of research to be conducted by a Japanese researcher with current affiliation
Researcher
abroad who is to be newly appointed at university or research institution in Japan.
Development Research (The period is up to 3 years. The budget is up to 50 million yen.)MF*1 SG: Series of Single-year Grants, MF: Multi-year Fund
*2 Individuals who are in the prospect of acquiring Ph.D. are also eligible. When counting the years after Ph.D. acquisition, theperiod of maternity leave and childcare leave can be excluded.

3. Role Sharing Between MEXT and JSPS
Up to FY 1998, all aspects of KAKENHI funding were handled by the Ministry of Education (thepredecessor of MEXT). From FY1999 on, these tasks have been gradually transferred to JSPS. The
current role-sharing between MEXT and JSPS is as shown below.
Grant delivery
Call for proposals, Review

Research category

Notifications of unofficial decision
Reception of the application form
Preparation of the document(s) for(after unofficial decision) and otherprocedures, Reception of proposal
documents for the relevant
submission
procedures.
Notification of grant decision

Scientific Research on Innovative Areas,
Transformative Research Areas,
Special Purposes,
Fund for the Promotion of Joint International
Research (International Activities Supporting
Group)
Specially Promoted Research,
Scientific Research,
Challenging Exploratory Research,
Challenging Research,
Early-Career Scientists,
Research Activity Start-up,
Encouragement of Scientists,
Publication of Scientific Research Results,
JSPS Research Fellow,
Fund for the Promotion of Joint International
Research (International Leading Research,
Fostering Joint International Research,
International Collaborative Research, HomeReturning Researcher Development Research)
3

MEXT

JSPS

JSPS

JSPS

4. Rules Pertaining to KAKENHI
KAKENHI (Multi-year Fund) are governed by laws and regulations including the “Act on
Regulation of Execution of Budget Pertaining to Subsidies, etc.” (Act no. 179 of 1955) withmodifications, the “Basic Policy on the Management of the KAKENHI (Multi-year Fund)(Decision by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology),”and the“Procedures on the Handling of JSPS Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (KAKENHI (Multiyear Fund))” (Rule No. 19, 2011).

(1) Three Types of Rules Pertaining to KAKENHI
The following three sets of rules pertain to various aspects of KAKENHI.
i) Application Rules: rules concerning the submission of research proposalsii) Assessment Rules: rules concerning the pre-assessment (review) of applications, and rules
concerning the interim, and other progress assessment of granted projects.
iii) Spending Rules: rules concerning the use of KAKENHI
These three sets of rules apply as follows.
Application Rules

Assessment Rules

Spending Rules
JSPS

JSPS
JSPS
KAKENHI(Multi-year
Fund)

Application Procedures

Rules concerning the review andassessment for Grants-in-Aid for
Scientific Research

For researchers:
Funding conditions
For research institutions:
Administrative work and other tasks
concerning the use of Grants-in-Aid
for Scientific Research (KAKENHI(Multi-year Fund)), to be performedby each research institution(2) Appropriate Use of KAKENHI
KAKENHI are funded by the tax of citizens and other sources, so please ensure that the KAKENHI
is used efficiently and effectively, for example through planning for the communal use ofpurchased items.
Researchers receiving the KAKENHI have a duty to comply with the related laws, regulations andspending rules by researchers (supplementary conditions or funding conditions), and also to use
such grants appropriately. To facilitate the appropriate use of KAKENHI, research institutions towhich the researchers belong are responsible for the management of KAKENHI. The
Administrative work that each research institution is required to carry out (rules for use for
institutions) is determined by JSPS. The research institutions are responsible for the appropriate
accounting of KAKENHI. It is desirable, for example, to set up an accounting system for proper
management of KAKENHI budget and expenditure, purchase order and delivery inspection, andinternal auditing. To prevent improper business transactions, it is important, in addition toappropriate delivery inspections, to make all traders thoroughly informed of the KAKENHI rules
4and thus obtain cooperation of traders in the prevention of this kind of fraudulent accounting.
Research institutions should take rigorous measures so as to eliminate business malpractice.
KAKENHI applicants and their research institutions must have full understanding of the
KAKENHI rules prior to the submission of their research proposals.

(3) Important Note for the Use of KAKENHI (Multi-year Fund)
The KAKENHI (Multi-year Fund) is handled as single funding for the whole research period.
Therefore, it is possible to use the grant to cover the expenditures extending over fiscal year
boundaries.
Moreover, if an amount of grant remains unused by the end of a fiscal year, it can be carried overto the successive fiscal year(s) as long as they are within the overall research period, without going
through prior authorization procedures. In case such a grant carry-over becomes necessary in the
final year of the research period, the grantee may choose to request an official approval of one-year
extension of the research period.
(4) Penalty for Non-submission of “Report on the Research Achievements”
i) The “Report on the Research Achievements” plays the important role in making theachievements of the research funded by the KAKENHI widely known to the public, and thereby
returning the outcome of KAKENHI supported by citizens’ tax, to the society.
The contents of the “Report on the Research Achievements” submitted by KAKENHI grantees
are compiled and made available to the public on the “Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research
Database” (KAKEN) of the National Institute of Informatics and other platforms. “Report on
the Research Achievements” should be submitted via the research institution to which the
KAKENHI grantees belong.
ii) No KAKENHI grant will be awarded to a researcher who failed to submit the “Report on the
Research Achievements” at the end of his/her research period without any justifiable reason. Ifsuch a non-compliance case is uncovered, the decision of grant award to the researcher inquestion may be cancelled, the on-going grant may be suspended, and return of the delivered
grant may be ordered. In addition, relevant information, such as the name of the research
institution to which the researcher in question belongs, may be made public.
Furthermore, if researchers have failed to submit the scheduled report on the researchachievements without justifiable reason, then execution of other KAKENHI implemented in
the same fiscal year will be suspended. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the representativeof the research institution to ensure that the report on the research achievements is submitted
without fail.
(5) Penalty for the Case of Infringement of Related Laws and Regulations
If there have been serious falsehoods in the application documents, or violation of relevant laws,
regulations and guidelines, the delivery of KAKENHI may be suspended or cancelled.
55. “Guidelines on the Proper Implementation of Competitive Research Funds,” etc.
The “Guidelines on the Proper Implementation of Competitive Research Funds” (Agreement of the
Liaison Meeting of Related Offices and Ministries on Competitive Research Funds, September 9,
2005; revised December 17, 2021) states common understandings among the research-related
ministries and offices in regard to allocation of competitive research funds, in terms of eliminationof such inappropriate practices as unreasonable duplication and/or excessive overconcentration in
the grant allocation, fraudulent acquisition and/or unlawful use of grants, and misconducts inresearch activities. The implementation of the KAKENHI system as well as other competitive
research funds scheme follows the above-mentioned “Guidelines” and other related rules.
Applicants are urged to take special notice of the following points.

(1) Elimination of Unreasonable Duplication and/or Excessive Overconcentration in the Grant
Allocationi) Towards elimination of “Unreasonable Duplication and/or Excessive Overconcentration” (*) ofcompetitive research funds, relevant information on funding applications is shared among thepertinent ministries and funding agencies, making use of the Cross-ministerial Research andDevelopment management system (e-Rad).
Therefore, applicants, when submitting more than one KAKENHI applications and/or othercompetitive research funds, are urged to prepare their application documents with due care toclearly state the differences between the project to be submitted and their other projects so as tomake it clear that they do not constitute unreasonable duplication.
In case a particular KAKENHI application is recognized as constituting a case of unreasonable
duplication and/or excessive overconcentration, that application may not be granted.

ii) The following conducts may result in rejection of the research project, cancellation of grant, or
reduction of the research budget: untruthful statement or misrepresentation in any of the entry of
the status of applications and acquisitions of other competitive research funds (including thoseof other ministries) and other grants in the research proposal document (such as name of research
grant, title of research project, research period, amount of budget, effort, affiliatedinstitution/position upon application/acquisition of such grants, etc.); if it is found that theapplicant has not appropriately shared with his/her affiliated research institution, the informationnecessary to ensure the transparency of all research activities that he/she is involved in, including
information on research funds and side jobs, etc., as well as information on donations andinformation on supports other than monetary funds, for example, through the provision offacilities and/or equipment.

iii) Inquiries on the status of acceptance of facilities and/or equipment used for the research, thestatus of management of such facilities/equipment, and request for other information may bemade to researchers, etc.
6(*) Elimination of Unreasonable Duplication and Excessive Overconcentration in Grant Allocation“Guidelines on the Proper Implementation of Competitive Research Funds” -Extract(Agreement of the Liaison Meeting of Related Offices and Ministries on Competitive
Research Funds, September 9, 2005; revised December 17, 2021)
2. Elimination of Unreasonable Duplication and/or Excessive Overconcentration in the Grant
Allocation(1) Basic Policy of the Unreasonable Reduplication and Excessive Overconcentrationi) In the Guidelines, “Unreasonable Duplication” refers to a situation where more than one
competitive research fund and other research grants (all current research funds that areallocated to individual research contents, including both domestic and overseas grants-inaid, subsidies, joint research funds, commissioned research funds, etc.; hereinafter thesame) are unnecessarily and redundantly allocated to the same research project (meaning,
the name and content of the research to which the competitive research funds are allocated;hereinafter the same) by the same researcher. Any of the following cases fall under“Unreasonable Duplication.”○Cases where simultaneous applications have been made to more than one competitive
research funds / other research funds for substantially the same research project, andwhere these research projects are redundantly adopted.
○ Cases where an application has been made again for substantively the same research
project as another project that has already been adopted, and for which the allotment ofcompetitive research funds / other research funds has already been completed.
○ Cases where there is duplication in the use of research funds among more than one
research projects.
○Other cases corresponding to those above.
ii) In these guidelines, “Excessive Concentration” is a situation in which the entire researchfunds that are allotted to one and the same researcher or research group (hereinafterreferred to as “researcher, etc.”) in the fiscal year in question exceeds the limit within which
they can be used effectively and efficiently, and in which the research funds cannot be usedwithin the research period. Either of the following cases falls under “Excessive
Concentration.”○Cases where, in the light of the abilities of the researcher, etc. and the research methods,
etc., excessive research funds are allotted.
○Cases where, in comparison with the effort (the time allocation rate (%) of time necessary
for the implementation of the research activities with the entire working time ofresearcher) that is being allotted to the research project in question, excessive researchfunds are allotted.
○Cases where the purchase of unnecessarily expensive equipment is carried out.
○Other cases corresponding to the cases mentioned above.

(2) Dealing with “Improper Grant Spending,” “Fraudulent Grant Acquisition” or “Research
Misconduct”“Improper Grant Spending,” “Fraudulent Grant Acquisition” and “Research Misconduct” referto the following type of acts respectively.
・“Improper Grant Spending”:
Use of competitive research funds for other purposes, intentionally or by gross negligence,for example, by conducting fictitious business transactions (“azukekin”) with a trader
through fictitious order placements, or by charging costs higher than actually needed for
personnel, travel expenses, etc., or use of competitive research funds in violation of thecontent of the funding decision or the conditions it implies.
・“Fraudulent Grant Acquisition”:
Receiving competitive research funds by deception or other fraudulent means, for example,
by applying under the name of another researcher, or by making false entries in application
documents.
・“Research Misconduct”:
Fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism of data, information, or findings published research7achievements based on the intent of the researcher, or the failing of the researcher to fulfill
the basic duty of care that he/she has.
i)

No KAKENHI will be offered, for a fixed period of time, when a researcher or related
party has committed an improper grant spending of KAKENHI, has committed afraudulent grant acquisition of KAKENHI, or has committed a research misconduct.
Moreover, for research projects for which it is established that an improper grant spending of
grants, a fraudulent grant acquisition of grants or research misconduct has been committed, theresearcher in question may be required to return the given KAKENHI completely or partially.
Moreover, an outline of the improper grant spending of KAKENHI, the fraudulent grantacquisition of KAKENHI, and/or the research misconduct in question of the researcher
who falls in those categories (containing an outline of the outcome of the investigation in
the research institution, the names of the people involved, the name of the system, theinstitution they belong to, the research project, the budget, the fiscal year of the research,
the fraudulent content, details of the measures taken, etc.) will be made public.
Also, researchers who have committed improper grant spending or fraudulent grantacquisition of competitive research funds other than the KAKENHI (including funds
under the jurisdiction of other Offices and Ministries), etc., and/or has committed research
misconduct by means of these competitive research funds, and therefore are excluded fromreceiving these funds in question for a certain period of time, will not receive the
KAKENHI for the same period of time.
Note: This applies to those schemes newly starting a call for proposals in FY2024 (and onward) for “competitive
research funds other than KAKENHI, etc. (including funds under the jurisdiction of other Offices andMinistries)” as well. It also applies to those schemes that ended before FY2023. Refer to the website
below for the schemes to which this specifically applies at present.
URL: https://www8.cao.go.jp/cstp/compefund/<Period of KAKENHI suspension>

Improper Grant Spending and Fraudulent Grant Acquisition of KAKENHI
Researcher categories
I. Researchers who committed
improper grant spending of
KAKENHI and researchers
who conspired in such acts
II. Researchers who committed
improper grant spending of
KAKENHI and researchers
who conspired in such acts

Extent of the improper grant spending

1. Misappropriation of KAKENHI for personal gain

2. Other than 1.

Period of KAKENHI
suspension
10 years(i) Cases of major seriousness andmaliciousness

5 years(ii) Cases other than (i) and (iii)

2 to 4 years(iii) Cases of minor seriousness andmaliciousness

1 yearIII. Researchers who acquired
KAKENHI by deception orother fraudulent means andresearchers who conspired insuch acts-

8

5 years

IV. Researchers who were notdirectly involved in the
improper grant spending of
KAKENHI, but failed toexercise due care and used
the funds as a result.

-

The upper limit is 2 years
and the lower limit is 1 year
depending on the degree ofthe breach of duty by the
researchers who have theduty of care as a goodmanager. .

For cases judged as subcritical to the punitive suspension measures, sharp reprimand is administered to the individual(s)concerned.
The following cases are pertinent to the “sharp reprimand” penalty.
1. Among the case II above, the researchers in case that the influence on society and the maliciousness of their conducts
are judged to be insignificant and the amount of money involved is small.
2. Among the case IV above, the researchers in case that the influence on society and the maliciousness of their conducts
are judged to be insignificant.

Research Misconduct
Individual Involvement in the Misconducts

Negative Impacts on Science and on Public at
Large Degree of Maliciousness

Subject of Research Misconduct(a) Particularly malicious individual(s) who, for example, had intention of research misconduct from thevery beginning of the research(b) Author(s)Cases where it is judged that the impact on theof paper(s),progress of the science in the field in question andResponsible author(s) of theetc. related
the social impact are major, or the level ofpaper(s) in question
to themaliciousness involved in the acts is high(corresponding author, leadresearch inCases where it is judged that the impact on theauthor or other authors bearing
which
progress of the science in the field in question andequivalent responsibilities)
research
the social impact are minor, or the level of
misconduct
maliciousness involved in the acts is low(s) have
Author(s) of the paper(s) in
beenquestion other than theidentified(other than responsible author(s) describedabove(a) above)(c) Individual(s) involved who are not theauthors of the research paper(s) for which
research misconduct(s) are identified.
Cases where it is judged that the impact on the
progress of the science in the field in question andResponsible author(s) of paper(s), (corresponding
the social impact are major, or the level ofauthor, lead author or other authors bearing equivalent
maliciousness involved in the acts is highresponsibilities) for which research misconduct(s) are
Cases where it is judged that the impact on theidentified, but not involved in the alleged research
progress of the science in the field in question andmisconduct
the social impact are low, or the degree of severityof the acts is low

Period of KAKENHI
Suspension
10 years

5 to 7 years

3 to 5 years

2 to 3 years

2 to 3 years

2 to 3 years

1 to 2 years* In cases where specific issues for extenuation such as voluntary withdrawal of the paper in question
may be taken into account, the suspension period can be shortened as judged fit.
ii) The relevant information of each improper grant spending, fraudulent grant acquisition andresearch misconduct case may be provided to the offices of the research funding agencies(including Incorporated Administrative Agencies) under the jurisdiction of the relevant Office.
Thereby the penalized researcher may be also subject to restriction in application of and/or
participation to research projects in other competitive research funds other than KAKENHI.
Note: “Application and/or participation” means proposing new research projects, applying, responding to callfor proposals, newly participating to research as a person involved in collective research, etc. andparticipating as a Principal Investigator or a person involved in collective research, etc. in research projects
in progress (continued research projects).
9iii) Research institutions are required to comply with the “Guidelines on the Management and Auditof Public Research Funds at Research Institutions (Implementation Standards) (revised on
February 1, 2021), Ordered by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science andTechnology” and the “Guidelines for Responding to Research Misconduct (adopted August 26,
2014 by MEXT).” Therefore, research institutions should pay adequate attention to these two
sets of Guidelines when researchers implement their research activities.
In case where the status of the system improvement in line with these guidelines is recognized
inadequate based on the survey results, the measures such as the reduction in indirect cost of all
kinds of competitive research funds disbursed by MEXT or the Incorporated Administrative
Agencies under the control of MEXT to the research institution(s) in question can be taken.
〇 “Guidelines on the Management and Audit of Public Research Funds at Research Institutions” (Revised
February 1, 2021; Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology)
URL: https://www.mext.go.jp/a_menu/kansa/houkoku/1343904_21.htm〇 “Guidelines for Responding to Research Misconduct” (Established August 26, 2014; Ministry of
Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology)
URL: https://www.mext.go.jp/a_menu/jinzai/fusei/index.htm
Reference: Examples of improper grant spending, fraudulent grant acquisition and research misconduct of KAKENHI.

○ Improper grant spending・Someone instructed a trader to forge fictitious transaction pretending to have purchased expendables, madethe university pay a KAKENHI for them, and then instructed the trader to keep the money as deposit for
future use.
・Someone instructed a trader to forge a fictitious transaction, obtaining a false invoice which carries item
names different from those actually ordered and delivered, and then made the university pay a KAKENHI
for them.
・Someone instructed his/her students to submit false work attendance sheets, made the university pay a
KAKENHI for them, and then kept the money as a pooled fund of his/her lab.
・Someone visited destination not listed on the oversea travel itinerary, in order to have a meeting on
cooperative research unrelated to the purpose of the KAKENHI research project.
(Note) The expenditure of the KAKENHI for fictitious and other transactions, like the ones mentioned in thecase examples above, are all considered “misappropriation or misuse,” even if the expenditure wasintended for the purpose of conducting the KAKENHI research project.
○ Fraudulent grant acquisition

・A researcher ineligible for the KAKENHI funding made application and acquired a KAKENHI grant.
○ Research misconduct

・ Someone manipulated or forged experimental data or figures in a research paper published as anachievement of the research supported by a KAKENHI.
・Someone published books of his/her achievement with KAKENHI which contained an article translated
from an original English research paper with no prior consent from the author(s) nor proper quotation
statement.

6. Dissemination, Etc. of Research Achievements Supported by KAKENHI
KAKENHI research achievements are made available to other researchers and to the generalpublic, through posting of the “Research Outline” and the “Report on the Research Achievements”
on the Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research Database (KAKEN) operated by the National Institute10

of Informatics.
Moreover, the expenses for outreach-related activities including dissemination of international
research achievements by publishing research papers, etc., can be covered by direct expenses. The
KAKENHI grantees are urged to actively pursue public promotion of their international researchachievements through the aid of KAKENHI so as to make them widely known to the public atlarge.
Upon disseminating the research achievements, please take note of the following issues as well.
(1) The acknowledgement for KAKENHI grant in research publications
When publishing research achievements of the KAKENHI project, researchers must indicate thatthe project has been supported by the KAKENHI grant, by stating in the “Acknowledgment” orother designated section of the paper, the “JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number JP8 digits” in the caseof English publication or “JSPS 科研費 JP8 桁の課題番号” in the case of Japanese publication.
〈Example〉【English】 This work was supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number JP12K34567.
【Japanese】本研究は JSPS 科研費 JP12K34567 の助成を受けたものです。
(2) The implementation of the fair and conscientious research activities
The research using the KAKENHI should be carried out based on researcher’s own self-awarenessand responsibility. Therefore, the publication on the implementation of the research or researchachievements, etc. should not come from the government request and the views and responsibilities
on the research achievements should be attributed to the researchers themselves.
On the occasion such as researchers release the research achievements using the KAKENHI
broadly to the public, the examples of the indication noting that the research achievements are
based on the personal views are given below.
〈Example〉【English】 Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in thismaterial are those of the author(s)’ and do not necessarily reflect the views of theauthor(s)’ organization, JSPS nor MEXT.
【Japanese】本研究の成果は著者自らの見解等に基づくものであり、所属研究機関、資金配分機関及び国の見解等を反映するものではありません。
(3) Promotion of “Open Access” to the research papers supported by KAKENHI grants
JSPS endorses general policy of promotion of open access of publications of research results
funded by public grants including KAKENHI. Note that open access is not mandatory if there are
justifiable reasons for deferral such as copyright-related issues, or insufficient repository
infrastructure at the research institution.
○Implementation policy on open access of papers, which are supported by research funds by
KAKENHI grants of JSPS
URL: https://www.jsps.go.jp/j-policy/open_science/
About Open Access:
What is “Open Access”“Open Access” refers to the idea that research papers published in peer-reviewed journals, etc.
should be made freely accessible by anyone online.
11

Ways to Open Access
There are three main ways of open access implementation ((i) to (iii) below).
i) A way in which the article published in the conventional subscription fee type academic journal
after a certain period (Embargo)(*1) (for example 6 months later) is made open access by opening
the final manuscript to an Institutional Repository(*2) established by the research institution towhich the author belongs, or by opening the final manuscript to the website, etc. established by the
researchers (self-archiving)(*3).
ii) A way to make the article open access by posting the article on the web established by the

research community or public institution.
iii) A way to make the article open access immediately by paying the publication fee (APC:

Article Processing Charge) by the author of the article.
*1: Embargo
The predetermined period from the time of publication of an article in an academic journal to the time ofrelease so that it can be posted on an online open access archiving system (repository).
*2: Institutional Repository
An online archiving system created by university or research institution for storage and dissemination of theintellectual products. Institutional repositories play important roles in the reform of academic information
distribution by enabling the researchers register their own articles, such as the transmission of research andeducation achievements of the research institution, PR for both the research institution and the researcher,guaranteeing the accountability of research and education activities towards society, and the long-term
conservation of intellectual products.
*3: Self-archiving“Self-archiving” refers to online posting of articles published in academic journals, dissertations, or data by
those other than the publisher (the researcher or research institution) generally on their institutional
repositories.

iv) Management of Research Data
As to the management and utilization of research data obtained through the implementation ofresearch activities, in order to secure the autonomy of Japan’s research and development
activities and promote international open science, policies such as the Sixth Science,
Technology, and Innovation Basic Plan (Cabinet Decision on March 26, 2021), Basic Policies
on the Management and Utilization of Research Data Created by Publicly-Funded Research
Activities (April 27, 2021, Decision of Council for Integrated Innovation Strategy) and theIntegrated Innovation Strategy 2020 (Cabinet Decision on July 17, 2020) call for initiatives
towards strategic storage and management of research data as well as broader utilization of theresearch results.
Therefore, there is a plan in which, starting from the FY2024 KAKENHI call for proposals,
upon formal application for grant delivery, the Principal Investigator of an adopted research
project will be asked to make a Data Management Plan (“DMP”) outlining the storage andmanagement, etc. of research results and research data of his/her research project.
○The Sixth Science, Technology, and Innovation Basic Plan (Cabinet Decision on March 26,
2021)
URL: https://www8.cao.go.jp/cstp/kihonkeikaku/6honbun.pdf○Basic Policies on the Management and Utilization of Research Data Created by Publicly-Funded
Research Activities (April 27, 2021, Decision of Council for Science, Technology and Innovation)
URL: https://www8.cao.go.jp/cstp/tyousakai/kokusaiopen/sanko1.pdf

127. Code of Conduct for Scientists to Adhere
To ensure the quality of scientific knowledge and to gain trust of society on scientists and scientificcommunities, it is essential to exercise fair and conscientious research activities with the adherence
to the code of conduct for scientists. Applicants must understand and practice the contents of boththe Statement “Code of Conduct for Scientists -Revised Version-” (section I. “Responsibilities of
Scientists”) by the Science Council of Japan and the booklet “For the Sound Development of
Science -The Attitude of a Conscientious Scientist-” (especially section I “What Is a Responsible
Research Activity?”) issued by JSPS.
And also take note that upon the formal application for grant delivery, it shall be confirmed throughthe electronic application system whether the Principal Investigator and Co-Investigator(s) will
have taken the research ethics education coursework, etc. (see “III. Instructions for Prospective
Applicants

4.Completion of Research Ethics Education Course or Other etc.” )(Research that Answers to Social Wishes)[Extraction from the Statement “Code of Conduct for Scientists -Revised Version-” by the Science

4 Scientists shall recognize that they are responsible for answering to the wishes of society to investigate into

Council of Japan dated January 25, 2013]

truths and to achieve various issues. When using research funds that are to be provided for establishing theI. Responsibilities of Scientists

research environment and for conducting research scientists shall always recognize that such broad social(Basic Responsibilities of Scientists)
expectations exist.
1 Scientists shall recognize that they are responsible for assuring the quality of the specialized knowledge and(Accountability and Disclosure)skills that they themselves create, and for using their expert knowledge, skills and experience to contribute
5 Scientists shall strive to disclose and actively explain the roles and significance of their own research, evaluate
to the health and welfare of humankind, the safety and security of society and the sustainability of the global
the possible effects of their research on people, society and the environment as well as the changes that theirenvironment.
research might engender, neutrally and objectively disclose the results of this evaluation, and build a(Attitude of Scientists)
constructive dialogue with society.
2 Scientists shall always make judgments and act with honesty and integrity, endeavoring to maintain and(Dual Use of Scientific Research Outcomes)
improve their own expertise, abilities and skills, and shall make the utmost effort to scientifically and6 Scientists shall recognize that there exist possibilities that their research results, contrary to their own
objectively demonstrate the accuracy and validity of the knowledge they create through scientific research.
intentions, may be used for destructive actions, and shall select appropriate means and methods as allowed(Scientists in Society)by society in conducting research and publicizing the results.
3 Scientists shall recognize that scientific autonomy is upheld by public trust and the mandate of the people,
URL: http://www.scj.go.jp/ja/scj/kihan/
understand the relationships between science, technology, society, and the natural environment from a wideranging
and act in anofappropriate“Fortheperspective,
Sound Development
Science – manner.
The Attitude of a Conscientious Scientist –” by JSPS
(Japanese version (text version)) (“For the Sound Development of Science” Editorial Committee on JSPS)
URL: https://www.jsps.go.jp/j-kousei/

13II. Call for Proposals
1. Research Categories for which a Call for Proposals is Organized
Fund for the Promotion of Joint International Research (International Leading
Research): KAKENHI (Multi-year Fund)A) Purpose:
This grant aims to enable researchers to achieve major developments in creative and pioneeringresearch by providing KAKENHI (Multi-year Fund)’s flexible large-scale long-term support foroutstanding international research. We expect to see research groups led by top-level researchersin our country to play a central role in the international network, thereby achieving research resultsof high scientific value internationally as well as furthering internationalization and advancing thelevel of research across such scientific fields.
Moreover, this research category will require the participation of postdoctoral fellows and graduate
students. In doing so, the grant seeks to foster researchers who can play leading roles in theinternational research community, and to maintain and develop the environmental base for joint
international research in the medium and long perspective.
Since this research category aims to support researchers who play a central role in joint
international research and to help foster researchers, the funds will be granted to highly selected
research projects. Proposals will be assessed, not only in terms of whether the research initiatives
are significant as curiosity-driven research, but also in terms of their progressiveness, future
potentials, and competitiveness, etc. as joint international research.

B) Funding target:
Research plans that satisfy both requirements (1) and (2) below will be eligible:*When formulating the research plan, please give due attention to the feasibility of the project inview of the situation, etc. of the countries or regions in which the affiliated institutions of overseas
joint researchers are located.
(1) A research plan that is expected to produce outstanding research results by receiving focused
grants; to be conducted as joint international research between “Japanese researchers who haverecords of excellent research achievements and international research networks,” and researchers
who belong to research institutions abroad and have internationally excellent researchachievements (“Overseas Joint Researchers”).

* The Principal Investigator must have achieved and published internationally outstanding
research results to be eligible; for example, having co-authored an international joint paper (onlythose published in and after 2018) as corresponding author, which was ranked in the top 10% mosthighly cited papers. In some fields, “internationally outstanding research results” could mean thefollowing:14

- Experience as a representative of a large international collaboration (e.g., a spokesperson whoplays a central role in the project and is responsible for the whole operation of the project)- Author of prominent academic books that are published abroad and highly appraised within
the international research community (only those published in and after 2013)(2) A research plan that is to be carried out by a research team consisting of multiple researchers(Principal Investigator (PI) and Co-Investigators (Co-Is)), and a group of postdoctoral fellows(PDs) and graduate students (doctoral course students, DCs) as Research Collaborators. The
number of PDs and DCs should be approximately three times that of the PI and Co-Is.

* In view of the aims of this research category to achieve research results of higher quality and tocontribute to fostering researchers who can play leading roles in the international researchcommunity, the standard percentage of expenses for the development of human resources shall be
70% of the proposed total budget. In addition, it is mandatory to include the following initiatives
in the research plan:- Plans of dispatching PDs and DCs to overseas research institutions and of implementing
international exchanges with Overseas Joint Researchers (mainly for 2-3 years)- Initiatives to support the self-reliance of PDs and DCs (e.g., financial support to enable PDs
and DCs to conduct research with a certain level of discretion and responsibility, subject to theguidance of independent researchers)* In this context, a postdoctoral fellow (PD) means in principle an early-career researcher who is
not engaged in full-time research activities(*1), such as, an individual who is age 39 or under andhas not acquired his/her Ph.D. degree, or who has acquired his/her Ph.D. degree within the past 8
years (including an individual having acquired a Ph.D. degree within 8 years excluding periods ofmaternity and/or childcare leave, etc. after acquiring Ph.D.).
*1. A researcher who is “engaged in full-time research activities” is a person holding a job positionof an indefinite term appointment like a permanent position of tenure post, for example, aprofessor, associate professor, or assistant professor. It does not refer to his/her working
arrangement such as full-time of part-time working hours.

C) Range of total budget: Up to 500 million yen

D) Research period: 7 years* The research period may be extended to maximum 10 years subject to the results of the interim
assessment.
15E) Number of projects to be adopted: About 5 projects (highly selected)* Since this research category aims to play a central role in joint international research and to help
foster researchers, the funds will be granted to highly selected research projects. Proposals will beassessed, not only in terms of whether the research initiatives are significant as curiosity-driven
research, but also in terms of their progressiveness, future potentials, and competitiveness, etc. as
joint international research.

F) Review sections and review methods:

Review sections: Humanities and Social Sciences, Science and Engineering, or Biological
Sciences
Review methods: Comprehensive review (Document review and panel review)(See II. Call for Proposals 3. Review Panels and Other Matters for details on the review methods)

G) Submission of a Letter of Intent from Overseas Researchers:

Upon submitting a proposal, overseas researchers participating as joint researchers (capable ofassuming responsibility in the research plan) will be required to complete a Letter of Intent. The
Principal Investigator must provide overseas researchers with detailed information on the researchplan, including the content of the research and specific roles that will be assigned to eachresearcher, and obtain their expressed consent on their responsibilities depending on the assigned
roles, for example, to secure their own research funds. Each overseas researcher must prepare a
Letter of Intent in a prescribed format, setting forth the confirmations and understandings with the
Principal Investigator. The Letters will be reviewed as part of the Research Proposal Document.

H) Background on the establishment of this research category and other notes:

The objectives and basic ideas of the establishment of this research category can be found in the
document titled “Improving and Enhancing Support for Joint International Research” (Reference
Material 1 for the meeting of Subdivision on Grants-in-Aid for Research, Science Division,Council for Science and Technology, June 29, 2021). Read this document carefully in planningand preparing your research plan.
URL: https://www.mext.go.jp/content/20210706-gakjokik-000016622_01.pdf<Notes>・ All participants, including research collaborators, in the project are encouraged to actively
disseminate the research achievements globally through publication of coauthored international joint
papers, and presentation in international conferences, etc.

16

・Funds will be allocated to the adopted research projects, taking into consideration to the maximum
extent possible, the full amounts requested in the applications.
・This research category aims to foster excellent early-career researchers by way of supporting joint
international research of top-class research teams. To this end, we plan to provide the following
expenses in addition to the research grants set forth in section C above. Details will be notified
separately to the PI of adopted research projects.
- Environmental expenses, to create a research environment that will enable young researchers toparticipate more easily in joint international research, will be paid to research groups to be supported
under this research category. (Up to about 30 million yen per research project; to be allocated basedon the situation, etc. of adoption.)- Tenure start-up expenses, for Co-Is (PDs), Research Collaborators (PDs, DCs) hired by a research
institution as researcher with tenure (including tenure-track position) during the research period of
this research category. (3 million yen per researcher up to 21 million yen per research project: to beallocated based on the situation, etc. of employment.)
・For each adopted research project, an interim assessment will be conducted in the fifth year of theresearch period, and an ex-post assessment in the fiscal year following the final fiscal year of theresearch period The results of interim assessments are used to determine the extension of research
periods as necessary, increase/decrease of the amounts of funding for the fiscal years after theassessment, and termination of the project, etc.
・To promote further internationalization of your affiliated research institutions, you are encouraged
to actively contribute to your affiliated research institutions, by way of sharing your experiences orknowledge on international activities that you gain through the project to the extent that it does nothamper the implementation of the grant project.

17

2. Schedule from Application to Grant Delivery(1) Procedures that need to be completed prior to the deadline for the submission of theapplication documents
Principal Investigator should sufficiently cooperate with the research institution, and shouldadequately respond to its requests.
The Date and Time

Procedures to be Performed by the
Principal Investigator(See “III. Instructions for Prospective
Applicants”)

Start of Call for Proposals:
Thursday, January 11, 2024

1)Preparing the Application
Investigators should access theElectronic Application Systemusing the ID and the e-Rad
Password which has been
provided by the research
institution and preparing theapplication.

2)Participation process of the CoInvestigator-to-be joining as aproject member

3)Submission (Sending) of the
Application Documents
The Principal Investigator should
submit (send) the application
documents to the research
institution he/she belongs to, by thedeadline decided the research
institution.

Procedures to be Performed by the
Research Institution(See “Ⅳ. Instructions for Administrative
Staff of Research Institution”)
Procedures to be completed, if the need arises
1) The Research Institution obtains an ID
and Password for e-Rad from the person
in charge of the operation of e-Rad (Thisdoes not apply if the research institution
already obtained them.)*The issue of the ID and the Password
takes about 2 weeks.
2) Registration of the Researcher
Information in e-Rad and other matters.
3) Research institutions issue an ID andpassword to the Principal Investigators.
(This does not apply if the researcher
already obtained an ID and a password.)

4) The researchers who belong to theInstitutions give a consent to become the
Co-Investigator.
5) Submission of the “Self-assessment
Checklist on the Implementation of the
System”, based on the“Guidelines on theManagement and Audit of Public
Research Funds at Research Institutions”.
・Submission of the ”Checklist Pertaining
to the Current Status” based on“Guidelines for Responding to Misconduct
in Research”*If both Checklists have been submitted
separately after April 2023, there is noneed for resubmission.
Deadline for submission:
Wednesday, March 13(to be strictly observed)6) Submission (Sending) of the Application
Documents

Deadline for submission:
4:30 pm on
Wednesday, March 13(to be strictly observed)

Notes:
1. After the Principal Investigator submits (Sending) the application to the research institution (mentioned in“Procedures to be Performed by the Principal Investigator” 3), the research institution should submit (Sending) to18

the JSPS the application by the deadline for the submission (mentioned in “Procedures to be Performed by the
Research Institution” 6).
Next, he or she should verify the section “III. Instructions for Prospective Applicants 3. Preparation of the
KAKENHI Application Form”, etc. as well as the procedures designated by the research institution, etc. (deadline
for the submission of the application, etc., in the research institution) with the administrative staff in charge in the
research institution.

2. When the researcher is applying for KAKENHI, he or she should register the researcher information beforehand in
e-Rad. The research institution should perform the registration in e-Rad. Therefore, the researcher who is planning
to apply should verify the state of the registration with the administrative staff in charge in the research institution.

3. The research institution should submit a “Self-assessment Checklist on the Implementation of the System”, basedon the “Guidelines on the Management and Audit of Public Research Funds at Research Institutions (Implementation
Standards)” and a “Checklist Pertaining to the Current Status” based on “Guidelines for Responding to Misconduct
in Research” (mentioned in “Procedures to be Performed by the Research Institution” 5). If it has not been submitted,
no official grant decision will be made for the researchers belonging to the research institution in question.

4. Upon composing the project team with Co-Investigators, the Principal Investigator must complete the process ofobtaining their consent to become Co-Investigators using the electronic application system (“Procedures to be
Performed by the Principal Investigator” 2). Prospective Co-Investigators need to obtain consent, etc. from theiraffiliated research institutions to become Co-Investigator (“Procedures to be Performed by the Research Institution”
4). The Principal Investigator cannot submit (send) the Research Proposal Document to his/her research institutions
until the research institutions to which the Co-Investigators-to-be belong give the consent to become a CoInvestigator in the research project, and so on. For this purpose, the Principal Investigator is asked to organize theproject members immediately (see “III. Instructions for Prospective Applicants 3.Preparation of the
KAKENHI Application Form”).

(2) Schedule after the Submission of the Application Documents (plan)
The schedule below is as at the time of preparing this document.
There may be changes in the plan including the timing of the provisional grant decision. When thechanges occur, it will be announced on the JSPS website and through the research institutions.

International Leading Research
March to November 2024

Review

Mid May

Notification of preliminary screening results*1

Mid September

Notification of selection results of projects to be interviewed

Late November

Notification of review results*2, Provisional grant decision

Late December

Formal application for grant delivery

Around January 2025

Official grant decision, Disclosure of review results, Grant delivery

Around February

Publication of review results for adopted research projects*1 For research proposals that were not adopted, review results will be notified after the review of
preliminary screening is completed. Note that preliminary screening will not be conducted in thereview section for which the number of applications is small.
*2 The notification of review results of International Leading Research will be given on the same day
as the provisional grant decision19

3 Review Panels and Other Matters(1) Concerning KAKENHI Review
Omitted(2) Review Methods and Other Matters
The review for the KAKENHI is carried out by the Scientific Research Grant Committee of theJSPS, and is based on the Research Proposal Document. The review takes place behind closed
doors. The submitted Research Proposal Document will not be returned to applicants.

As applicants provide unpublished research results and research ideas, and other information in their
Research Proposal Documents on the premise that the review will be conducted privately, JSPS
asks reviewers to maintain their confidentiality obligations, including the following.
・In order to protect the intellectual property of the applicants and ensure fairness of the peer review
system, reviewers must not disclose the content of the Research Proposal Documents or any otherinformation, in whatever form, that they learn in the course of the review to outside parties
including their superiors, colleagues, or subordinates.
・Reviewers must not use any information that they learn in the course of the review for their own
benefit.
・Reviewers have the obligation to keep the review materials under strict control.
The details on assessment rules (“Rules concerning the review and assessment for Grants-in-Aid
for Scientific Research”) such as assessment criteria can be found on the website for Grants-in-Aid
for Scientific Research of the JSPS.
URL: https://www.jsps.go.jp/j-grantsinaid/01_seido/03_shinsa/index.html
The review of this research category will be conducted through “Document Review” and “Panel
Review” (collectively, “Comprehensive Review”) by three separate committees of the specialized
fields: humanities and social sciences; science and engineering; and biological sciences (“Sectionspecific Committees”). Details are as follows:
・The Document Review will be performed by eight to fourteen reviewers in principle in each
Section-specific Committee. They will review each research proposal based on the Research
Proposal Document, as well as “Review Comments” and the results of “Overseas Reviews”
prepared by researchers in the close field of specialization (about three reviewers from domestic
research institutions preparing the review comments, and about three overseas reviewers
belonging to overseas research institutions conducting overseas reviews). Proposals that receive
extremely low marks in the overseas reviews will not be adopted.

*As a general rule, the Document Review will be conducted after a Preliminary Screening(examination of certain parts of the Research Proposal Document by the Section-specificCommittees). Preliminary screening will not be held if the number of applications is limited.
・In the Panel Review, members of the Section-specific Committees will conduct discussions from a
broad perspective on each research proposal and select research projects to be interviewed, thenproceed with interview reviews.
*In the review process, reviewers can utilize, as necessary, the “researchmap” and the Grants-inAid for Scientific Research Database (KAKEN) (see III. Instructions for Prospective Applicants
Registration of the Researcher Information in Researchmap).

(3) Notification of Review Results
1)

JSPS will notify the review results of the preliminary screening to the PIs and their research

institutions whose research proposals were not adopted via the electronic application system.
2)

The results of selection of research projects to be interviewed will be notified to the PIs of

the selected proposals and all research institutions.
3)

JSPS will issue a notification to the PIs and research institutions via the electronic

application system on whether the projects have been adopted or not based on the results of thereview.
4)

For research projects that were adopted, JSPS will provide the PIs with opinions expressedin the review results. JSPS will also disclose to the PIs whose proposals were not adopted, theapproximate ranks within each section on the electronic application system. For the PIs whose
proposals were selected for Panel Review but were not adopted, JSPS will also disclose, in addition
to the above, opinions expressed in the review results.
5)

The summary of opinions expressed in the review results of research projects that wereadopted will be released on the Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research Database (KAKEN) andother media.

III. Instructions for Prospective Applicants
1. Procedures to be Completed Prior to Application
The following three items must be completed prior to the submission of the research proposal:(1) Ascertainment of the Eligibility for KAKENHI Application(2) Confirmation of the Researcher Information Registered in the e-Rad System(3) Obtainment of an ID and a Password for the Electronic Application System(1) Ascertainment of the Eligibility for KAKENHI Application
An applicant submitting a research proposal to Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (KAKINHI)
as Principal Investigator (PI) must meet the requirements ① and ② stated below.
A researcher carrying KAKENHI eligibility through more than one research institution can submit
application(s) through either of the research institutions.

① At the time of the proposal submission, a researcher needs to have been approved by
his/her research institution (*) as an eligible researcher who meets the Requirements 1) ,2) and 3) stated below, and have his/her Researcher Information properly registered in
the e-Rad system as eligible for KAKENHI application(*2).
Requirements
1) The applicant must be an individual belonging to a research institution with job
assignment including research activity within the said institution. (Whether the job ispaid/unpaid, or full-time/part-time is irrelevant. It is not a prerequisite of eligibility that the
research activity constitutes the main part of his/her job.)
2) The applicant must be actually engaged in research activity in his/her research
institution. (Those who are only engaged in research assisting jobs are ineligible.)3) The applicant must not be a graduate student or any other categories of student. (Anindividual who has a position in a research institution with a research activity as his/her mainjob (e.g., a university teaching staff, researcher belonging to a company, etc.), and holds a
student status at the same time is eligible.)(*1) Here, the research institution must be such that designated according to the Article 2 of the“Rules for the Handling of Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research” (issued by the MEXT).
(*2) JSPS Fellows (DC) are deemed to have met the application requirements by being
nominated as a JSPS Fellow (DC), notwithstanding the items a) through c) in (i) above.
However, please check with your research organization regarding the requirements that it
must meet.
(Reference) Requirements that the research institution must meet: (see “Ⅳ. Instructions for
Administrative Staff of Research Institution”)

22Requirements
・ The research institution must authorize the research project for which KAKENHI is
granted, as its proper activity.
・ The research institution must take responsibility for management and accounting of the
KAKENHI delivered to its researcher staffs.
②

The individual must not be categorized as ineligible for grant acquisition in the fiscal
year covered by a call for proposals, as a penalty for his/her improper grant spending,fraudulent grant acquisition, or research misconduct.

<Important Point 1>
A researcher who is employed with a KAKENHI grant (hereinafter called “KAKENHI employee”),
is generally bound by their employment contract to concentrate on the research work relevant to the
KAKENHI project for which he/she is employed (hereafter called “employment-related work”)
specified in his/her employment contracts. Therefore, such a KAKENHI employee cannot apply for
his/her own KAKENHI project which is to be conducted within the working hours of his/her
employment.
However, provided that he/she can clearly demarcate his/her own research hours from the working
hours of employment and intends to conduct his/her own research project during the former hours
on his/her own initiative, the KAKENHI employee can submit his/her own KAKENHI proposal, on
the condition that the following points are verified by his/her research institution. The KAKENHI
employee can apply for KAKENHI as a PI or become a Co-I.
・The KAKENHI employee is granted on his/her employment contract, to conduct research on
his/her own initiative, besides the employment-related work.
・The employment-related work and the work devoted to the research on his/her own initiative
are clearly demarcated in regard to the working hours and the effort.
・The KAKENHI employee is able to secure enough research hours (besides the working hours
for his/her employment-related work) to be allotted to his/her own KAKENHI project.

[Self-motivated research activities by a young researchers employed by KAKENHI funding]
A young researcher (*) who is employed with KAKENHI funds (KAKENHI employee) and meetsthe following conditions, may conduct his/her own research during the working hours assigned forthe employment-related work, after going through the necessary procedures set by his/her research
institution. He/She can apply for KAKENHI as a PI or become a Co-I.
(1) A young researcher desires on his/her own will to conduct his/her own research.
(2) The PI and Co-I (the employer of the young researcher) desires that the said research has apositive contribution to the promotion of the funded research project for which he/she isemployed, and the research institution approves the said decision.
(3) The PI and Co-I judges that the efforts to be spared by the young researcher to the said researchwithin the extent that do not cause any hindrance to the execution of the funded research project23

for which he/she is employed, and the research institution approves the judgement. (The upper
limit of the efforts to be spared to the self-motivated research is 20 percent of the efforts to be
put into the funded research project for which he/she is employed.)* In this context, “young researcher” is defined as an individual who is age 39 or under, or less than 8
years after Ph.D. acquisition (including an individual who has acquired a Ph.D. within the past 8
years excluding periods of maternity and/or childcare leave taken after his/her Ph.D. acquisition) as
of April 1 of each fiscal year (hereinafter referred to as a “KAKENHI-employee young researcher”),
and whose job assignment includes research activities. When applying for Grants-in-Aid for
Scientific Research (KAKINHI) he/she must meet the eligibility requirements for KAKENHI
application.
Provided that the KAKENHI employer approves such self-motivated research activities inaccordance with its funding resources (project) rules, if a researcher had originally met the eligibility
requirements for KAKENHI’s self-motivated research activities at the time of his/her application or
participation, he/she may apply for KAKENHI and continue to engage in the adopted research projecteven if, during the project period, he/she no longer meets the requirements for a KAKENHI-employee
young researcher. If there are changes to the funding resources (project) of the KAKENHI employer,
the researcher must abide by the new funding resources (project) rules and reobtain the approval toconduct self-motivated research activities as a young researcher at the time the of the changing offunding resources.

(Reference) Views on the self-motivated research activities by the KAKENHI employee
Attachment 1 to the “Changes in the FY2020 Call for Proposals for Grants-in-Aid for Scientific
Research (KAKENHI) and Other Matters” (March 19, 2020) (Excerpt)
URL:https://www.jsps.go.jp/j-grantsinaid/06_jsps_info/g_200316/index.html
Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (hereinafter referred to as “KAKENHI”) is a funding schemethat is intended to promote development of scientific research (based on original ideas ofresearchers), encompassing basic to applied researches in all fields ranging from humanities andsocial sciences to natural sciences. Scientific research is a source of innovation i.e., value creation
based on new knowledge and has a vital role in nurturing human resources for leading aknowledge-based society broadly. It is particularly important to foster young scientists who areresponsible for the next generation in order that the scientific research may sustainably exercise itsrole in the society.
It enables young researchers employed with a KAKENHI grant to conduct self-motivated research
activities (including research activities with other research funds and activities helping
research/management capacity building; hereinafter the same). Allowing them to conduct research
activities in an independent and free research environment contributes not only to fostering young
researchers, but also to the further development of the KAKENHI projects of their research
institutions through research based on their freewheeling thinking and to the development of24

scientific research the entire country. Therefore, the concept of self-motivated research activities
by young researchers is introduced in the KAKENHI scheme in this call for proposals.
For details, refer to the following.
“Implementation Guidelines for Self-motivated Research Activities by Young Researchers
Employed with Competitive Research Funds” (December 18, 2020, Agreement of the Liaison
Meeting of Related Offices and Ministries on Competitive Research Funds)
URL: https://www.mext.go.jp/amenu/shinkou/torikumi/1385716_00001.htm<Important Point 2>
If a JSPS Research Fellow (SPD, PD, RPD, or CPD) meets the application requirements set forth
above at the research institution which he/she registers as host research institution, he/she can also
apply for the following research categories other than the “Grant-in-Aid for JSPS Fellows,” but only
from the registered host research institution. Unlike applying for KAKENHI as PI, he/she may apply
for any of these research categories so long as he/she takes part in a KAKENHI proposal as Co-I. In
making applications, he/she can apply even if the proposed research period outlasts the tenure of
his/her JSPS fellowship.
(i) Publicly Offered Research of Transformative Research Areas (A)(ii) Scientific Research (B/C)(iii) Challenging Research (Exploratory)(iv) Early-Career Scientists(v) Fund for the Promotion of Joint International Research (Fostering Joint International Research)(Excluding CPD)
JSPS Fellows (DC) can apply for KAKENHI as Principal Investigators (PI) only for the Grant-in Aidfor JSPS Fellows and Fostering Joint International Research. JSPS Fellows (DC) can also participate
in research projects under every research category as Co-Is, but only from the host research
institutions. As JSPS Fellows (DC) are supposed to seek the acquisition of Ph.D. as doctoral students,
their host researchers or PIs of said KAKENHI research projects and their affiliated institutions
should take sufficient care, so that JSPS Fellows (DC) will not be burdened with excessive
responsibilities in performing these research projects. The Researcher Number is required if JSPS
Fellows (DC) apply for other research categories that they can apply for and receive in parallel with
Grant-in-Aid for JSPS Fellows as PIs or Co-Is.
Please note that students (see Note), such as graduate students and other students, as well as
International Research Fellows cannot apply for KAKENHI grants even if they are tasked with thejob of conducting research activities at their affiliated research institutions or other research
institutions.
(Note) The term “student” as defined here does not include such an individual who has a position to
conduct research in his/her research institution, as the main job (e.g., university teaching staff,
researcher belonging to company, etc.), and holds a student status at the same time.
25

<Important Point 3>
The PIs and the Co-Is constitute the “members of funded projects,” as stipulated in the “Act on
Regulation of Execution of Budget Pertaining to Subsidies, etc.” (Act no. 179 of 1955). In an eventthat they have committed improper grant spending, fraudulent grant acquisition, research misconduct,
etc. the eligibility for KAKENHI application will be suspended for a period of time specified by therule.
In the following cases, an individual registered in the e-Rad system as “eligible for KAKENHI
application” may be subject to different treatment.
•In case the research institution to which the individual belongs has made a judgement that it is not
appropriate to let the individual conduct the said research activity as a part of his/her work within
the institution, the institution may withhold the submission of his/her KAKENHI proposal, or may
withhold the formal application for grant delivery of a provisionally adopted KAKENHI grant
resulting in declination of the grant in question.
•In case a KAKENHI recipient has failed to submit the “Report on the Research Achievements” thatis due after the completion of the research period of his/her KAKENHI without any good reason,no new KAKENHI grant(s) will be delivered to him/her, even if the grant(s) have been provisionallyadopted. Moreover, if a KAKENHI recipient has failed to submit the “Report on the Research
Achievements” by the due date, then the delivery of KAKENHI grant(s) for that fiscal year will besuspended.

(2) Confirmation of the Researcher Information Registered in the e-Rad System
A researcher who intends to submit a research document proposal as the PI to any of the KAKENHI
categories for which “Call for Proposals” is announced, must carry the eligibility for KAKENHI
application at the time of submission of the “Research Proposal Document” from his/her research
institution to JSPS, and must be registered in the e-Rad system as such.
Therefore, it is important for the researcher to ascertain proper registration of his/her Researcher
Information in the e-Rad system.
The registration in the e-Rad system is handled by the research institution to which the researcher
belongs. The researcher should check with the administrative section of his/her institution about theregistration procedures including the registration deadline within the institution, the method of
confirmation of the current contents of registration, etc. If any of the entry items (such as “affiliation”,“position etc.) of the researcher who has been already registered in the e-Rad system need updating,they should be duly completed.

(3) Obtainment of an ID and a Password for the Electronic Application System
When the research institution completes the e-Rad registration of a researcher, an ID and a password
will be issued for the researcher. The researcher can access the KAKENHI Electronic Application
System using the ID and password and prepare the Research Proposal Document.
The ID and password issued to a researcher remain valid after he/she moves to another research
26

institution. Every researcher should exercise due care in handling his/her ID and password so as toprevent their leakage and abuse.

2. Restrictions on Parallel Grant Application/Receipt

A researcher who intends to submit research proposal(s) to KAKENHI should be wellacquainted with the “Restrictions on Parallel Grants Application/Receipt” before starting
preparation of research proposal document(s) to check if applications to the intended categories
are permitted.

(1) The Basic Policy for Restriction on Parallel Grant Application/Receipt
KAKENHI consists of different “Research Categories” and “Application Sections” set on the basisof budget scale, content, and other factors of the intended research, so as to meet various needs andresearch styles of the applicants.
On the other hand, in consideration of the necessity to support many excellent researchers withlimited funding resources, and of the possible detrimental influence of overcrowding applications
on the proper management of the review process, the “Rules for Restrictions on Parallel
Submission of Research Proposals” have been set up, according to the following basic principles.
Restrictions on parallel grant application/receipt do apply to the current round of call for proposals.
①

Give considerations so as to ensure that as many excellent researchers as possible can besupported with limited funding resources.
② Give considerations so as to ensure that the number of applications does not become
excessive in comparison with the review scheme of each research category.
③ The restrictions to be enforced are primarily directed to the applicant as Principal
Investigator (PI) who bears all responsibility for the implementation of the research
project(s). In some cases such as the research categories with large budget scale, however,
the restrictions may be also extended to individuals as the Co-Investigator (Co-I).
④ The restriction on parallel submission of research proposals and the restriction on
simultaneous receipt of grants are separately set on each of the KAKENHI categories, inaccordance of the basic concepts outlined above and by taking into consideration the purpose,characteristics and other factors of each KAKENHI category
In case a particular research project falls under the concept of “unreasonable duplication” as put
forward in the “Guidelines on the Proper Implementation of Competitive Funding” (see I. Outlineof the Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research-KAKENHI- 5. Guidelines on the Proper
Implementation of Competitive Research Funding, etc.), it may be judged as such in the review
process. Therefore, the applicant should take due precautions in preparing his/her research proposal
document.

(2) Restrictions on Parallel Grant Application/Receipt
You can propose or receive the grant of no more than one project for International Leading27

Research at the same time, either as a Principal investigator or a Co-Investigator. PI or Co-I of
the prospected on-going project in FY2024 cannot submit a new research proposal in thisresearch category.
(3) Important Notes
1) Even after a submitted proposal has been duly filed in the electronic application system, it
may be eliminated from the subsequent review process by the rule of restriction on parallel
grant application/receipt. The applicant should check against such possibility before
submitting the research proposal document. Applicants should give careful attention on the
point that if the researcher participates as a member of multiple projects and submits theresearch projects to JSPS, all the research projects applied will not be reviewed.
2) Even for the cases in which parallel grant application/receipt is not prohibited by the rules,
the applicant should give a careful consideration so as not to fall in such situation that he/shecannot carry his/her responsibility as PI or Co-I, by committing him/herself to too many
research projects. The applicant should be well acquainted with the content of “Eliminationof Unreasonable Duplication and/or Excessive Concentration in the Grant Allocation” (seeI. Outline of the Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research-KAKENHI- 5. “Guidelines on the Proper
Implementation of Competitive Research Funding”, etc.).

3) There are no restrictions on parallel research grant application/receipt between KAKENHI
and other competitive research funding schemes. Nevertheless, please be fully aware of thecontent of “Elimination of Unreasonable Duplication and/or Excessive Overconcentration in
the Grant Allocation” (Refer to I. Outline of the Grants-in-Aid for Scientific ResearchKAKENHI- 5. “Guidelines on the Proper Implementation of Competitive Research
Funding”, etc.)28

3. Preparation of the KAKENHI Application Forms (Research Proposal Document)
Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research is a competitive research funds intended to provide financial
support for creative and pioneering research conducted by individual researchers. Therefore, thecontents of the Research Proposal Document must be original planned by the applicant.
In preparing Research Proposal Document, plagiarism and/or misappropriation of the researchcontents of others are strictly impermissible. Applicants must comply with research ethics.
In addition, applicants should note that the entire Research Proposal Document, including the title of
the research project will be reviewed, and will be publicized widely in the Grants-in-Aid for Scientific
Research (KAKENHI) Database (KAKEN) if the research proposal is adopted. Therefore, make sure
to select a title that effectively reflects the content of the research project.

For submission of a research proposal, the applicant (PI) must complete the relevant Research Proposal
Document. The Research Proposal Document consists of two parts: “Items to be entered in theWebsite” and “Forms to be uploaded”.
The PI (applicant) should complete the Research Proposal Document (PDF file) by entering the “Items
to be entered in the Website” and by uploading the “Forms to be uploaded” to the Electronic
Application System. Then he/she should submit the Research Proposal Document to the administrative
section of his/her research institution, by the deadline set by the institution.
In addition, applicant must also submit the Letters of Intent from overseas researchers as part of the
Research Proposal Document.
Instructions on the preparation and submission of the KAKENHI Research Proposal Document are
detailed below.

(1) Preparation of Research Proposal Document
In order to apply, the applicant must first access the Electronic Application System using
his/her e-Rad ID and Password, and prepare the Research Proposal Document on the System.

On the Research Proposal Document
The KAKENHI Research Proposal Document consists of the following two parts:
Items to be entered in the Website:
Items to be directly entered by the PI (applicant) on the website of the KAKENHI Electronic
Application System
Forms to be uploaded:
Items pertaining to the content of the research plan. Various forms can be downloaded from the
JSPS website:
Upload the completed forms to the Electronic Application System to complete the research
proposal document in PDF format. (Paper-based applications will not be accepted.)
URL：https://www.jsps.go.jp/j-grantsinaid/35_kokusai/05_sendou/koubo.html
29

Research Proposal Document

Research
category
Application
SectionInternational
Leading
Research

Items to be enteredin the Website(First half)
To be entered in
the electronic
application system(Title of research
project, Fundamental
data on the research
project such as total
budget, Data on the
project members, etc.)

Forms to be
uploaded(First half)

S-64 (1)S-64 (2)S-64 (3)S-64 (4)Items to be enteredin the Website(Second half)
To be entered in
the electronic
application system(Research
expenditure anddescription of each
expenditurecategories)

Forms to be
uploaded(Second half)

S-64 (L)

Items to be enteredin the Website(Not be shown in
the PDF file)
To be entered in
the electronic
application system(Status ofapplication andacquisition ofresearch grants,
etc.)

About the Letter of Intent (LOI)

Form S-64 (L) which needs to be attached as part of the Research Proposal Document: The Letterof Intent is to be collected from an overseas joint researcher in time for the application to confirm
that applicant jointly conducts the research project with the overseas researcher. Applicant should
ask the overseas joint researcher (who is capable of assuming responsibility in the research plan;in case a researcher group, the leading researcher of the group) to complete and sign the letter.
When you receive it over an electronic file, please save the information on the related
correspondences including email messages. (Note that applicants are requested to upload theletter of intent only.) When you receive it on paper, please be sure to convert the form to PDF
before uploading it to the electronic application system.
If the research project is to be conducted with the engagement of several overseas joint researchers,
select one or more (up to three) leading researchers for submission of the Letters of Intent, andupload them using this form.

Uploaded Letter of Intent will be used in the review process as a part of the Research Proposal
Document. Please inform the researchers submitting the Letters of Intent that (as set forth below in(2) Electronic Submission of the Research Proposal Document, 3) their names and other personal
information of overseas joint researchers contained in the Letters of Intent and Research Proposal
Document will be used for administrative tasks of KAKENHI grants (which may include providing
personal information to external contractor(s) in charge of the electronic processing andmanagement of KAKENHI data).

(2) Electronic Submission of the Research Proposal Document
1) An applicant should prepare his/her Research Proposal Document (PDF files) by entering the“Items to be entered in the Website” and by uploading the separately prepared “Forms to be
uploaded” to the Electronic Application System, following the instructions in the “Procedures for30

Preparing and Entering a Research Proposal Document (Items to be entered in the Website)” and“Procedures for Preparing and Entering a Research Proposal Document (Forms to be uploaded)”.
Both procedures can be downloaded at
URL：https://www.jsps.go.jp/j-grantsinaid/35_kokusai/05_sendou/koubo.html
2) The Research Proposal Documents are collected and submitted to JSPS by the research institution

to which the PIs (applicants) belong. Therefore, the applying PI should submit his/her Research
Proposal Document to the administrative section of his/her research institution by the deadline set
by the institution. (It is not allowed to submit the Research Proposal Document directly to JSPS.)
Before submission, the applying PI should carefully check the contents of the Research Proposal
Document (PDF files) he/she prepared, and subsequently proceed to the “Check Completed andSubmission” stage of the submission process. (This amounts to submitting the Research Proposal
Document (PDF files) to the administrative section of his/her research institution.)
No further corrections or modifications to the Research Proposal Document (PDF file) approvedby his/her institution are possible after the deadline for submission to JSPS.
(See “Ⅳ. Instructions for Administrative Staff of Research Institution 4. Submission and Other
Matters of the Research Proposal Document (Preparing the Research Proposal Document).”)3) The personal information contained in the Research Proposal Document and any personal
information registered in Electronic Application System will be used for purposes such as theelimination of unreasonable duplication and/or excessive concentration in the allocation ofcompetitive research funds, the appropriate funding of KAKENHI grants, and to conduct
questionnaires on scientific technology policies including KAKENHI grants (this includes
providing the data to external contractor(s) in charge of electronic processing and management of
the KAKENHI data). Any such information will also be provided to the e-Rad system. (Theinformation registered in the e-Rad system is utilized for proper assessment of research anddevelopment by national funding, development of effective and efficient comprehensive strategy,planning and development of resource allocation policy, etc. Therefore, the information will be
supplied to the Cabinet Office through the e-Rad system. The applicant may be requested tocooperate in verification of the information and other related works.)
The information on the adopted KAKENHI projects (the title of research project, the name of PI
and his/her affiliated research institution, the grant to be delivered, research period, etc.) iscategorized as “information planned to be made public,” as laid down in Article 5, paragraph 1,
item 1 of the “Act on Access to Information Held by Incorporated Administrative Agencies” (ActNo. 140 of 2001). The information will be made public through press release materials, the Grantsin-Aid for Scientific Research Database (KAKEN) of the National Institute of Informatics, andother means.
The researchers and their affiliated research institutions are requested to carry out the application
procedures (including 2) above) with full understanding of the information handling (utilization,
provision and disclosure) stated above.
31

(3) Important Checkpoints of the Research Proposal Document
In preparing a Research Proposal Document, the applicant should pay attention to the following points
among others, so as to avoid “outright rejection by incompleteness of the research proposal document”.
1) Qualification as a KAKENHI project
The following kinds of research plans fall outside the scope of funding target:A) A research plan which merely aims at purchasing ready-made research equipment.
B) A research plan whose purpose is to build a large-size research facility or equipment which is more
appropriate to be funded by other resources.
C) A research plan whose purpose lies at developing and selling goods and/or services (including
market research associated with such as them).
D) An entrusted research conducted as regular business.
E) A research plan with a yearly budget less than 100,000 yen.

2) Eligibility of the Project Members
The PI should organize a research team with an appropriate combination of Co-Investigator(s) (Co-I),
and Research Collaborator (s). When organizing a research team, the PI should ensure that the teamhas an appropriate system toward the achievement of research objectives, for example by giving due
consideration to diversity. The KAKENHI eligibility (stated in III. Instructions for Prospective
Applicants 1. Procedures to be Completed Prior to Application) of PI and Co-I(s) should be verified
by their respective research institute by the time of proposal submission. On the other hand,registration to the e-Rad system is not a requirement to be a Research Collaborators.

A) Principal Investigator (PI) (Applicant)i. Principal Investigator is the main recipient of the grant who bears full responsibility for the
implementation of the research project (including summarization of the research achievements).
An individual who is anticipated to become unable to carry through the PI’s responsibility over theentire research period due to, for example, loss of the KAKENHI eligibility caused by PI’s own
accord, should refrain from becoming a PI. (See note below.)(Note)The Principal Investigator is a researcher who plays the central role in the implementation of the research plan andthus bears a heavy responsibility. An individual who is anticipated to lose his/her eligibility for KAKENHI
application during the research period due to his/her own accord so that is anticipated to be unable to carry throughthe responsibility, should refrain from becoming a Principal Investigator. Substitutions of the PI of an on-going
KAKENHI project are not permitted. As an exception, for the “International Leading Research”, replacements of PI
may be accepted by going through required procedures.

ii. When organizing project members, Principal Investigator must obtain a consent to become a
Co-Investigator from the researcher via electric application system in advance.
32

iii. The PI must be registered in the e-Rad system as “Eligible for KAKENHI Application”. It is also
required that he/she is not designated as “ineligible for grant receipt” in the fiscal year covered bya call for proposals (suspension of eligibility), as a penalty for such misconducts as improper grant
spending, fraudulent grant acquisition or research misconduct associated with KAKENHI or any
other competitive research funds.

B) Co-Investigator (Co-I)
i. The Co-Investigator is a recipient of the grant who, in cooperation with the PI, bears responsibility
for the implementation of the research project in accordance with the clear share of his/her roles. The
Co-I must be a member of the project who receives a share of the grant based on the contents of theshare as a recipient of the grant. (This rule applies even when the Co-I belongs to the same institution
as the PI.)
An individual who is anticipated to become unable to carry through the Co-I’s responsibility over theentire research period due to, for example, the loss of the KAKENHI eligibility

caused by Co-I’s

own accord, should refrain from becoming a Co-I.
ii. The Co-I must be registered in the e-Rad system as being “Eligible for KAKENHI Application”.
It is also required that he/she is not designated as being “ineligible for grant receipt” in the fiscal year
covered by a call for proposals (a suspension of eligibility), as a penalty for such misconducts as an
improper grant spending, a fraudulent grant acquisition or a research misconduct associated with the
KAKENHI or any other competitive research funds.
＜About the Process of Participation of Co-Investigator in Project Members＞
A consent process to become a Co-Investigator is conducted via the electronic application system
if the applicant adds a Co-Investigator to project members. Following processes for both Principal
Investigator and Co-Investigators are necessary in the application process.
[Actions to be taken by the Principal Investigator]
・Principal Investigator must enter the information on the researcher whom he/she wants to add
to the project members in the “Project Members List” column on the “Application Information
Input” screen, request the researcher to become a Co-Investigator, and obtain a consent fromthe Co-Investigator-to-be by the time of submitting (sending) the Research Proposal Document
to his/her research institution,[Actions to be taken by the researcher who is requested to become a Co-Investigator]
・If the researcher is requested to become a Co-Investigator by the Principal Investigator via theelectronic application system, the researcher must select “Consent” or “Dissent” after
confirming the contents to be consented.

33

Procedures to be Performed by the
Principal Investigator

Procedures to be Performed by the
Co-Investigator-to-be①②

Request to become a CoInvestigator

The Principal Investigator requests to
the researcher who is to be requested to
become a Co-Investigator to participate
in the project members as a CoInvestigator via the electronic
application system

Procedures to be Performed by the
Research Institutions to which CoInvestigator-to-be belongs

Give a consent to become a CoInvestigator③ Give a consent to become a CoInvestigator as a standpoint of theresearch institutions

The Co-Investigator-to-be is requested
to participate in the project members asa Co-Investigator from the Principal
Investigator via the electronic
application system and then the CoInvestigator-to-be selects a consent (or adissent).

The information consented by the CoInvestigator-to-be is shown via theelectronic application system and thenthe research institutions also conduct theprocess such as giving consents to
him/her.

・The organization of the project members should be completed through all necessary procedures
mentioned above to be carried out with the approximate target of two weeks prior to the deadline
for the submission of the application documents. (All application procedures are workable on thesystem after two weeks prior to the deadline for the submission of the application documents. To
submit (send) application documents to the research institution to which the Principal Investigatorbelongs, it is necessary to obtain consents from all the Co-Investigators-to-be.
* Please refer to the KAKENHI (Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research) Electronic Application System
Operation Manual (URL: https://www-shinsei.jsps.go.jp/kaken/topkakenhi/shinsei_ka.html) for thedetailed information such as operating environments, operating methods, and so on.
* After the researcher has given a consent to become a Co-Investigator, the information on the CoInvestigator-to-be will be shown to the research institution to which he/she belongs via the electronic
application system, and then it will be necessary to obtain a consent, etc. from the research institution
as well.
* Since the Principal Investigator cannot submit (send) the Research Proposal Document to his/herresearch institution until the research institution to which the Co-Investigator-to-be belongs gives
the consent, etc., be sure to finish the process in time for the deadline of the submission.

C) Research Collaborator
i. Research Collaborator is an individual who cooperates in the implementation of a research
project other than the PI and the Co-I(s).
ii. Registration as “Eligible for KAKENHI application” in the e-Rad system is not a requirement
for becoming a Research Collaborator.
For example, the following people can also participate in the research project as a Research
Collaborator: a postdoctoral researcher, a graduate student, a research assistant (RA), a JSPS
Research Fellows (SPD, PD, RPD, CPD or DC) who are not registered as eligible for KAKENHI
application in their host research institution, a researcher belonging to an overseas research
34

institution, a researcher belonging to a corporation not designated as a research institution according
to Article 2 of the Rules for the Handling of Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research, and an individual
offering research support such as technician and intellectual property specialist.
【Participation of Early-Career Researchers as Project Members in International Leading Research】
In view of the aims of this research category to achieve research results of higher quality and tocontribute to fostering researchers who can play leading roles in the international researchcommunity, we seek for research plans that are to be carried out by research groups that arecomposed of multiple researchers (Principal Investigator (PI) and Co-Investigators (Co-Is)), and agroup of postdoctoral fellows (PDs) and graduate students (doctoral course students, DCs) as
Research Collaborators. The number of PDs and DCs should be approximately three times that of
the PI and Co-Is. The number of Research Collaborators (PDs and DCs) on the team may
temporarily divert from the original plan, provided that measures are to be taken so as not to impact
the performance of the research project.

It is mandatory to include the following initiatives in the research plan, therefore, applicants should
give due attention to the feasibility of the project in view of the situation, etc. of the overseas
research institutions accepting early-career researchers when formulating the research plan.
- Plans of dispatching PDs and DCs to overseas research institutions and of implementing
international exchanges (mainly for 2-3 years);- Initiatives to support the self-reliance of PDs and DCs (e.g., financial support to enable PDs andDCs to conduct research with a certain level of discretion and responsibility, subject to theguidance of independent researchers).

3) Requirements for the Appropriation of Research ExpenditureA) Expenditures that can be covered by direct expense
Expenditures necessary for the implementation of the research plan (including those necessary forsummarization of the research achievements)* If any of the expenditure categories (equipment costs, travel expenses, or personnel cost/honoraria) exceeds
90% of the total yearly expenditure in any FY of the research period, or if the expenditure in category
Consumables or Miscellaneous constitutes a significant portion of the total expenditure, the necessity of thatspending should be clarified in Research Proposal Document.

[Direct Expense of Competitive Research Funds to Cover the Costs of Assignments Other Than
Research]
The cost of “buyout” (i.e., the cost for hiring someone taking over a part of the duties other than research(*) of the Principal Investigator or Co-Investigator(s)) can be covered by the direct expense so that they
can secure ample amount of time for research projects (the buyout system).

35

* The kinds of duties that can be covered by the buyout system are those authorized as proper jobs of theresearcher at his/her research institution, excluding (i) research activities, and (ii) administrative work
for institutional management. They include educational and related activities, e.g., educational activities(teaching and preparation for teaching, supervising students) and social engagement activities (medical
practices, outreach activities). Activities associated with business profit are excluded.

Starting from the FY2021 Call for Proposals, the buyout system is applicable in the research categories
listed below. A KAKENHI applicant who wish to use the buyout system should do so according to thebuyout scheme agreed upon between him/her and his/her research institution.
When an applicant wishes to use the buyout system, enter the cost of the buyout in the “Miscellaneous
expense” column, and enter the word “buyout” in the “Item” column of the Research Proposal Document
form. (Please refer to the “Application prs for
Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research—KAKENHI—” (Forms/Procedures for Preparing and Entering a
Research Proposal Document).

[Research categories subject to the buyout system]
Specially Promoted Research, Transformative Research Areas (excluding “Platforms for Advanced
Technologies and Research Resources”), Scientific Research on Innovative Areas (Research in a
Proposed Research Area) (excluding “Platforms for Advanced Technologies and Research Resources”),
Scientific Research, Challenging Research (including “Challenging Exploratory Research”), Early
Career Scientists (including “Young Scientists (A/B)”), Research Activity Start-up, International
Leading Research, International Collaborative Research (including the Fostering Joint International
Research (B) before name change), Home-Returning Researcher Development Research (limited tothose who belongs to the domestic research institutions), Special Purposes.

[Research categories not subject to the buyout system]
Encouragement of Scientists, Publication of Scientific Research Results, JSPS Fellows, Transformative
Research Areas (Platforms for Advanced Technologies and Research Resources), Scientific Researchon Innovative Areas (Research in a Proposed Research Area) (Platforms for Advanced Technologies
and Research Resources), Fostering Joint International Research (including the Joint International
Research(A) before name change). As for the research category of Fostering Joint International
Research (including the Joint International Research(A) before name change) it is possible to budget
the cost for hiring replacements.

As for the details of the expenses covered by the buyout system and matters to be done by the research
institution refer to the following.
"Amendment Enabling Direct Expense of Competitive Research Funds to Cover the Costs of Duties
Other Than Research (Introduction of Buyout System)” (Oct 9, 2020, Agreement of the Liaison
Meeting of Related Offices and Ministries on Competitive Research Funds)
URL: https://www.mext.go.jp/a_menu/shinkou/torikumi/1385716_00003.htm
36

The objective of the buyout system is to increase the number of hours the PI (or Co-I) can devote to
the funded project on the basis of his/her own needs and request. Accordingly, items such as the actual
presence of the PI’s (or Co-I’s) needs and request, and the resulting expansion of research time devoted
to the funded project (increased number of hours for research) may be subject to later inspection in
relation to the grant spending. In the event that the buyout expenditure is found to be used improperly(e.g., the increase in hours devoted to the funded project is not verified), an order to return the delivered
grant may be issued. Therefore, the research institution should ensure the appropriate implementationof the buyout system.

B) Expenditures that cannot be covered by KAKENHI:
A. Costs associated with buildings and other facilities (excluding expenditure for installations
necessary for installation of research equipment purchased by the KAKENHI direct expense)
B. Expenditures for measures to deal with accidents or disasters that occurred during theimplementation of funded project
C. Personnel cost/Honoraria for the PI or Co-I(s)D. Other expenditures that are apt to be covered by indirect expense** Indirect expense which amounts to 30% of the direct expense, is intended for use by the research institution incovering expenditures needed by the research institution for the management and other things associated with theimplementation of the research project. Indirect expense will be placed for all the research categories of this Callfor Proposals. Applicant does not need to state the indirect expense in his/her Research Proposal Document.

C) Expenditure Category
Under this research category, the research expenditure is roughly divided into the following
expenditure categories depending on the intended use.
Research Funding (overseas): Expenditures that are mainly made abroad, such as research grants,
etc. to be used by Japanese researchers to conduct research whilestaying at overseas research institutions (excluding expendituresthat fall under Human Resources Development Costs).
Research Funding (domestic): Expenditures that are mainly made domestically, such as research
grants, etc. to be used by Japanese researchers to conduct researchin Japan (excluding expenditures that fall under Human Resources
Development Costs).
Expenses for Human Resources Development: Expenses for research activities and training tosupport early-career researchers to become selfreliant, such as overseas travel expenses for earlycareer researchers, hiring expenses, researchcosts that they can use autonomously, etc.
Please describe the details and the necessity or estimation basis of each expense for each
expenditure categories in the Research Proposal Document.
374) No mistakes in the format, etc. of the Research Proposal
1）No garbled characters and so on.
The electronic form of the Research Proposal Document (PDF files) submitted through the system
will be used as they appear in the review. It is the PI’s responsibility to check whether the contents of
the Research Proposal Document converted to the PDF file are complete (missing characters, charts,
garbled characters, etc.) before submitting. Research Proposal Documents using colored figures andtext will be used as they appear in the review.

2）Verification of the Application Forms
It should be verified whether the application format is in conformity with the prescribed format.
As for the forms to be uploaded, in particular, verify not only the total number of pages but also
the number of pages instructed for each column is met. For example, neither following case 1 inwhich the total number of pages is different nor following case 2 in which the total number ofpages is same but the number of pages instructed for each column are different are inconformity
with prescribed format.

Number of page(s) of Form S-64(2)“Framework andSignificance ofInternational Joint
Research” Column“Contents of
Research Plan”
Column“Contents of thePlan for Fostering
Early-career
Researchers”
ColumnCorrect
Numberof Pages

5 or less5 or less4 or less14 or less

Incorrect
NumberCase 1

5

6

4

15

Incorrect
NumberCase 2

6

4

4

14

Total Number
of Pages

4. Completion of Research Ethics Education Course or Other etc.
Principal Investigators and Co-Investigators taking part in a research funded by the KAKENHI,
are requested to have completed properly the following procedures including research ethics, by
the time they submit the formal application for grant delivery of a newly adopted research projectin the FY2024 Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research, and upon the formal application for a grantdelivery, it shall be confirmed through the electronic application system whether they will havetaken the research ethics education coursework, etc.
If a PI or Co-I completed the research ethics related procedures in the past, or has moved from theresearch institute at which he/she completed the procedure, he/she should check with the38administrative section of his/her current institution for the validity of the procedure he/she
conducted in the past.

[Actions to be taken by the Principal Investigator]
・The PI must either read through and learn the teaching materials by oneself concerning the research
ethics education coursework such as “For the Sound Development of Science - The Attitude of a
Conscientious Scientist” published by the Editorial Committee of the JSPS named “For the Sound
Development of Science, the “e-Learning Course on Research Ethics [eL CoRE] or “APRIN elearning program (eAPRIN)”, or attend a lecture on research ethics conducted by research
institutes based on “Guidelines for Responding to Misconduct in Research (Adopted by the MEXT
on August 26, 2014), by the time of the formal application for grant delivery.
・The PI must understand thoroughly and exercise the proper research practices in conducting theirresearch, from amongst the contents of both the statement “Code of Conduct for Scientists Revised Version-” by the Science Council of Japan and the booklet “For the Sound Developmentof Science -The Attitude of a Conscientious Scientist-” issued by the JSPS, by the time of theformal application for grant delivery.
・From each Co-Investigator-to-be, the PI must①

obtain a consent of participation in the research project as a Co-I through the electronic
application system and also a consent expressing “the completion of a seminar attendance orother kinds of coursework relevant to research ethics by the time of the formal application for
the grant delivery of the research project in question”, by the time of submitting (sending) the
Research Proposal Document to the research institution which the PI belongs to, and;②

ascertain that the Co-I has actually completed the coursework such as an attendance at thelecture on research ethics by the time of the formal application for the grant delivery.

[Actions to be taken by the Co-Investigator]
・The Co-I must provide the PI with both a consent of the participation in the research project as a
Co-Investigator via the electronic application system and a consent expressing “the completion of
a seminar attendance or other kinds of coursework relevant to research ethics by the time of theformal application for the grant delivery of the research project in question”.
・The Co-I must either read through and learn the teaching materials by oneself concerning the
research ethics education coursework such as “For the Sound Development of Science - The
Attitude of a Conscientious Scientist” published by the Editorial Committee of the JSPS named“For the Sound Development of Science”, the “e-Learning Course on Research Ethics [eL CoRE]
or “APRIN e-learning program (eAPRIN)”, or attend a lecture on research ethics conducted byresearch institutes based on “Guidelines for Responding to Misconduct in Research” (Adopted by
the MEXT on August 26, 2014), and report the PI to the effect by the time of the formal application
for the grant delivery by the PI.
・The Co-I must understand thoroughly and exercise the proper research practices in conducting
their research, from amongst the contents of both the statement “Code of Conduct for Scientists 39

Revised Version-” by the Science Council of Japan and the booklet “For the Sound Developmentof Science -The Attitude of a Conscientious Scientist-” issued by the JSPS, and report the PI to theeffect that he/she has done, by the time of the formal application for the grant delivery by the PI.

5. Registration of the Researcher Information in Researchmap
The “researchmap (https://researchmap.jp/)” is the Japan’s largest researcher information databaseas a general guide to Japanese researchers. The information on the research achievements
registered in the Researchmap is ready to be openly available over the Internet and the database
itself is linked to the e-Rad, other many university faculty databases and so on, and also theJapanese Government as a whole is going to further utilize the Researchmap.
Furthermore, since the posted information in the Researchmap and/or the database of the Grantsin-Aid for Scientific Research (KAKEN) is to be handled as a reference according to the necessity
in the review of the KAKENHI, the registration of the researcher information into the Researchmap
is encouraged. In addition, when doing so, make sure to register the “Researcher Number” because
the posted information is to be searched with the “Researcher Number” when referring to the posted
information in the Researchmap at the review.
< Inquiries >Service Support Center (in charge of the “researchmap”)
Department for Information Infrastructure
Japan Science and Technology Agency
Web inquiry form: https://researchmap.jp/public/inquiry/

6. Cooperation to Review
The Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research-KAKENHI- adopts a peer-review process in which theresearchers selected from their own community engaged themselves in the assessment andreviewingof each research proposals on the basis of its scientific merit. The KAKENHI review isconducted

thanks to the participation of more than 8,000 researchers as reviewers. The peer review forms thebasis of the autonomy of academic community and plays an important role in ensuring quality ofscientific research and its improvement. The review of applications is carried out with the constructive
and mutually critical spirit of scientists and based on the purely academic value. It is no exaggeration
to say that the KAKENHI review system is indispensable in supporting Japan’s scientific research into
the future among other research funds.
The Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (KAKENHI) program is supported by researchers who have
responsibilities not only to conduct the funded research projects as applicants and grant recipients but
also as a reviewers. It is important for researchers to find out excellent research proposals as reviewers
in order to support the scientific research as is the case of putting out excellent research results with
KAKENHI funds. It is expected that the above-stated understanding is share in the academic
community. Furthermore, participating in the review process has an aspect of fostering researchers40

through enhancing their capability to conduct the objective and academic assessments based on thevarious views of fellow reviewers leading up to broaden their horizons.
In order to support the peer-review system of KAKENHI by the whole body of researchers byappropriately sharing the burden of proposal review without putting an extra load on some researchers.
The researchers’ positive participation in the review process is well appreciated when they arerequested to become the KAKENHI reviewer by JSPS or MEXT in the future. JSPS has registered thePrincipal Investigators’ information including their names and affiliated research institutions in the
Database of Review Committee Candidate (148,000 entries as of FY2022) and has utilized it so as toselect the fair and excellent reviewers. In order to keep the information in this Database updated at all
times, JSPS makes a request every year to update the registered information through your affiliatedresearch institutions. Kindly cooperate in updating the information in accordance with the Spending
Rules for researchers (supplementary conditions or funding conditions).

41

Ⅳ. Instructions for Administrative Staff of Research Institution
1. Sharing the Purpose and Aim of the KAKENHI System
The KAKENHI provides a financial support for the creative and pioneering researches based on theoriginal ideas of researchers.
Review of the submitted research proposals is conducted by the peer review process, in which
researchers selected from their own community engage themselves in the assessment and reviewingof each research proposals on the basis of its scientific merit. The KAKENHI review process is basedon the participation of more than 8,000 reviewers. (Please refer to “II. Call for Proposals. 4. Review
Panels and Other Matters. (1) Concerning KAKENHI Review”)
While the KAKENHI review process has been continually improved by, for instance, the introductionof new review methods from the FY2018 grant, the growing needs of KAKENHI have resulted in thenumber of new applications exceeding 90,000 in recent years. The workload on the researchers whoare cooperating as reviewers is getting heavier along with the increase in the number of applications.
Pressing concern is that if the burden on the reviewers keeps increasing to be excessive, it may
seriously affect the reviewers’ own research and educational activities, and may also result in
deterioration of the quality of the review process. One of the possible factors for the recent increase in
the application number may be attributed to the fact that some research institutions seem to set the
KAKENHI application as one of their organizational activity indicators. Application for the
KAKENHI grant per se should be made on the basis of the initiative of the researchers. Therefore,such action on the part of research institutions as to set quota to the constituent researchers isundesirable.
All research institutions are requested to share and disseminate within themselves the primary purpose
and aim of the KAKENHI system afresh.

2. Issues to Be Completed Beforehand by the “Research Institution”(1) Requirements as a “Research Institution” and Procedures for Designation and Change
In order to apply for the KAKENHI, a researcher needs to belong to a “Research Institution.”
Concerning the “Research Institution” cited here, the following four types of “Research Institution”
have been designated as eligible in Article 2 of the Rules for the Handling of Grants-in-Aid for
Scientific Research announced by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, andTechnology (MEXT).
1) Universities and inter-university research institutes2) MEXT facilities and other institutions engaged in scientific research3) Technical colleges
4) Institutions designated by MEXT (see note below)
Note:
In order to become a Research Institution, institutions not falling under 1) to 3) first need to receive
the designation by MEXT. Therefore, the institutions should consult with the Scientific Research
42

Aid Division of the Research Promotion Bureau of MEXT.
Moreover, if changes in one of the following items have been scheduled, institutions that havereceived the designation by MEXT and already have been recognized as a research institution should
promptly report the content of these changes to the Scientific Research Aid Division of the Research
Promotion Bureau of MEXT.
(i) Abolition or dissolution of the research institution(ii) Name and address of the research institution, and name of the representative(iii) Matters concerning laws, regulations, endowment acts, and other rules that prescribe the purposeof establishment, the business content, and the internal organization of the research institution

Moreover, researchers who belong to such institutions should consider that, in order to conduct
research activities using the KAKENHI, the institutions should meet the requirements mentioned
below.
< Requirements >(i) The research institution must authorize the research project for which the KAKENHI is
granted, as its proper activity.
(ii) The research institution must take responsibility for management and accounting of the
KAKENHI delivered to its researcher(s).

(2) Ascertainment of the Eligibility to Apply of the Affiliated Researcher
A research institution must ensure that the applicant meets, in addition to meeting the eligibility toapply for Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up at the time of submitting their application, eitherof the eligibility criteria under the Application Requirements for Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity
Start-up. (See “III. Instructions for Prospective Applicants 1. Procedures to be Completed Prior to
Application. (1) Ascertainment of the Eligibility for KAKENHI Application”)(3) Registration of the Researcher Information and Confirmation of an ID and a Password (eRad System)
In order to apply for KAKENHI, researchers should perform the procedures, by accessing the“Electronic Application System”, he/she should retain the ID and a Password for e-Rad.
For this reason, the research institution should verify whether researchers who intend to apply have an
ID and a Password, or not.
In the case where there is a researcher who intends to apply and who has neither ID nor Password, theresearch institution should provide him/her with an ID and a password in accordance with thefollowing procedure. URL：https://www.e-rad.go.jp/manual/for_organ.htmli) In order to provide the researcher with an ID and a Password, the research institution needs to havean ID and a Password for use of the research institution. If the research institution has not yet
obtained them, it should first of all download a registration form from the e-Rad Portal site, conduct
a registration application in writing. It takes approximately two weeks for the “ID and Password for43

use of the research institution” to arrive after registration application the “Application for Use of
the Electronic Application System”.
Notes:*1: Please refer to “How to Apply for the Registration on Research Institutions.” (URL:
https://www.e-rad.go.jp/organ/entry.html) on the e-Rad website for information on downloading
an application form for the ID and password for e-Rad.
*2: Research institutions that already obtained an ID and a password for e-Rad issued do not need
to obtain it again.
*3: It is not necessary to obtain an ID and a password for e-Rad for each research category of the
KAKENHI.

ii) After obtaining an ID and a Password for use of the research institution, the administrative staff in
the research institution should provide an ID and a password to the researcher who is planning toapply as a Principal Investigator. The ID and password for each researcher is issued throughregistration of the researcher information in e-Rad. Please refer to the “Manual for ResearchInstitutions” (for Research Institution Office Representatives and for Research Institution OfficeWorkers: the section of “Procedures for Researchers”) for information on the concrete way how toprovide them.
Notes:*1: When providing the login ID and password, research institutions must make it known toresearchers that they must strictly protect the login ID and password in order to prevent themfrom being disclosed to others.
*2: Once the ID and the password for the researcher have been provided, they can be used, even if
the research institution changes.
*3: Please be sure to obtain and use the latest version of the Operation Manual.

iii) Please register (update) the researchers who are applying as a Principal Investigator or a CoInvestigator as “eligible to apply for KAKENHI” in e-Rad. If there are any corrections to be madeto the registration details (“Affiliation”, “Position”, etc.) of those who have already beenregistered, please update them with the correct information.

The first date that a researcher can access the electronic application system is based on the date thathe/she obtains an e-Rad ID and password. For details, see “The Accessible Date to the Electronic
Application System” referring to supplement.
However, since Research Proposal Document will not be accepted after the deadline for submissionof Research Proposal Document, applicants should complete the registration (update) of the researcher
information early, in order to have sufficient time to submit them. In order not to negatively affect thecompilation of the applications within the research institution, when completing the applications, theresearch institution should perform the various procedures (including dissemination within the
research institution), positioning this specific procedure as one of the important procedures to be44

performed by the research institution.
(4) Submission of the “Self-Assessment Checklist on the Improvement of the System” Based on
the “Guidelines on the Management and Audit of Public Research Funds at ResearchInstitutions (Implementation Standards)”
When implementing the adopted research projects with KAKENHI grant the research institutions mustcomply with the content of the “Guidelines on the Management and Audit of Public Research Funds
at Research Institutions (Implementation Standards)” (Adopted by the Minister of MEXT. Revised on
February 1, 2021.), they must set up a system of the management and audit for implementing the
public research funds and report the state of implementation and other matters by submitting a “SelfAssessment Checklist on the Improvement of the System based on the Guidelines on the Management
and Audit of Public Research Funds at Research Institutions (Implementation Standards)” (hereinafterreferred to as “Self-Assessment Checklist on the Improvement of the System”).
Therefore, “those research institutions which Principal Investigators and Co-Investigators applying
for KAKENHI in FY2024 belong to” and “those research institutions which Principal Investigators
and Co-Investigators continuing research projects using KAKENHI are scheduled to belong to in
FY2024” must submit in accordance with the procedure and forms posted on the MEXT the“SelfAssessment Checklist on the Improvement of the System” to the Office of Competitive Research
Funding Administration, Research Environment Division, Science and Technology Policy Bureau of
the MEXT by March 13, 2024 (Wednesday) via e-Rad.
For details, refer to the website (URL: https://www.mext.go.jp/a_menu/kansa/houkoku/1324571.htm)
If the “Self-Assessment Checklist on the Improvement of the System” has already been submitted in
April 2023 or later, it is not necessary to submit it again.
Researchers affiliated to a research institution which has not turned in the said checklist cannot receive
the official grant decision.
Note: When using e-Rad, an ID and a password for the research institution are necessary.

< Inquiries >(Concerning forms and submission of the “Self-Assessment Checklist on the Improvement of the
System”)
Office of Competitive Research Funding Administration, Research Environment Division,
Science and Technology Policy Bureau, MEXT
Telephone: 03-5253-4111 (ext. 3866, 3827)
E-mail: kenkyuhi@mext.go.jp
URL: https://www.mext.go.jp/a_menu/kansa/houkoku/1324571.htm(Concerning the use of the e-Rad system）
Helpdesk of the Cross-ministerial Research and Development Management System (e-Rad) of
MEXT
Telephone: 0570-057-060 (Navi Dial)
45

Office hours: 9:00-18:00(Except on Saturdays, Sundays, National Holidays and the New Year
Holidays (from December 29 until January 3))
URL: https://www.e-rad.go.jp/organ/entry.html*Time period when e-Rad is available for use: 00:00 - 24:00 (in operation 24 hours a day, 365 daysa year. However, even during the above-mentioned time period, it may happen that the operation of
e-Rad is disrupted or suspended, when maintenance and inspection is being carried out. If theoperation is scheduled to be disrupted or suspended, this will be announced beforehand on the portal
site.)(5) Submission of the “Checklist Pertaining to the Current Status” Based on the“Guidelines for
Responding to Research Misconduct”
When implementing the research projects with KAKENHI grant the research institutions must comply
with the content of the “Guidelines for Responding to Research Misconduct” (Adopted by the Ministerof MEXT on 26 August 2014) (hereinafter referred to as “Guidelines on Research Misconduct”) andsubmit a “Checklist Pertaining to the Current Status based on the Guidelines for Responding to
Research Misconduct” (hereinafter referred to as “Checklist on the Research Misconduct”).
Therefore “those research institutions which the Principal Investigators and Co-investigators applying
for KAKENHI in FY2024 belong to” and “those research institutions which Principal Investigators
and Co-Investigators continuing research projects using KAKENHI are scheduled to belong to in
FY2024” must submit in accordance with the procedure and forms posted on MEXT the “Checklist
on the Research Misconduct” to the Office for Research Integrity Promotion, Research Environment
Division, Science and Technology Policy Bureau of MEXT by March 13, 2024 (Wednesday) via eRad. For details, refer to the website(URL: https://www.mext.go.jp/a_menu/jinzai/fusei/1420301_00001.html)
If the “Checklist on the Research Misconduct” has already been submitted in April 2023 or later it is
not necessary to submit it again.
Researchers affiliated to a research institution which has not turned in the said checklist cannot receive
the official grant decision.
*Please note that while the “Checklist on the Research Misconduct” is the same in using e-Rad forsubmission with the “Self-Assessment Checklist on the Improvement of the System,” the submission
destination is different. Both checklists must be submitted.
Note: When using e-Rad, an ID and a password for the research institution are necessary.

< Inquiries >(Concerning the format and submission of “Checklist on the Research Misconduct”)* Differs from the contact information for the “Self-Assessment Checklist on the Improvement of the
System”.
Office for Research Integrity Promotion, Research Environment Division, Science and Technology
Policy Bureau, MEXT
Telephone: 03-6734-3874
46

E-mail: jinken@mext.go.jp
URL: https://www.mext.go.jp/a_menu/jinzai/fusei/index.htm(Concerning the use of the e-Rad system)
Helpdesk of the Cross-ministerial Research and Development Management System (e-Rad) of
MEXT
Telephone: 0570-057-060 (Navi Dial)
Office hours: 9:00-18:00(Except on Saturdays, Sundays, National Holidays and the New Year
Holidays (from December 29 until January 3))
URL: https://www.e-rad.go.jp/organ/entry.html*Time period when e-Rad is available for use: 00:00 - 24:00 (in operation 24 hours a day, 365 days ayear. Even during the above-mentioned time period, the operation of e-Rad may be disrupted orsuspended, when maintenance and inspection is being carried out. If the operation is scheduled tobe disrupted or suspended, this will be announced beforehand on the portal site.)(6) Implementation of a Research Ethics Education Coursework Based on the“Guidelines on
Research Misconduct,” etc.
Principal Investigators and Co-Investigators must fulfill the obligations described below prior to
submitting the formal application for grant delivery if you are starting a new research project, andprior to submitting the formal application for grant delivery or request for payment if you are taking
part in an ongoing research project that is scheduled to continue into FY2024.
・Either to read through and learn the teaching materials by oneself concerning the research ethics
education coursework such as “For the Sound Development of Science -The Attitude of a
Conscientious Scientist-” (JSPS Editing Committee of “For the Sound Development of
Science”), the “e-Learning Course on Research Ethics (eL CoRE),” the “APRIN e-learning
program (eAPRIN),” etc., or to attend a lecture on research ethics conducted by research
institutions based on the “Guidelines on Research Misconduct.”
・To understand thoroughly and to exercise the proper research practices in conducting theirresearch, from amongst the contents of both the Statement “Code of Conduct for Scientists Revised Version -” by the Science Council of Japan and the booklet “For the Sound Developmentof Science - The Attitude of a Conscientious Scientist -” issued by JSPS.
In the case that the PI intends to add a new Co-I to the continued project in FY2024, the PI has toobtain a consent to become a Co-I from the Co-I-to-be via the electronic application system inadvance. In this case, the Co-I-to-be has to complete the above prior to the formal application for
grant delivery and report to the PI. (Or, in the case the official grant decision has been already made,he/she has to do the above by the time the “application for approval of change of the Co-Investigator”
is submitted by the PI to JSPS.)
To that end, each research institution is requested to disseminate broadly what the researchers should
consider, in conducting of their researches as well as carrying out an ethics education in researchtraining session based on the Guidelines on Research Misconduct.
47

(7) On the Submission of the Report on the Research Achievements
The research institution to which researchers belong has to collect and submit the report on the
research achievements. If the research institution has failed, without justifiable reason, to submit thereport on the research achievements at the end of the research period, it may happen that it is treatedas indicated below. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the representative of the research institution
to ensure that the report on the research achievements is submitted without fail.
・No KAKENHI will be delivered to researchers who do not submit the report on the researchachievements at the end of the research period, without good reason. Moreover, it may happen
that the official grant decision to the researcher is cancelled, that an order to return the grant isissued, or that the information such as the name of the research institute the said researcher
belongs to is disclosed in public.
Furthermore, if researchers have failed to submit the scheduled report on the researchachievements without justifiable reason, then execution of other KAKENHI implemented in thesame fiscal year will be suspended.

(8) Obtaining Sufficient Knowledge about the Contents of the Application Procedures
The research institution should beforehand disseminate the contents of the Application Procedures
to all the researchers belonging to it. JSPS would especially like to request the dispersion of
information on the items listed in the Application Procedures and the submission deadlines of
Research Proposal Document, in order to avoid potential misunderstandings.

(9) Ensuring Research Integrity Among Research Institutions
In order to promote the creation of science, technology, and innovation in Japan, we must continue
to strengthen overseas joint research with various partners based on the principle of open science. At
the same time, in light of newly emerging risks as a consequence of the globalization and opennessof research activities in the recent years, there is a growing concern that the values of openness andtransparency which constitute the basis of the research environment will be lost and the danger of
researchers unknowingly being trapped in conflict of interest or conflict of responsibilities. In suchclimate, it is vital for our country to build a globally reliable research environment to protect thevalues that constitute the basis of research environment while encouraging necessary global
collaboration and international exchanges.
Therefore, it is vital for universities and research institutions, etc. to observe the “Policy on Measures
to Ensure Research Integrity Against New Risks as a Consequence of the Globalization and Openness
of Research Activities (April 27, 2021, Decision of Council for Science, Technology andInnovation)” and formulate relevant rules and systems to manage conflict of interests and conflict of
responsibilities, etc., and to autonomously secure the soundness and fairness of research (research
integrity) among researchers and at universities and research institutions, etc.
From such perspective, MEXT and JSPS check whether reasonable efforts can be secured whileeliminating unreasonable duplication and excessive concentration of competitive research funds andensuring transparency of research activities. In addition, MEXT and JSPS may make inquiries to48

affiliated institutions, as necessary, on the status of formulation of rules and status of identificationand management of information as affiliated institution.
○ “Policy on Measures to Ensure Research Integrity Against New Risks as a Consequence of the
Globalization and Openness of Research Activities (April 27, 2021, Decision of Council for Science,
Technology and Innovation)”
URL: https://www8.cao.go.jp/cstp/tougosenryaku/integrity_housin.pdf

3. Issues that Need to Be Verified when Compiling the Application Forms(Preparing the Research Proposal Document)
The contents of the Research Proposal Document should be verified in each research institution, andall the Research Proposal Documents should be submitted to JSPS together. When doing so, special
attention should be paid to the following points.

(1) Ascertainment of the Eligibility for KAKENHI Application
It should be verified whether the Principal Investigator and the Co-Investigator(s) listed in the
Research Proposal Document are researchers who meet the requirements that are stipulated in the
Application Procedures (see “Ⅲ. Instructions for Prospective Applicants 1.Procedures to Be
Completed Prior to Application”), and also whether the researcher information is registered ineRad as “Eligible to Apply for KAKENHI.”
Moreover, it should be verified certainly that they must not be categorized as ineligible for grantacquisition in the fiscal year covered by a call for proposals, in KAKENHI and other competitive
research funds, as a penalty for their improper grant spending, fraudulent grant acquisition, or
research misconduct.

(2) Confirmation of the Researcher Information Registered in the e-Rad System
Regarding the registration (update) of the researcher information necessary when applying, theadministrative staff in the research institution to which the researcher belongs should perform theprocedures using e-Rad.
Moreover, even though applicant has already been included in the researcher list of the research
institution, if there is any item such as the department placed, the position, or others that needs tobe corrected, the applicant’s information on the researcher list should be corrected.

(3) Verification with the Principal Investigator
The research institution should verify whether the Principal Investigator and the Co-Investigator(s)who have been listed in the Research Proposal Document have completed the Research Proposal
Document, after confirming the description in the column “II. Call for Proposals” in thisApplication Procedures for Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research.
49

(4) The Process of the Participation of Co-Investigator in Project Members
A research institution should conduct the process such as giving a consent with regard to theresearcher who belongs to it becoming a Co-Investigator via the electronic application system.
When the information on the Co-Investigator-to-be is presented to the research institution to which
the Co-Investigator-to-be belongs via the electronic application system after the researcher who
was requested to become a Co-Investigator from the Principal Investigator gave a consent to do so
via the electronic application system, then the research institution need to give a consent to do so,
etc. as well.
Since the Principal Investigator cannot submit (send) the Research Proposal Document to his/herresearch institution until the Co-Investigators-to-be’s research institution gives a consent to do so,
etc., the research institution should proceed with the consent process in time for the deadline of thesubmission.
* Please refer to the KAKENHI Electronic Application System Operation Manual(URL: https://www-shinsei.jsps.go.jp/kaken/topkakenhi/shinsei_ka.html)
for the detailed information such as operating environment, operating method, and so on.

(5) Verification of the Application Forms
It should be verified whether the application format is in conformity with the prescribed format.
As for the forms to be uploaded, in particular, verify not only the total number of pages but also
the number of pages instructed for each column is met. (see “Ⅲ. Instructions for Prospective
Applicants 3.Preparation of the KAKENHI Application Form (Research Proposal Document),
etc. ”)

4．Submission and Other Matters of the Research Proposal Document(Preparing the Research Proposal Document)(1) The research institution should access the “Electronic Application System,” using the ID and thepassword for e-Rad, obtain the information of the Research Proposal Document (PDF files) that
the Principal Investigator(s) prepared, and verify their contents and other matters.
(2) The research institution should perform the “approval/submission (transmission)” process on all
the Research Proposal Documents (PDF files) that has no mistakes in their contents. Only those
Research Proposal Documents whose application status changed to “Being accepted by JSPS” by
the submission deadline will have been correctly submitted to JSPS.
(3) After the Research Proposal Documents (PDF files) are submitted (sent) to JSPS, applicants canstill draw back their Research Proposal Documents for necessary corrections and resubmission
prior to the submission deadline. However, DO NOT draw back the Research Proposal Documentson the date of the deadline. The System will be very busy and you may not be able to resubmit theapplication in time.
50

(4) Research Proposal Documents (PDF files) that have been approved and submitted (sent) by the
research institution cannot be corrected or otherwise revised after the submission deadline.

[The deadline for the submission of the Research Proposal Document is]
March 13, 2024 (Wednesday), 4:30 pm (This deadline should be strictly observed.)
Note 1: Research Proposal Document that is submitted (sent) after this deadline will not be
accepted for any reason. Therefore, the documents should be submitted (sent) well inadvance.
Note 2: It is not possible to draw back Research Proposal Documents or to re-submit themafter the above deadline.

(5) The ID and the password which are used in the e-Rad are designed to verify the individual.
Therefore, the handling and administration of them should be done carefully when carrying out
the application procedures. Moreover, an outline of the procedures for electronic application
can be found below. However, for details on the operating environment, procedure, etc. of the“Electronic Application System,” please refer to the “Operation Manual” at the website below.
URL: https://www-shinsei.jsps.go.jp/kaken/topkakenhi/shinsei_ka.html

Outline of the Electronic Application Procedures[The administrative staff in the research institution to which the applicant (Principal Investigator)
belongs]51

1 The administrative staff in the research institution to which the applicant belongs issues the ID andthe password to the applicant.
[The applicant (Principal Investigator)]
2 -① The applicant accesses the “Electronic Application System,” using the ID and the password
he/she received, and prepares the Research Proposal Document (PDF file), by entering the “items
to be entered” in the website and by uploading the “forms to be uploaded” as an attached file.
2 -② The applicant enters the researcher(s) whom the applicant wants to add to the project members
and requests him/her to give a consent to become a Co-Investigator in the “Project Members
List” column of the “Application Information Input” screen in the electronic application system.

[The researcher who is requested to become a Co-Investigator]
3

The researcher is requested to participate in the project as a Co-Investigator applicant (Principal
Investigator) via the electronic application system and then he/she selects “Consent” or “Dissent”
after confirming the contents of the consent.

[The administrative staff in the research institution to which the Co-Investigator-to-be belongs]
4

When the Co-Investigator-to-be gave a consent in the electronic application system, the research
institution to which the Co-Investigator-to-be belongs selects “Consent/Confirm” or “Dissent.”[The applicant (Principal Investigator)]
5

If there are no mistakes in the Research Proposal Document (PDF file) and Letter of Intent theapplicant prepared, he/she submits the Research Proposal Document (PDF file) to the research
institution to which he/she belongs, by performing the “completed and submission” process. Notethat the applicant cannot submit (send) the Research Proposal Document until he/she obtains theconsents from all the Co-Investigators and Co-Investigators’ research institutions listed in the
Project Members List of the Research Proposal Document.

[The administrative staff in the research institution to which the applicant (Principal Investigator)
belongs]
6

By approving the Research Proposal Document (PDF file), etc. the administrative staff in the
research institution to which the applicant belongs submits (sends) it to JSPS. Moreover, if the
Research Proposal Document (PDF file), etc. that the applicant submitted is not approved due tomistakes or other reasons, it will be rejected and the applicant will be requested to makecorrections. In the case of withdrawing or making corrections to the Research Proposal Document(PDF file) submitted (sent) to JSPS due to mistakes or other reasons, the administrative staff draws
back the document, rejects it as necessary, requests the applicant to make corrections, and resubmit (re-send) the document to JSPS.

52

Ⅴ. Other Relevant Issues
1. Support through Platforms for Advanced Technologies and Research
Resources
In order to respond effectively to the diverse needs of researchers of KAKENHI research projects, theGrant-in-Aid for Transformative Research Areas (A) - Platforms for Advanced Technologies andResearch Resources forms a resource and technical support platform for research (hereinafter referred
to as “Platform”) under the close cooperation of relevant institutes with inter-university research
institutes and Joint Usage/Research Centers, or International Joint Usage / Research Centeras coreinstitutes. Together with providing technical support towards individual research projects andproviding advanced problem solving methods to researchers, it provides an integral promotion ofcooperation between researchers, interdisciplinary integration, and human resources development.
Applications for technical support, etc. are open for each of the Platforms below where it concerns
research projects carried out through KAKENHI. Researchers desiring technical support, etc. fromeach of the Platforms are requested to check their respective websites, etc. and actively apply.
* “Technical Support, etc.” points to the sharing of equipment with researchers from a wide range of
research fields, technical support and the collecting, conservation, and providing of resources(documents, data, experiment samples, specimen, etc.), and support for conservation techniques, etc.
“Advanced Technology Support Platform Program” has scientific value and an advanced nature
through the combination of multiple facilities and equipment, and provides shared use of equipment
and technical support to researchers in a wide variety of research areas.
“Research Platform Resource Support Program” collects, conserves, and supplies the resources thatare the basis of research (documents, data, experiment samples, specimen, etc.) and also conducts
support for conservation techniques, etc.

Advanced Technology Support Platform Program

Area

Platform Name
Platform of Advanced
Bioimaging Support (*)

Core Institution
National Institutefor Physiological
Sciences
National Institutefor Basic Biology

Platform of Advanced Animal
Model Support (*)

The Institute ofMedical Science
The University ofTokyo

Platform for Advanced Genome
Science (*)

National Instituteof Genetics

53

Support Function
Advanced technical support and user
training for:• Light microscopy• Electron microscopy• Magnetic resonance imaging• Imaging analysis
Support for constructing animalmodels, Support for pathologicalanalysis, Support for physiologicalanalysis, and Support for molecularprofiling
Advanced genome analysis (de novo
genome sequencing; re-sequencing
for genome variation detection;
analysis of transcriptome, epigenome
and metagenome; ultra-highsensitivity analysis for single cells,
single molecules, etc.; big-data
analysis and advanced
bioinformatics; by using of the latest
facilities and technologies)

Research Platform Resource
Support Program

Area

Platform Name
Platform of Supporting Cohort
Study and Biospecimen
Analysis (*)

Core Institution
The Institute ofMedical Science,
The University ofTokyo

Support Function
Support for cohort study using
bioresources, Support for maintaining
and utilizing human brain resources,
and Support using biospecimen

Supply Platform of Short-lived
Radioisotopes for Fundamental
ResearchResearch Center
for Nuclear
Physics, Osaka
University

Supply short-lived radioisotopes
produced by accelerators for
fundamental research in various
scientific fields.

Also, Committee on Promoting Collaboration in Life Sciences that functions as a general information
point and coordinator across the four Platforms marked with an asterisk (*) above is set up. (Core
Institution: The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo)
Each Platform’s website can be found in the links on the site below:
URL：https://www.mext.go.jp/a_menu/shinkou/hojyo/mext_01901.html

2. Promotion of the Shared Use of Research Equipment
In “Reform of Competitive Research Funds: Towards a Sustained Output of Research Achievements(Interim Summary)” (June 24, 2015, Competitive Research Fund Reform Review meeting) it was
decided that, when the original research objectives were fully achieved, versatile and large equipment
should, in principle, be shared.
The government also addresses the need to promote the implementation and common use of researchfacilities and equipment, to establish a framework for the introduction, renewal, and utilization oforganizational research facilities (core facilities), and to formulate and publicize policies for theinternal and external sharing of research facilities and equipment in the Comprehensive Package toStrengthen Research Capacity and Support Young Researchers (January 23, 2020, Council for
Science, Technology, and Innovation) and the Sixth Science, Technology, and Innovation Basic Plan
(Cabinet Decision on March 26, 2021).
With this in mind, when purchasing equipment with competitive research funds, please actively workon the use of equipment purchased with other research funds, and the purchase and shared use of
equipment from several research funds where it concerns especially large and versatile equipment.
Please also make ensure that sharing is possible within the rules of the said competitive research funds,
and no obstacle is made to the execution of the research project.
○ “Reform of Competitive Research Funds: Towards a Sustained Output of Research
Achievements (Interim Report)”(June 24, 2015, Competitive Research Fund Reform Review meeting)
URL: https://www.mext.go.jp/b_menu/shingi/chousa/shinkou/039/gaiyou/1359306.htm○ “The Sixth Science, Technology, and Innovation Basic Plan (Cabinet Decision on March 26,2021)”
URL：https://www8.cao.go.jp/cstp/kihonkeikaku/6honbun.pdf(June 24, 2015, Competitive Research Fund Reform Review meeting)
URL: https://www.mext.go.jp/b_menu/shingi/chousa/shinkou/039/gaiyou/1359306.htm
54

○ Unified Rules for Administrative Procedures, Etc. Pertaining to Competitive Research Funds(Agreement of the Liaison Meeting of Related Offices and Ministries on Competitive ResearchFunds, March 5, 2021; revised May 24,2023)
URL: https://www8.cao.go.jp/cstp/compefund/toitsu_rule_r50524.pdf

3. Promotion of the ‘Dialogue on Science and Technology with Citizens’ (A BasicApproach Policy)
In the “Promotion of the ‘Dialogue on Science and Technology with Citizens’ (A Basic Course of
Action)” (Adopted by the Minister of State for Science and Technology Policy and the Executive
Members of the Council for Science and Technology Policy on June 19, 2010) which was compiledin June 2010, the activity in which researchers explain the content and achievements of their research
activities to society and citizens in an easy-to-understand form is placed in the abovementioned ”Dialogue on Science and Technology with Citizens.” Researchers who have received anallotment of public research funds amounting more than 30 million yen per year per case are requested
to positively work on the ”Dialogue on Science and Technology with Citizens.” Universities and otherresearch institutions are also requested to make positive efforts in order for researchers who havereceived public research funds to ensure the proper implementation of the “Dialogue on Science andTechnology with Citizens,” for example, by setting up support systems.
For KAKENHI, there is the question “Are you positively trying to publicize and disseminate theresearch content and research achievements?” especially in the research progress assessment ofSpecially Promoted Research, for which researchers receive a relatively high amount of researchfunds, and the interim/ex-post assessment of Scientific Research on Innovative Areas (Research in a
Proposed Research Area). Therefore, based on the above-mentioned basic policy, researchers should
disseminate the achievements of research funded with KAKENHI to society and citizens in an evenmore positive way.

4. Cooperation with the National Bioscience Database Center
The National Bioscience Database Center (URL: https://biosciencedbc.jp/) has been established in theJapan Science and Technology Agency (JST, a national research and development agency), in orderto promote the integrated use of databases in the area of life science that have been created by various
research institutions and other institutions.
This Center spurs the active participation of related institutions, and based on four pillars, namely (1)the planning of strategies, (2) creation and operation of portal websites, (3) research on anddevelopment of core technology for the integration of databases and (4) the promotion of theintegration of biotechnology-related databases, it is promoting projects aiming at the integration of
databases in the area of life science. In this way, through wide sharing and utilization of the researchachievements in the area of life science produced in Japan in the researcher community, the Center
aims at invigorating overall research in the area of life science, including research and development
connected to basic research and industrial applied research.
55

JSPS would like to request researchers to cooperate by providing to the Center copies of raw data
related to achievements published in research papers and other output in the area of life science, or
copies of created open databases.
Moreover, the copies provided will be able to be utilized on a non-exclusive basis as reproductions,alterations, or in other necessary forms. JSPS would like researchers to understand in advance that, in
response to the requests of the institutions that received copies, it would also like request researchers
to cooperate by providing all the information necessary for utilizing the copies.
Furthermore, the National Bioscience Database Center has developed guidelines for data on humans,in order to promote the sharing and use of data related to research in the area of life science, with due
considerations to the protection of personal information.
〇NBDC Human Data Sharing Guidelines
URL: https://humandbs.biosciencedbc.jp/guidelines/

5. Inter-University Bio-Backup Project
The purpose of the Inter-University Bio-Backup Project (IBBP) is to “back up” biological genetic
resources, which are indispensable research resources in various research areas, and to avoid damage
or loss of biological genetic resources due to unforeseen accidents, disasters, etc. The project newly
commenced from 2012.
In the National Institute for Basic Biology of the Inter-University Research Institute Corporation
National Institutes of Natural Sciences, which is the core of this project, the Inter-University BioBackup Project for Basic Biology (IBBP Center, URL: http://www.nibb.ac.jp/ibbp/) has been
established as a backup center for biological genetic resources. It is equipped with the newest
equipment necessary for the backup of biological genetic resources.
Any researcher who belongs to a university or a research institution may apply for storage. Biologicalgenetic resources that can be stored in the IBBP Center are samples that can be proliferated (amplified)or cryopreserved (for vegetable seeds, the refrigeration or deep-freezing preservation condition needs
to be definite), and being not pathogenic is also a condition. Since backup is provided free of charge,
researchers should make use of the IBBP Center.

6. National BioResource Project
The National BioResource Project (NBRP) strategically collects and preserves important bioresourcesthat are the basic and foundation of life science research at the core bases of this project and provides
them to universities and research institutes, thereby contributing to the development of life science
research in Japan. In the future, in order to contribute to the development of life science research inJapan, it is necessary to continually collect useful bioresources.

56

For that matter, please deposit (*) available bioresources among bioresources developed by Grantsin-Aid for Scientific Research (limited to the bioresource targeted for NBRP). Please cooperate with
the NBRP collecting activities.
It is recommended to utilize the resources already collected in NBRP from the viewpoint such as
efficient implementation of research.

(*) Deposit: This is a procedure to approve the use (preservation/provision) in this project withouttransferring the various rights related to the resource. By specifying specific conditions in
the deposit agreement, you can add usage conditions such as restrictions on usage andquotation of articles to users.

〇List of NBRP core bases representative agencies
URL: https://nbrp.jp/resource/

7 . Security Export Control Policy (Coping with Technology Leakage Overseas)
In implementing various research activities including research projects funded with KAKENHI,
research institutions are asked to take systematic measures to ensure that the research achievements
which have potential risks of being diverted to military use are not transferred to WMD developers,
terrorist organizations, or people carrying out other dubious activities.
In Japan, export controls (*) are carried out under the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act(Act No. 228 of 1949) (hereinafter referred to as “Foreign Exchange Act”). Therefore, in principle,
in order to export (provide) cargo and technology regulated by the Foreign Exchange Act, it isnecessary to obtain permission of the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry. It is reminded that
KAKENHI grantees must observe the Foreign Exchange Act as well as other laws, guidelines andcircular notices issued by the government.

(*) Japan's Security Export Control System established on the basis of international agreements mainly
consists of (i) “List rules” which require permission of the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry
in principle when exporting cargo or providing technology that carry specifications and/or functions
higher than certain levels, such as carbon fiber and numerically controlled machine tool etc., and (ii)
“Catch-all regulation” which requires permission of the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry
when exporting cargo or providing technology that are not subject to regulation under the List rules
but do fall under certain regulatory requirements (application requirements, consumer requirements
and/or informed requirements).

Please note in particular that not only export of cargo but also provision of technology will be
subject to the regulation by the Foreign Exchange Act. When providing a “List rules” technology
to non-residents or providing it in a foreign country, prior permission for provision is required.
“Provision of technology” includes not only providing technical information such as design57drawings, specifications, manuals, samples, and prototypes via storage media such as paper, mail,CD, USB memory, but also providing work knowledge and technical assistance at seminars
through technical instruction, skill training, etc. Researchers should be aware that there may becase in which technologies subject to regulation by the Foreign Exchange Act are involved when
mentoring foreign students and/or joint research activities with oversea groups. Please also bear inmind that the provision of technologies, etc. acquired in KAKENHI-funded projects or theprovision of technologies, etc. already in possession with the use of KAKENHI may also be subject
to restrictions.

Details of the security trade control are published on the websites including the Ministry of
Economy, Trade and Industry website.
○Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry: Security Trade Control (General)
https://www.meti.go.jp/policy/anpo/○Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry: “Handbook on Security Trade Control”
https://www.meti.go.jp/policy/anpo/seminer/shiryo/handbook.pdf○Center for Information on Security Trade Controls
https://www.cistec.or.jp/index.html○“Guidance for the Control of Sensitive Technologies for Security Export for Academic and ResearchInstitutions 3rd Edition”
https://www.meti.go.jp/policy/anpo/law_document/tutatu/t07sonota/t07sonota_jishukanri03.pdf

8. Strict Implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2321
In the face of the nuclear test by Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) in September
2016 and repeated launches of ballistic missiles, the United Nations Security Council adopted theUnited Nations Security Council Resolution 2321 on November 30, 2016 (ET, New York)
deciding to impose additional and stronger sanctions on DPRK. In this regard, MEXT issued aletter of request entitled, “Strict Implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution
2321 (Request)” (28 受文科際第 98 号) to relevant organizations as of February 17, 2017.
“Scientific and technical cooperation” as set forth in Paragraph 11 in the main text of the Resolution
not only includes technologies regulated by the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act of Japan,
but all cooperative activities except for medical exchanges. Therefore, it is critical that research
institutions exercise strict implementation of the Resolution when conducting various research
activities including said sponsored research.
The UNSC Resolution 2321 can be found at:○ MOFA: United Nations Security Council Resolution 2321, Japanese translation (MOFA Notice No.
463 (issued on December 9, 2016)
https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/files/000211409.pdf

58

9. Improvement of Treatment of Students in the Doctoral Course“The Sixth Science, Technology, and Innovation Basic Plan” (Cabinet Decision on March 26,2021) addresses the need to enhance financial support for doctoral students in particular, in order
to attract outstanding talents from home and abroad, and calls for research institutions to provide
greater employment opportunities for doctoral students as research assistants (RAs) and to improvetheir treatment. To this end, the Basic Plan, for example, sets a numerical target to increase thenumber of students in doctoral programs receiving the amount equivalent to living expenses toabout three times the current number (which is equivalent to about 30% of all doctoral students
receiving the amount equivalent to living expenses).
Furthermore, the “Guideline on Recruiting and Fostering Postdoctoral Fellows, Etc. (December 3,
2020, Committee on Human Resources, the Council for Science and Technology)” states that
doctoral students “are students, but at the same time, also researchers in a certain way, and therefore
it is the key responsibility of universities that foster researchers to provide the environment for
research activities and to ensure proper treatment…It is of particular importance to treat them basedon appropriate assessment of their contribution, by establishing compensations that meet the natureand content of their jobs and paying hourly wages according to the actual work hours under theproper labor management…When submitting applications to competitive research funds and othergrants, universities and institutions must record the expenditures necessary to employ RAs as direct
expense, and revise the school rules as necessary to make sure that the RAs are paid propercompensations.”

Based on the above, when employing a doctoral student as RA, etc. for a KAKENHI project, set
the hourly wage according to the nature and content of his/her job based on the standard of eachresearch institution and pay the wage according to the actual work hours under the proper labor
management.

Furthermore, when employing a doctoral student as RA, etc., be mindful not to overload him/herwith excessive work hours and make sure that he/she can maintain a good balance between thework and his/her own research and study hours.

10. Securing University Research Administrators (URAs) and other Management
Personnel“The Sixth Science, Technology, and Innovation Basic Plan” (Cabinet Decision on March 26,2021) identifies the importance of efforts to improve the security of professional quality andtreatment so that the positions of University Research Administrators (URAs) and othermanagement personnel will become attractive. The Comprehensive Package to Strengthen
Research Capacity and Support Young Researchers (January 23, 2020, Council for Science,
59Technology, and Innovation) also addresses the need to establish career paths for management
personnel, URAs, engineers, etc.
In light of these initiatives, research institutions are encouraged, to the extent possible, to secure
certain lengths of fixed-term employment (of about five years or longer) for URAs and othermanagement personnel (who are currently hired or will be hired newly by research institutions)when engaging them in the management of KAKENHI research programs, by using not only
KAKENHI, but also funds such as indirect expenses and basic costs under other external funds,
and donations, for example.
In addition, please make active efforts to provide support in securing career paths for thesemanagement personnel, for example, enrolling them in URA training, etc. Also consider utilizing
the indirect expenses for such efforts.

11. Promoting Efforts to Support Gender Equality and Foster Human Resources
The Science, Technology, and Innovation Basic Plan (Cabinet Decision on March 26, 2021), theBasic Plan for Gender Equality (Cabinet Decision on December 25, 2020), and Education and
Human Resource Development Policy Package toward the Realization of Society 5.0 (Decisionby the Council for Science, Technology and Innovation on June 2, 2022) aim to create research
environments that make it easier for both men and women to continue their research activities
whenlife events occur, such as childbirth, childcare, and nursing care, as well as to promote theappointment of excellent female researchers as project leaders, among other measures. Anothergoal is to increase the proportion of female students in middle and high school who advance tomaster's and doctoral courses especially in the science and engineering fields through initiatives tocommunicate the fascination of these areas to female students in middle and high school, theirparents, and their teachers, thereby overcoming the current situation with a low percentage offemale students going to doctoral courses in natural science and increasing the number ofpotential bearers of knowledge in Japan.
In addition, if due consideration is not paid to sexual differences in research and development
processes that require such consideration, it may cause inappropriate impact at the stage of social
implementation. As such, research and technological development that properly give attention tosexual differences, such as those in physique and the structure and functioning of bodies, areneeded.

In light of these points, in KAKENHI-funded projects, JSPS will take into account efforts topromote the participation and advancement of female researchers and expand the range of humanresources that will play a role in science and technology in the future.
To advance science, it is important to secure an environment that allows diverse researchers to
exercise their potentials and advance their activities. In September 2023, JSPS established the“Basic Guidelines for Promoting Gender Equality in JSPS Programs” to promote gender equal
60participation in areas of science.
As part of this initiative, JSPS opened a new website CHEERS! (URL: https://cheers.jsps.go.jp/)
in an aim to support the diverse careers of all researchers, such as balancing research and life
events. JSPS will release useful information on, for example, how to balance research andchildcare and actively carry out various initiatives through CHEERS! to create a network among
researchers.
Researchers are encouraged to visit the website.

12. ”HIRAMEKI☆TOKIMEKI SCIENCE – Welcome to a University Lab –Science That Inspires and Inspirits”
The “HIRAMEKI☆TOKIMEKI SCIENCE” program is designed to offer opportunities
to gain a deeper understanding of the meaning of science and its roles in daily life tosociety, as part of efforts to give back to society and promote KAKENHI-funded researchachievements.
Based on their KAKENHI-funded academic studies, researchers themselvescommunicate the fun and fascination of scientific pursuit directly to the younger
generation in an easy-to-understand manner. They thus instill intellectual curiosity and arich sense of creativity in pupils in their fifth and sixth years of elementary school andstudents in middle and high school, who will go on to shoulder the future of Japan. As weare looking for such experience-based programs, regardless of areas of research, pleasetake advantage of this opportunity.
URL: https://www.jsps.go.jp/j-hirameki/61

Ⅵ. Inquiries
1. Inquiries about the invitation of applications should be directed to the following divisions
through the research institution.
(1) For inquiries concerning the invitation of applications:
Research Aid Division Ⅲ, Research Program Department, Japan Society for the Promotion of
Science
Telephone: 03-3263-1888* Available from 9:30 to 12:00 and from 13:00 to 17:00 every day (except on Saturdays, Sundays,
National Holidays, the New Year Holidays (from December 29 until January 3), and theAnniversary of the Foundation of JSPS (September 21))e-mail：kksi-kaken2@jsps.go.jp(2) For inquiries concerning the use of the KAKENHI electronic application system:
Call center:
Telephone: 0120-556-739 (toll-free)* Available from 9:30 to 17:30 every day except Saturdays, Sundays, National Holidays and the
New Year Holidays (from December 29 until January 3)(3) For inquiries concerning the use of the Cross-ministerial Research and Development
management system (e-Rad):
e-Rad help desk:
Telephone: 0570-057-060 (Navi Dial)* Available from 9:00 to 18:00 except on Saturdays, Sundays, National Holidays and the New Year
Holidays (from December 29 until January 3)* The following phone numbers are also available: 03-6631-0622< Important points >①

How to operate e-Rad
Manuals on how to operate e-Rad can be referred or downloaded from the portal site (URL:
https://www.e-rad.go.jp). Please agree to the terms of service and apply.

②

Time period when e-Rad is available
Monday to Sunday, 00:00 - 24:00 (in operation 24 hours a day, 365 days a year)

However even during the above-mentioned time period, the operation of e-Rad may be disrupted
or suspended when maintenance and inspection is being carried out. If the operation is scheduled
to be disrupted or suspended, this will be announced beforehand on the portal site.

(4) For matters related to the “Self-Assessment Checklist on the Improvement of the
System”, based on the “Guidelines on the Management and Audit of Public ResearchFunds at Research Institutions (Implementation Standards)”:
Office of Competitive Research Funding Administration, Research Environment Division,
Science and Technology Policy Bureau (MEXT)
Telephone: 03-5253-4111（ext. 3866, 3827）
e-mail：kenkyuhi@mext.go.jp(5) For matters related to the “Checklist pertaining to the Current Status” based on the“Guidelines for Responding to Misconduct in Research”:
Office for Research Integrity Promotion, Research Environment Division, Science and62Technology Policy Bureau (MEXT)
Telephone: 03-6734-3874
e-mail：jinken@mext.go.jp(6) For matters related to use of support by Platform formed by “Foundation of Scientific
Research Support”
Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research Team, Scientific Research Aid Division,
Research Promotion Bureau, MEXT
Telephone: 03-6734-4087(7) For matters related to “the National Bioscience Database”:
National Bioscience Database Center, Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)Telephone: 03-5214-8491(8) For matters related to the “Inter-University Bio-Backup Project”:
Executive Office, IBBP Center, Inter-University Research Institute Corporation National
Institutes of Natural Sciences
Telephone: 0564-59-5930, 5931

(9) For matters related to the “National BioResource Project”:
National BioResource Project (NBRP) Executive Office(established in the Research Organization for Information and Systems, National Institute of
Genetics)
Telephone: 055-981-6809(10) For matters related to the “researchmap”:
Service Support Center (in charge of the researchmap), Department of Information
Infrastructure, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (JST)Web inquiry form: https://researchmap.jp/public/inquiry/(11) For matters related to the “Security Export Control Policy”:
Security Export Control Administration Division, Trade Control Department, Trade andEconomic Cooperation Bureau, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
Telephone: 03-3501-2800

2. The application forms (Research Proposal Document) and other application materials
can be downloaded from the following website.
JSPS’s website on Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research
URL：https://www.jsps.go.jp/j-grantsinaid/35_kokusai/05_sendou/koubo.html

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