Fiscal Year 2024

Grant Application Information

Nohmura Foundation for Membrane
Structure’s Technology

Nohmura Foundation for Membrane
Structure’s Technology
Outline of Foundation
1. Location:

Kikawa-Higashi 4-8-4
Yodogawa-ku, Osaka-shi
Tel: (06) 6306 - 3163
Fax:(06) 6306 - 0183

2. President

NOUMURA, Yuuki

3. Date of Foundation

26. February 1992

4. Endowment

900 000 000 Yen

5. Background of Foundation:
Progress in scientific technology has been brought about in part by the developmentof new materials. The Foundation was established to aid research into such newmaterials. In particular, the Foundation was established to promote research inmembrane materials, to promote the research and development of membrane
structure’s technology and to promote international exchange related to membrane
research and development. The Foundation’s work is proposed and financed byTaiyo Kogyo Corporation.
6. Objective
The Foundation's objective is to contribute to the development of scientific technology
and social economics by providing grants for research and development on membrane
structure’s technology and international exchange related to membrane research anddevelopment.
7. Outline of Tasks(1) To provide grants for the research and development on membrane structure’stechnology.
(2) To provide grants for scientific societies or study groups on membrane structure’stechnology.
(3) To provide grants for international exchange activities related to membranestructure’s technology.
(4) To provide grants for other tasks required to achieve the objective of thisfoundation.
8. Competent Authorities: Cabinet Office,Goverment of Japan

The Purpose of Foundation
Technology is the only tool to maintain and improve the global environment that
determines our future. Membrane structure’s technology is one of the new areas that
contributes to the development of technology. Recently, it has been remarkablyimproved especially in architecture and other specific areas. Moreover, membrane
structure’s technology is expanding its variety of purposes, from its original use on theground to new uses under water, in soil, and in space.
The global population was 3 billion in 1960, but it exceeded 8billion in 2025. It is said
that it will become 10 billion around 2085. Technology should be effectively used forthe sake of the earth and to enable the continued existence of mankind. In this respect,membrane structures have the advantage of requiring less material than otherstructures, and they have potential uses in almost all areas, such as space development,
the sea, engineering, and agriculture. However, membrane structure’s technology
currently does not take full advantage of its benefits. We believe that membrane
structures have much more potential to contribute to specific projects, such as
forestation of deserts, the development of cold areas, the maintenance of undersea
environment, space development, solar energy utilization, natural resource saving, andrecycling.
At present, research on membrane structures has not been sufficiently advanced. InJapan, only a small number of researchers are individually engaged in this area. Inorder to bring out the potentiality of membrane structures, more advanced researchshould be promoted, from basic study to applied technologies. This includes researchon membrane materials, the nature and characteristics of materials, analytical methods
in membrane stress, and feasibility studies on structures. Furthermore, intellectualexchange among researchers in other countries as well as in Japan is indispensable forthe advancement of membrane structures and membrane structure’s technology.
We established this incorporated foundation to propel the advancement of membrane
structure’s technology and contribute to the development of society in technological andeconomic areas, by supporting research and development activities on membrane
structure’s technology and supporting international exchange.

The target Membrane Structure’s Technology forthis grant program
The membrane structure’s technology that the Foundation is promoting andpromoting includes new membrane materials used in membrane structures,
technologies related to new functions, performance and applications of membranematerials, and technologies related to buildings, structures and workpieces madeusing membrane materials (Architecture, Marine and Civil Engineering,
Aeronautics and Space, Logistics, Ships, etc.).
Membrane structure’s technology is already being used in various fields. For
example, membrane structures represented by the Tokyo Dome are in the field ofconstruction technology, and there are a wide variety of fields, including marine andcivil engineering technology fields for marine pollution prevention membranes calledsilt protectors and soil improvement membranes used in the sea, meteorology,
aviation and space technology fields for membranes for balloons and airships,logistics fields for powder and liquid containers called flexible containers made ofmembranes, and marine and automotive technology fields, as well as other potential
uses.
In order to further expand the use of membrane structures buildings and othermembrane structures, as well as to make them safer and more rational, it isexpected that research will be conducted on the mechanical properties and analysis
methods of membrane surfaces, membrane processing methods, membrane
construction methods, fire prevention performance, environmental performance(thermal, sound, etc.), design, environmental impact, etc.
In addition to understanding the properties of current membrane materials, theneed to evaluate environmental impact throughout the life cycle has beenemphasized in recent years, in addition to the research and development of more
durable membrane materials and those that perform new or better functions against
heat, sound, light, wind, snow, tidal currents, waves, soil, etc.
We consider various kinds of research that contribute to the spread and developmentof membrane structure`s technologies to be eligible for grant funding.

Grant Application Information for Target Researchers
Nohmura Foundation for Membrane Structure’s Technology
The Foundation provides full or partial research funds for researchers or researchorganizations that are carrying out research activities in the field of membrane
structure’s technology based on the following criteria.
Description
1.

Target for the grant
The Foundation provides grants to researchers or research organizations that carryout research in the field of membrane structure’s technology (The research anddevelopment period must be within 2 years.). The grant shall be used to:(1) Support the research and development related to new membrane materials,
new functions and performance of membrane materials, applications, andrecycling.
(2) Support the research and development related to mechanical properties ofmembrane surfaces, new processing methods, frame construction methods,analysis methods, etc.
(3) Support the research and development related to new applications ofmembrane structure buildings and other membrane structures, fire
protection performance, environmental performance (thermal, sound, etc.),design, environmental impact, etc.
(4) Support academic meetings or study groups working on membrane structures.
(5) Support international exchange related to membrane structures.
(6) Support other tasks required to achieve the objectives of the Foundation.

2.

Qualification of applicants(1) Researchers or research organizations that belong to official research bodies,such as universities or research institutes.
However, applicants should not receive grants for the same research from otherfoundations.
(2) In principle, those who have received the grant from the Foundation in theprevious fiscal year should have completed a report on the results of theirresearch work.

3.

Amount of grant and eligible expenses(1) The amount of the grant for one research project is up to 2,000,000yen(2) The eligible research expenses for this grant include normal costs required forresearch activities, excluding personnel costs for researchers.
However, the grant can cover a reward for personnel who are temporarily hired
specifically for the research project.

4.

Application method
Fill out the application form, and submit it to the Foundation office.

5.

Application period
From July 1, 2024 to August 31, 2024

6.

Selection method
The Foundation’s Selection Committee will convene and decide recipients.
Written notification will be sent out at the end of December 2024

7.

Reporting duty
The researchers who receive the grant have an obligation to submit an interim
report in one year, and a written summary of their research results within 6months after the completion of the research activity to the Foundation. (3 copies
should be submitted)

8.

Others1) The Foundation retains the right to publish the total or partial contents ofresearch conducted by the grant recipient, in printing or other forms.
2) When research results are presented in learned societies or equivalent places, it
should be indicated that the research work is supported by the Foundation.
3) Application forms are not returnable.

9.

Foundation officeNohmura Foundation for Membrane Structure Technology
4-8-4, Kikawa-Higashi, Yodogawa-ku, Osaka, 532-0012
Phone: (06) 6306-3163
Fax (06) 6306-0183

URL：http://www2.taiyokogyo.co.jp/zaidan/
E-mail: nohmuramaku@mb.taiyokogyo.co.jp