2024

1 Profile
MissionThe Asahi Glass Foundation strives to contribute to the creation of a society that can transmit the genuine
wealth of human civilization by supporting advanced research and outstanding students as well as byrecognizing efforts to solve environmental problems that call for global solutions.

History
The Asahi Glass Foundation began in 1933 as the Asahi Foundation for Chemical Industry Promotion, tocelebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary (1932) of the founding of Asahi Glass Co., Ltd. (currently, AGC Inc.). For
more than half a century, the Foundation focused primarily on fostering research in the field of applied chemistry.
In 1990, the Foundation undertook an overall redesign of its programs, expanding the scope of its activities
and establishing the commendation program. At the same time, it was renamed the Asahi Glass Foundation.
In 2018, the Foundation took over the scholarship program due to a merger with the Asahi Glass ScholarshipFoundation (AGSF).
AGSF was established in 1957. Later renamed the Asahi Glass Foundation, it has been granting scholarships
to Japanese and international students from Thailand, Indonesia, China, South Korea and Viet Nam.

Milestones
1933
1934
1957
1958
1961
1982
1988
1990
1991
1992

2008
2009

1

The Asahi Foundation for Chemical Industry Promotion
is established to celebrate the 25th anniversary of thefounding of Asahi Glass Co., Ltd.
The Foundation was recognized as a non-profit
organization and begins providing grants to university
researchers in applied chemistry.
Asahi Glass Scholarship Foundation (AGSF) is establishedto celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of Asahi
Glass Co., Ltd.
AGSF begins the scholarship program for Japanese
students.
The Foundation is renamed the Asahi Glass Foundation
for Industrial Technology.
The Foundation starts a research grant program for
Chulalongkorn University, Thailand.
The Foundation starts a research grant program for Institut
Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia.
The Foundation is renamed the Asahi Glass Foundation.
AGSF begins a scholarship program for international
students in Japan.
The Foundation extends its field of the research grant
program of natural sciences, in addition to appliedchemistry.
The Foundation commences awarding of the Blue Planet Prize.
Annual survey Questionnaire on Environmental Problems
and the Survival of Humankind is started.
The Foundation begins a research grant program for thefields of humanities and social sciences.
‘Continuation Grants for Young Researchers’ and‘Continuation Grants for Outstanding Projects’ areintegrated into the research grant program.
The corporate status of the Foundation is converted into a
Public Interest Incorporated Foundation
The Foundation publishes “Our Vision: Conditions for
Survival” and subsequently issues English, Chinese,
Korean, Arabic, and French versions of the publication.

2010

2012

2013
2018

2020

2022
2023

2024

The Kondo Grant, an environmental research grant
program commences.
The Foundation publishes “Conditions for Survival Toward a Solar Energy-Based Society Full of Vibrant Life.”
The Foundation starts research grant program for King
Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Thailand.
The Blue Planet Prize laureates jointly presents a paper
titled “Environment and Development Challenges: The
Imperative to Act.”AGSF begins a scholarship program for students who
suffered damage caused by the Great East Japan
Earthquake.
The Foundation starts a research grant program forresearchers at technical colleges.
The Foundation takes over the scholarship program due
to a merger with AGSF.
A new comic series, Blue Planet Prize Fun School, arestarted.
The foundation begins a new program ‘Research Grants
for Sustainable Future’.
The Foundation starts a research grant program for Hanoi
University of Science and Technology, Viet Nam.
Survey on the Awareness of Environmental Issues Amongthe General Public is started.
The Foundation organizes a symposium commemorating
the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the Blue
Planet Prize.
The foundation begins a new program, Special Research
Grants for “Blue Planet” Global Environment.
Scholarship to support overseas research activities isstarted.
The foundation begins a new scholarship program that
supports consective master’s and doctoral courses(CMD).
A scholarship program for students who suffered damage
caused by the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake is started.

Programs
Research Grant Program
Grants are awarded toresearchers in universities inJapan, Thailand, Indonesia,
and Viet Nam. To date, theFoundation has awarded ¥12.5
billion in research grants toapproximately 5,870 projects.

Scholarship Program
Th e s c h o l a r s h i p p ro g r a m i s
for Japanese and international
students in designated graduate
schools in Japan. To date, a totalof 3.6 billion yen in scholarships
has benefited 4,070 Japanese
students and 340 international
students.

Commendation ProgramAwarding of the Blue Planet Prize,
an international envi­r onmental
award, and the annual survey on
the global environment, have been
conducted since 1992. Basedon the results of the survey, theEnvironmental Doomsday Clockis published every year.

Since 2018, the Foundation has focused on activities in the research grant program, the scolarship program, and thecommendation program.

Financial Information
Net assets as of February 29, 2024:¥43.3 billion

Total ordinary expenditures (Fiscal 2023):¥1,532 million

Directors & Councillors (as of June 1, 2024)
Directors
ChairmanTakuya Shimamura
Director, Chairman, AGC Inc.

Senior Executive Director

Naoki Sugimoto
Former Executive Officer, General Manager,
Materials Integration Laboratories, AGC Inc.

Trustees

Yoshiki Chujo
Professor Emeritus, Kyoto University
Mutsuko Hatano
Senior Aide to the President, Professor, Tokyo Institute of Technology
Yoshihiro Hayashi
Professor Emeritus, The University of Tokyo;
Advisor to the President, National Museum of Nature and Science
Yoshinori Hirai
Representative Director, President & CEO, AGC Inc.
Kimihiko Hirao
Research Director, Fukui Institute for Fundamental Chemistry, Kyoto University
Takashi Kato
Professor, The University of Tokyo
Takamitsu Kumasaka
Senior Adviser, THE SANKEI SHIMBUN
Yuri Maesako
Vice-President, Professor, Nara Saho College;
Former Professor, Osaka Sangyo University
Norihiro Nakai
Emeritus Professor, Tokyo Institute of Technology
Ryoji Noyori
University Professor, Nagoya University
Ikuya Sato
Professor, Doshisha University; Professor Emeritus, Hitotsubashi University
Katsuhiko Shirai
Honorary Advisor, Waseda University
Hideji Sugiyama
Foundation for Promotion of Digital Economy and Community President;
Former Vice-Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry
Taro Tsubomura
Former Vice President, Seikei University
Hiroshi Yoshikawa
Professor Emeritus, The University of Tokyo
Hiroyuki Yoshikawa
President, International Professional University of Technology in Tokyo/Osaka;
Member of Japan Academy; Former President, Science Council of Japan;
Former President, The University of Tokyo

Auditors

Kanetsugu Mike
Member of the Board of Directors Chiaman, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial
Group, Inc.
Takashi Terashima
Former Corporate Auditor, Asahi Glass Co., Ltd.
Tatsuo Wakabayashi
Senior Advisor, Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation

Councillors

Masuo Aizawa
Professor Emeritus, Former President, Tokyo Institute of Technology
Kenichi Iga
Honorary Professor, Former President, Tokyo Institute of Technology
Michiko Imai
Director, Le Verseau Inc.
Ryozo Kato
Former Ambassador to the United States of America
Ken Kobayashi
Corporate Advisor, Mitsubishi Corporation
Hiroshi Komiyama
Chairman of the Institute, Mitsubishi Research Institute, Inc.;
Former President, The University of Tokyo
Hideyuki Kurata
Representative Director, Executive Vice President, CTO, AGC Inc.
Kenji Matsuo
Honorary Advisor, Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance Company
Shinji Miyaji
Representative Director, Senior Executive Vice President, CFO & CCO, AGC Inc.
Mamoru Mohri
Astronaut; Chief Executive Director Emeritus, The National Museum of
Emerging Science and Innovation
Keiko Nakamura
Honorary Director General, JT Biohistory Research Hall
Shigeo Nishimura
Professor Emeritus, Kyushu University
Hideaki Omiya
Senior Executive Adviser, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
Hitoshi Osaki
Vice President, Institute for development of Higher Education;
Former Commissioner for Cultural Affairs
Niro Shimada
Former Chief Justice, the Supreme Court of Japan2

2 Research Grant Program
The Asahi Glass Foundation supports original research in natural sciences that seeks to build the foundations forthe next generation’s society, as well as original research in humanities and social sciences that contributes tosustainable solutions for the critical issues that confront society.

Research Grants in Japan
Applications for research grants in Japan for 2025 are accepted for the five programs outlined below.

Program Overview (in Japan)【Eligibility】
Full-time researchers in universities in Japan, including their affiliated research laboratories and technical colleges who are playing
a leading role in research. Fixed-term researchers may apply under guidelines provided by the Foundation.

【Program and Categories】▶Research Encouragement Grants: Supporting program for basic and embryonic research proposals by young researchers<Chemistry & Life Sciences, Physics & Information Sciences>▶Research Grants for Sustainable Future: Supporting program for research aimed at realizing a sustainable society or solving
global environmental problems <Architecture & Urban Engineering, Humanity & Social Sciences, Environmental Field Research>▶Continuation Grants for Young Researchers: Supporting program for prospective researchers who have completed Research
Encouragement Grants within the past three years▶Continuation Grants for Outstanding Projects: Suppor ting promising researchers that have completed Research
Encouragement Grants or Continuation Grants for Young Researchers within the past three years▶Special Research Grants for “Blue Planet” Global Environment: Newly installed program for solving global environmental
problems of the SDGs, from basic research to verification for social implementation <Chemistry & Life Sciences, Physics &Information Sciences, Architecture & Urban Engineering, Humanity & Social Sciences, Environmental Field Research>【Information for Applicants】
Information for new applicants is announced around June. The application documents (in Japanese) are available for downloadfrom our website. The deadlines for the applications are in August-September (Deadlines vary with the program and the field).

Overseas Research Grants
We support a wide field of research proposals from basic to applied stage at Chulalongkorn University (CU),King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT) in Thailand, Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) in
Indonesia, and Hanoi University of Science and Technology (HUST) in Viet Nam.
3

Research Grant Presentation Ceremony & Seminar on Research Findings (Japan, Thailand, Indonesia & Vietnam)
In Japan, the presentation ceremony takes place in June each year with a seminar of findings in July.
In Thailand, Indonesia, and Viet Nam both the ceremony and the seminar of findings are held in June-September.

Japan

CU(Thailand)

KMUTT(Thailand)

ITB(Indonesia)

HUST(Viet Nam)

Selection Committee (April, 2024)
Chemistry & Life Sciences

Architecture & Urban Engineering

Takashi Kato
Professor, The University of Tokyo
Hiroyuki Asanuma Professor, Nagoya University
Yukiko Gotoh
Professor, The University of Tokyo
Akitoshi Hayashi
Professor, Osaka Metropolitan University
Seijiro Matsubara Professor, Kyoto University
Jun Ogawa
Professor, Kyoto University
Shin-ichi Ohkoshi Professor, The University of Tokyo
Masateru Taniguchi Professor, Osaka University

Norihiro Nakai
Kaori Fujita
Hiroto Takaguchi

Humanity and Social Sciences

Physics & Information Sciences

Takahiro Yamada

Mutsuko Hatano
Professor, Tokyo Institute of Technology
Kazuhiko Hirakawa Professor, The University of Tokyo
Toshihiro Itoh
Professor, The University of Tokyo
Hiroshi Nakamura Professor, The University of Tokyo
Shinji Yuasa
Director, Research Center for Emerging
Computing Technologies, National Institute ofAdvanced Industrial Science and Technology(Underlining denotes committee chairs)

Ikuya Sato
Chieko Umetsu

Kenichiro Yanagi

Professor Emeritus, Tokyo Institute of Technology
Professor, The University of Tokyo
Professor, Waseda University
Professor, Doshisha University;
Professor Emeritus, Hitotsubashi University
Professor, Tohoku University of Community
Service and Science;
Professor Emeritus, Kyoto University
Professor, Kinjo Gakuin University;
Professor Emeritus, Nagoya University;
Professor Emeritus, Tokyo Metropolitan University
Professor Emeritus, Meiji University

Environmental Field Research
Yuri Maesako

Vice-President, Professor, Nara Saho College;
Former Professor, Osaka Sangyo University

Atsushi Kawakita

Professor, The University of Tokyo

Toshiya Okuro

Professor, The University of Tokyo

3 Scholarship Program
The Asahi Glass Foundation provides scholarships to outstanding students to foster superior human resources
who are responsible for advancing and improving industries, economics and society.

Program Overview【Applying for Scholarship】
Entries are accepted only through recommendation from the designated graduate schools from January to May every year. Direct
application from a student is not accepted.

【Scholarship Program for Japanese Students】(30 students per year)
Scholarship for Japanese students in the master’s and doctoral course in designatedgraduate schools in Japan. Master’s Students: 100,000 yen / month, Master’s Students・CMD
Students: 100,000 yen / month (250,000 yen / month after entering the doctoral course),
Doctoral Students: 120,000 yen / month.

【Scholarship Program for International Students in Japan】(18 students per year)
Scholarship for international students from the Kingdom of Thailand, Republic of Indonesia,
People’s Republic of China, Republic of Korea, Socialist Republic of Viet Nam who areenrolled in the master’s and doctoral courses in designated graduate schools in Japan. All
the students: 150,000 yen / month.
※ Each program also supports to overseas research activities(up to 200,000 yen)

Presentation Ceremony44 Commendation Program: The Blue Planet Prize
The Blue Planet Prize is an annual award given in recognition of individuals and organizations
that have made major contributions towards the resolution of global environmental problems.
The Foundation wishes to express its appreciation for the achievements of the laureates, aswell as to encourage the search for solutions to environmental issues throughout the world.

The Blue Planet Prize logo symbolizes energetic human activity toprotect the Earth. The blue and white wavy background around the figure
represents the water and atmosphere on Earth. Earth, human, and space are
combined into this symbol using light blue, expressing glittering water andflowing air.

OutlineNominations are solicited between August and October of each year from nominators in Japan and overseas. As a generalrule, two recipients are chosen each year. We will announce the prize recipients in June of the following year, and in theautumn, we will hold an award ceremony in Tokyo to welcome the laureates and hold commemorative lectures in Tokyo andKyoto. Each recipient is presented with a certificate of merit, a commemorative trophy and 500,000 USD in prize money.

Fields for Recognition
With the view of furthering the vision of a sustainable society, the Blue Planet Prize recognizes outstanding individuals ororganizations that have contributed significantly to building new ideas, scientific understanding or countermeasures andpractical activities related to environmental conservation and restoration of the Earth’s environment.

2024 Blue Planet Prize Laureates
Professor Robert Costanza (USA & Australia)
Ecological Economics at the Institute for Global Prosperity,
University College London

Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on
Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES)
Established on April 21, 2012, IPBES secretariat: Bonn (Germany)

In a groundbreaking 1997 paper,

IPBES is the leading

Professor Costanza and colleagues

global authority on thedemonstrated, for the first time, thatstate of knowledge

the ecosystem services provided

and science about

by nature to humans far exceed thebiodiversity, ecosystemeconomic value of the world’s GDP

services and nature’sat that time. This work brought global

contributions to people.

attention to the previously understated

Their landmark reports facilitate better science-informed

importance of ecosystem services. As a co-founder ofpolicy and action across scales, sectors, and knowledge

ecological economics, a new field of study that recognizes

systems. As growing numbers of companies also startthat the economy is embedded in society and a finite

to evaluate, disclose and improve their impact on thebiosphere, Professor Costanza actively advocates for anenvironment, businesses are also using the IPBES Reports

ecologically sustainable, wellbeing society.

to help shape their corporate sustainability strategies andESG (environmental, social, and governance) activities.

5

Award Ceremony
The laureates are invited to Tokyo for the award
ceremony and commemorative lectures in the autumn.

12
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6

Published July 2024