TOKYO: The TANAKA Memorial Foundation (Representative Director: Hideya Okamoto) announced that it will take applications for research themes for FY2020 Precious Metals Research Grants between September 1 (Tue) and November 30 (Mon). Applications will be accepted from Japanese educational institutions and public research institutes conducting research and development using precious metals. In this 22nd year of the research grant, recipients will receive 5 million yen for the Platinum Award, 2 million yen for the Gold Award, 1 million yen for the Silver Award, 1 million yen for the Young Researcher Award, and 300,000 yen for the Encouragement Award.

Applications for the Precious Metals Research Grants are open to themes in all fields related to new technology and research and development in which precious metals can make a contribution. Applications can be submitted using the application form on the TANAKA Memorial Foundation website (https://tanaka-foundation.or.jp), and, after strict examination, award recipients will be announced at the end of March 2021.

The TANAKA Memorial Foundation aims to contribute to the development and cultivation of new fields for precious metals and to the development of science, technology, and the social economy by conducting activities that enable more people to experience a prosperous society. This program is being implemented to help support the various challenges faced in the “new world opened up by precious metals.” Last year research on “precious metals recycling technology” that operates at a lower cost, is more efficient, uses less energy, and has a low-carbon footprint won a Gold Award. Another Gold Award was presented for research on a “high-sensitivity measurement system” that brought to light the organic bond structure and dynamic molecular behavior of the surface of gold.

Overview of the 2020 Precious Metals Research Grants

Theme:
– Themes that involve any of the following: new technologies to which precious metals can make a contribution, research related to precious metals that will bring innovative evolution to products, or research and development of new products using precious metals

Grant Amounts:
– Platinum Award: 5 million yen (1 award)
– Gold Award: 2 million yen (1 award)
– Silver Awards: 1 million yen (4 awards)
– Young Researcher Awards: 1 million yen (2 awards)
– Encouragement Award: 300,000 yen (several awards)
* The grant amount is treated as a scholarship donation.
* Awards may not be granted in some cases.
* The number of awards is subject to change.

Eligible Candidates:
– Personnel who belong to (or work for) educational institutions in Japan (universities, graduate schools, or technical colleges) or public and related research institutions may participate.
* As long as the applicant is affiliated with a research institution in Japan, the base of activity can be in Japan or overseas.
* The Young Researcher Awards are for researchers under the age of 37 as of April 1, 2020.

Application Period:
– 9am, September 1, 2020 (Tue) – 5pm, November 30, 2020 (Mon)

Application Method:
– Enter the required information on the application form available on the TANAKA Memorial Foundation website (https://tanaka-foundation.or.jp) and upload details of the research (papers and supplementary material on the theme).

Announcement:
– Results will be announced on the TANAKA Memorial Foundation website around the end of March 2021.
* TANAKA will contact the award recipients directly.

Conditions:
Research content that falls under any of the following
– New technology related to precious metals
– Research and development related to precious metals that bring about innovative evolution in products
– Research and development of new products using precious metals
* Precious metal refers to eight elements of platinum, gold, silver, palladium, rhodium, iridium, ruthenium and osmium.
* If development is conducted jointly (or planned to be) with other material manufacturers, please indicate so.
* Products that have already been commercialized, put to practical use, or that are planned are not eligible.