Astrobiology Center (National Institutes of Natural Sciences)
Guidelines for PROJECT Research FY2024
1. Program Outline
Astrobiology Center of National Institutes of Natural Sciences (NINS) aims to promoteinterdisciplinary research, to create original and novel research, and to establish aninternational research hub.
ABC now calls for “PROJECT” research proposals in order to promote research and form an
academic community in the interdisciplinary area of “Astrobiology” (e.g. search forextraterrestrial life, potential of the life to emerge, origins of life). Projects that can expand
the field of Astrobiology and cover as broad areas as possible are anticipated.
2. Proposals(1) Target research
Research on the life in the universe from diverse approaches. Challenging proposals
from young scientists are encouraged. Please state clearly the relevance to“Astrobiology.”(2) Organization
PI and Co-Investigator (hereafter Co-I: Kenkyu-Kyoryokusha) will conduct the research.
Applicants do not need to include ABC Staff Scientists.
PI must be responsible for the entire research project and funds.
After the selection of the proposals, ABC of NINS will sign a contract of commissioned
research with the institute (except research centers of NINS) that the PI belongs to and PI
and the institute will be responsible to conduct research.
(3) Duration of research period
Single-year contract from April 1st, 2023until March 31st, 2024. If you plan to continue
the project for multiple years (up to 3 years longest), or if you have ongoing ABC project,please specify “continuing” or “new” research proposals. In case you would like toextend your ongoing ABC project, clearly state the reason of extension, your objectives
for the concerned fiscal year, and your progress and achievement so far should be clearlyshown.
(4) Eligibility
Researchers who belong to a research institution that can manage and control theproject grant(5) Amount of research fund
Up to JPY 3,000,000 per project. No additional indirect costs
ABC accepts smaller proposals to organize workshops.
(6) Planned number of funded proposals
10-20 proposals depending on the budget1

3. Expenditure
Expenditure which is necessary to implement a project (consumables, travel expenses,salaries and honorarium, miscellaneous costs (printing costs, correspondence costs,meeting costs, etc.). If a research conference is planned in the project, its organizing
costs can be included in the expenditure plan. No additional indirect costs accepted.
(1) Direct costs
a. Consumables: costs to purchase consumables (including equipment)b. Salaries and honoraria: costs to pay honoraria, rewards, salaries and remunerations
to whom collaborated for research (filing, assistance of experiments, translation andproof-reading, offering of expertise, etc.)
c. Travel expenses: domestic and overseas travel costs as well as invitation costs of PI,
Co-I, and other collaborators of researchd. Miscellaneous: necessary costs other than those in a.-c. to implement the research
project (e.g. communication costs, transportation costs, meeting fees (excludingalcoholic beverages), printing fee, bookbinding costs, etc.)(2) Indirect costs
The budget of this project grant cannot include indirect costs.

4. Application procedure(1) Application forms
Project plan: online application
Detail of the project plan: upload to the online system
Please download “ABC_project_detail.docx” from:https://www.abc-nins.jp/storage/application/(2) Submission
Please submit an application form from the online system (URL below) from December 1,2023 to 17:00, January 11, 2024.
https://www.nins.jp/nous/(submission of a contact form)
Please send “ABC Kobo Kenkyu Jimu Renrakuhyo (Administrative contact Form,ABC_renraku_JE.docx)” to the following address from the administrative staff of yourinstitution.
【e-mail address】 abc-office@abc-nins.jp

2

(3) Notes- To submit a form, an account of NOUS is necessary. It will take 2-3 working days to givean account. Please apply for an account in advance before submitting an application form
if you apply for the first time.
- After the submission an automatic reply mail will be sent. Please confirm it.
- The formal acceptance of the application will be completed when ABC receive both of
the Project Application Form and the ABC grant Administrative Contact Form.
5. Screening
Decisions will be made by ABC Operation Committee in March 2023 and be notified to theapplicant.
Main screening points:
1. An objective and a plan of the project is related to astrobiology.
2. The project will expand the field of Astrobiology
6. Report and Duty
(1) The PI has to submit a research progress report within 30 days after the completion ofthe project.
(2) The PI has to give a presentation about the results of the funded research at a meeting,which will be held at around the end of FY2024 and be notified to the applicant afterwards.
(3) When publishing the result of the proposed research, it is necessary to acknowledge thesupport from ABC.
※ Example of acknowledgement(JPN):「本研究は、⼤学共同利⽤機関法⼈⾃然科学研究機構アストロバイオロジーセンターのプロジェクト研究(******)の助成を受けたものである。」(ENG): “This work is supported by NINS Astrobiology Center Program research (GrantNumber ******).”“******” is the grant number and will be notified with the result.
7. Contact information
Please contact the address below if you have any questions.
Astrobiology Center, National Institutes of Natural Sciences
E-mail: abc-office@abc-nins.jp3

Please note that the proposal has to be submitted using the online application form.
This is for your reference, only.
プロジェクト実施計画書 （入力項目）
PROJECT Research Proposal (Online input)
１．プロジェクト名Title of the project
和文：(Japanese title)
英文：(English title)
キーワード：(keywords)
２．区分Category
新規・継続（継続の場合、開始した年度：）
New project / Extension (For extension, please write the beginning FY:)

３．実施体制（所属・職名・氏名・研究代表者の連絡先）Organization
研究代表者PI （※は採択時に公表される情報です。）”※” marked items will be published when adopted
ふりがな※name inHiragana
氏 名※name
所属機関※institute
職名※job title
所属部署※department
ＴＥＬ
ＦＡＸ
E-mail研究協力者Co-I（NOUSシステムへのアカウント登録が必要になります。）Registration of an account on
NOUS system is necessary.
氏 名※name
所属機関・部局※institute , department
職名 ※Title

４．実施場所（研究機関名）Place where the research will be conducted (name of institute, university)
５．プロジェクト研究経費 Total requested budget (yen)円yen（内訳）Breakdown
物品費 Consumables円（＊うち、設備・備品費の内容を詳細に記載すること）Describe
details of equipment’s costs should.
旅費
Travel expenses
円yen
人件費・謝金 Honoraria円yen
その他 Miscellaneous円yen
設備・備品費の詳細 Details of the equipment（単位：円）(yen)品 名仕様数量単価
金 額
設置場所
Item
Specification
Qty
Unit priceAmount (yen)Installation site

計 Total※ １品又は、１組若しくは１式の価格が１０万円以上のもの(100,000 yen or above per unit/set)4６．研究費の応募・受入等の状況 Status of application and acquisition of research grants①応募中の研究費 Research grant application(s) in the review process
研究費名等

研究課題名役（研究期間・配分機関等名）（研究代表者氏名）

Funding scheme, funding

Title of the project

period, grant category,and name of the PI

funding organization

割

2024 年度の研研究内容の相違点及び他の研究費（代表・究経費に加えて本プロジェクトに応募す分担の（期間全体の額）

る理由別）

（千円）

（研究代表者等プログラム全体の研究Your role

Research

費の受入研究者の場合は、研究期間全(PI or

expenditure for

体又はプログラム全体の受入額を記

Co-I)

FY2024 and total

載。）

amount for theDistinction of the researchwhole period

contents and reason for submission(unit: 1000 JPY)of this application in addition tothe other projects②受入予定の研究費 Research grant(s) adopted and to be delivered
研究費名等

研究課題名

（研究期間・配分機関等名）（研究代表者氏名）Funding scheme, funding

Title of the project

period, grant category,and name of the PI

funding organization

役割

2024 年度の研研究内容の相違点及び他の研究費（代表・究経費に加えて本プロジェクトに応募す分担の（期間全体の額）

る理由別）

（千円）

（研究代表者等プログラム全体の研究Your role

Research

費の受入研究者の場合は、研究期間全(PI orexpenditure for

体又はプログラム全体の受入額を記

Co-I)

FY2024 and total

載。）

amount for theDistinction of the researchwhole period

contents and reason for submission(unit: 1000 JPY)of this application in addition tothe other projects＊研究詳細は「プロジェクト研究計画詳細」へご記載のうえ、ウェブ受付システムよりアップロードしてください。Please write the details of the research in a format “Details of PROJECT
Research Plan”(ABC_project_detail.docx).
フォームは以下よりダウンロードして下さい。The format can be downloaded from URL below:
https://www.abc-nins.jp/storage/application/5