Initiative for Realizing Diversity in the Research Environment (Promotional Type) The 2024 Shimane University Support Program for Fostering Female Research Leadership (Project Creation Type) Application Requirements Shimane University was selected as an initiative organization for the "Initiative for Realizing Diversity in the Research Environment (Promotional type)" by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology for the year 2019. This approach aims to contribute to local development, building a framework that steadily fosters and produces female research leaders capable of performing on an international level while rooted in their locality, and consists of the following 4 institutions: Shimane University, Shimane Prefectural University, Matsue National Institute of Technology and Yonago National Institute of Technology. We accordingly extend the public invitation detailed below with the aim of fostering female researchers with interdisciplinary and project-managerial capabilities through support of start-ups of new research projects by female researchers. Moreover, to further promote the spread of diversity throughout the San'in area, priority will be given to research leading to cooperation between female researchers and local enterprises (with a focus on research and development based on academic-industrial partnership).
1. Target Projects
Support will be provided for research projects undertaken by full-time female researchers belonging to Shimane University (including specially appointed faculty members and researchers, but excluding those employed at affiliated schools or under a subsidy project budget provided by the state) who aim at research or development projects within an academic-industrial partnership framework, the exploration of new study areas, the solution of social issues spanning various fields of inquiry and the discovery of a fresh intellectual outlook, by cooperation or integration surpassing the traditional academic field boundaries. *Application will not be allowed with the topics similar to those currently in progress with other grants such as Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research. *Applications for both "Initiative for Realizing Diversity in the Research Environment (Promotional Type)" and "Initiative for Realizing Diversity in the Research Environment (Promotional Type)" will not be accepted.
2. Support Details
① Planned number of selected projects: maximum of 5 # Selectees of the “Support Program for the Fostering of Female Researchers (Project Creation Type)" implemented last year are allowed to apply for their ongoing project for the duration of this year only, although preference will be given to new projects. ② Support amount: up to a maximum amount of 200,000 yen per project. ③ Support period: from (the day of selection in) September 2024 to 31 March 2025. # Selectees are asked to fully expend their grant by March 15, 2025 ④ Expenditure eligibility ¹ Supplies expenses: expenses for supplies directly used for research such as reagents, materials and the like (including books and magazines). Moreover, when purchasing prepaid cards for books used as compensation fee, the unit amount is limited to 1,000 yen per person. Travel expenses: (domestic travel expenses): travel expenses when attending academic meetings for the presentation of the results of the project concerned, or meetings in connection with the research, or the collecting of material. Expenses for the invitation of external collaborators within the country. (foreign travel expenses): available only when attending academic meetings for presentation of project results. However, in some cases a maximum limit may be put on the amount. (travel expenses for the invitation of foreigners): travel expenses for the invitation of collaborators from abroad. Honoraria: financial or other rewards for experiment collaborators. Miscellaneous services expenses: expenses for the outsourcing of data analysis, paper submission, English proofreading and the like. 1 Expenses for facilities and equipment (assets) fall outside the scope of the grant. ⑤ Target Research Projects < Examples of target projects > ● Research projects aiming at applications to enterprises requiring team building with researchers from different fields. ● Bottom-up type research projects in fields with latent potential for cooperation and newly emerging fields, based on unfettered thought and dialogue ● Research projects relying on a multi-faceted and inter-disciplinary approach for solving social issues. ● Educational research projects working on the basis of multi-institutional cooperation for the fostering of next-generation researchers. ● (Research projects based on industry-academia collaboration) providing an approach instrumental in creating new products or services and which embodies practical applications of research results.
3. Obligations of Selectees
① Selectees are required to submit a research result report by the day determined in the course of April, 2025. Selectees will be further notified as to the time limit, proper format and the like. ② Selectees are required to deliver a presentation of research results at the debriefing session held the year after termination of the support period (2025). © Selectees are asked to lend their cooperation with the implementation of the follow-up survey of their research achievements upon termination of the support period to produce the results report of the Initiative for Realizing Diversity in the Research Environment (Promotional type). ① Selectees are also asked to cooperate with events held in the framework of the Initiative for Realizing Diversity in the Research Environment (Promotional type).
4. Application Method
Submit the application form mentioned below by email. ① Application form for the 2024 Shimane University Support Program for Female Researcher-led Joint Research Projects (Project Creation Type). Submit your application to: kyodo-sankaku@edu.shimane-u.ac.jp at the Shimane University Diversity Promotion Office. 5. Application Period. From 10 July   to 31 July   2024
6. Evaluation Method.
Assessment of the advisability of the project will be carried out at a Diversity Promotion Office meeting upon examination by the screening committee of the program (planned for September). The assessment by the screening committee will be made in the light of the following criteria, on the basis of the submitted documents. < Assessment Criteria > ① Does the subject matter relate to important scientific or social demands? ② Does the subject matter show scientific originality and creativity? ③ Is the research plan sufficiently thought out and highly likely to achieve the goal?? ④ Does the applicant have sufficient and suitable abilities to conduct the research plan? # Research projects aiming at research or development in the context of industry- academia collaboration will be without exception given additional evaluation points.
7. Management of Research Results.
It is desirable that the results of research originating from this program be published not only in the result report of this program but also in scientific journals and other publications in Japan and abroad. When presented at an academic society or published in a scientific journal or publication, reference should be made to the support received under this program and added to the project product in the manner formulated below. (Example) "The present research was supported by the 'Shimane University Support Program for Female Researcher-led Joint Research Projects' under the MEXT 'Initiative for Realizing Diversity in the Research Environment (Promotional Type)'". 8. Contact Point for Information on this Program. Shimane University Diversity Promotion Office Email: kyodo-sankaku@edu.shimane-u.ac.jp Extension number: 2157