Screening Guidelines of the Call for Proposals
on the OPEN MIX LAB Program for FY 2024

The screening of the “Call for Proposals on the OPEN MIX LAB Program”
will be decided by the National Institutes of Natural Sciences Research
Collaboration Committee (hereinafter referred to as the “Committee”) in
accordance with these screening guidelines.
I. Screening Policy
Researchers

will

cooperate

withdomesticandforeign

researchers

regardless of existing research fields, and select research projects andworkshops that meet the purpose of contributing to the development andprogressionofinnovative

research

throughinter-organizational

collaboration.
II. Stakeholders Exclusion
The exclusion of stakes concerning the evaluation shall be as follows:① If a member of the committee is a joint researcher of a theme underapplication, he/she shall not join the evaluation.
② If a member of the committee uses his/her judgment that he/she falls
under any of the following items in relation to the principal
applicant and joint researcher of a theme under application, he/sheshall not join the evaluation.
(a) Established kinship ties or equivalent close personal relationship(b) Close partnership to engage in joint research(For example, a person who has a close relationship by carryingout joint research, writing a joint research paper, or being amember of a research group with the same purpose)(c) Affiliation in identical research units (Researcher, etc. in
identical courses)(d) Same affiliation (Researcher in the same department)(e) A confrontational relationship or competitive relationship where
the result or evaluation of the theme under application may
possibly lead to a direct benefit for a member of the committee
III. Screening Process, etc.
1. Screening Process① The committee will conduct a document screening of the research
theme proposed by the applicant representative based on the"application form."② Based on the results of document screening by the committee, theSteering Committee of the Co-Creation Strategy General
Headquarters will decide the theme for adoption.
2． Focal Points for the Screening(1) Research Goals and Targets
Are the research objective and content novel and innovative based on
flexible ideas and innovative methods through inter-organizational
collaboration?
(2) Inter-Organizational Collaboration System
Is a National Institutes of Natural Sciences employee included in theprincipal investigator or joint researcher and is it a researchsystem for conducting innovative research through interorganizational collaboration?
(3) Research Outline
Is the research outline concrete and highly feasible within thespecified time frame? Regarding the theme setting type, is the
proposal in line with the theme?
(4) Medium or Long-Term Ripple Effects
From a medium- to long-term perspective, can we expect ripple effects
such as the "creation of new fields through the establishment ofinnovative technology" and "collaboration with industry"?
(5) Expenses
In light of the research goals and outline, are the research expenses
reasonable?
3． Screening Procedure(1)

Implementation of the Document Screening
The document screening which shall be conducted individually by thecommittee shall focus on each element of the Screening Guidelines III.
"2. Focal Points for the Screening" and an evaluation shall be
conducted and comments given from the following Table 1. In addition,in the case a member of the committee falls under the category of a“stakeholder” in the theme under screening, he/she shall declaresuch fact and the member of the committee shall note comments onlyand not make an evaluation.

Table 1
Evaluation Items(1) Research Goals and Targets(2) Inter-Organizational Collaboration System(3) Research Outline(4) Medium or Long-Term Ripple Effects(5) Expenses
Comprehensive Evaluation
CommentEvaluation Classification
4

Very good proposal

3

Good proposal

2

Somewhat inadequate
proposal
Inadequate proposal

1(2) Interview Screening

In the interview conducted by the committee, an evaluation based on
Table 2 shall be made and comments shall be given. In addition, in thecase a member of the committee falls under the category of a“stakeholder” in the theme under screening, he/she shall declaresuch fact and the member of the committee shall note comments only andnot make an evaluation.
Table 2
Evaluation Classification
4

Very good proposal

3

Good proposal

2

Somewhat inadequate proposal

1

Inadequate proposal

IV. Others
1. Disclosure,Publication, etc.
(1) The screening process shall be closed to the public.
(2) Regarding the screening result, applicants shall be given notificationindividually and regarding the selected research theme, the following
information shall be disclosed in the NINS website.