Both guidelines of Research Fellowship FY2020 and Overseas Research Fellowship FY2020 have multiple changes compared to those of FY2019. Please refer to the FY2020 application guideline carefully.
2.
今年度（2020年度）の申請書用紙のサンプルを見たいのですが?
Is there a sample application form available for this year (FY2020)?
It is not permitted to apply for a Research Fellowship and an Overseas Research Fellowship at the same time. The rule is one fellowship per applicant.
Similarly, it is not permitted for multiple researchers on the same course or from the same laboratory (etc.) to apply for fellowships based on the same research theme. Multiple researchers on the same course or from the same laboratory (etc.) may only apply if they are working on different research theme.
4.
研究助成金交付は「1研究者あたり原則2回まで」にした理由を教えてください。
Why are Research Fellowships limited to "two separate occasions per person"?
Our Research Fellowships are intended to promote "original, pioneering and groundbreaking research". We are particularly keen to support research to be conducted alone, female researchers, researchers who have recently set up their own laboratory, researchers who have recently returned from studying overseas, and researchers who have balanced the research with life events such as childbirth, childcare, and caring parent(s)/parent(s)-in-law or a partner. We decided to limit fellowships to "two separate occasions per person" so that we can support as many such researchers as possible.
We want researchers to use our Research Fellowships as a "primer" or "springboard" to enable them to advance their research.
5.
平成19年以降すでに研究助成金の交付を2回受けています。3回目交付の可能性は?
I have been awarded Research Fellowships on two occasions since 2007. Is there any possibility of being awarded a third fellowship?
As stated in the Fellowship Application Guidelines 5. Precautions, item 3), a third fellowship may be awarded in the following item No. 1 and No.2 circumstances.
If the research proposal is original and challenging, and relates to an entirely different subject and has entirely different contents from the researcher’s previous two fellowship proposals
If the research proposal is a continuation of a subject from the researcher’s previous two proposals but includes new and original ideas that are likely to produce significant results
In the meantime,occasions when applicants have received the following Fellowships will NOT be counted as awarded Fellowships.
Fellowship to go abroad to involve research, Fellowships related to East Japan great earthquake disaster or Kumamoto earthquake disaster
6.
企業の研究者からの申請は可能ですか?
Do you accept applications from corporate researchers?
We do not accept an application from a researcher affiliated with a company that is run for profit. We do not accept the one even if he/she is dispatched from the company to an institution which does not aim to gain profit.
7.
面接はありますか?
Will I have to attend an interview?
7.
研究助成金については、書類審査のみで面接は行っておりません。
Regarding Research Fellowship, you will not have to attend an interview. Selection process proceeds based solely on documents.
8.
申請書記載の研究内容の変更はできますか?
Can I change the research details on my application form?
If you haven't started registration yet, you can make changes via your Applicant Page.
Please see Question 7 in the Q&A section on "Pre-registration".
(*) It is not permitted to change your contact email address.
If you wish to make changes after completion of registration, you may do so up until the registration deadline 4 p.m., May 29, 2020. Please contact the Secretariat by email (byoutai-toiawase@jp.astellas.com), making sure that you include your Application Number in all correspondence.
Once the Secretariat has carried out the necessary procedure, you will be able to start the registration process again. For details of how to revise your application, please see Questions 12 and 13 in the Q&A section on "Registration".
You must complete your registration before the deadline 4 p.m., May 29, 2020. After the deadline, registration system will be shut down so that you can not proceed to the registration. Please keep this in your mind.
The Research Fellowship Application Guidelines states "25 million yen per project for fiscal year 2020" in Section 4) under 5 Precautions. Is this the ceiling for a single research project or for all research projects for fiscal 2020?
It is the ceiling for a single project. We examine whether or not the largest amount acquired surpasses 25 million yen for fiscal 2020 in case an applicant has acquired two or more research funds (for projects such as A, B and C) as a representative researcher by studying the amount paid to each project for fiscal 2020.
As a project leader, I have obtained a total of 50 million yen (30 million yen for fiscal 2018, 10 million yen for fiscal 2019 and 10 million yen for fiscal 2020) for my research project. Do you consider this case as the acquisition of a research fund "in excess of 25 million yen per year "and an infringement on the requirements for large-scale research funding?
The amount you received per year surpassed 25 million yen on one occasion, but you are not in possession of any research fund in excess of 25 million yen for fiscal 2020 at the point of application (in April 2020 and thereafter). Therefore, we don't consider you to have infringed on the requirements for large-scale funding.
The amount I received for a shared research project exceeded 25 million yen per year. Does this case infringe on the requirements for large-scale funding stipulated by the Guidelines 5. Precautions item4).
The requirements stipulated by the Guidelines 5.Precautions item 4 for large-scale research funding limit the scope of application to a research funds acquired as a "project leader". You did not infringe on the requirements in this case because you obtained the fund as a researcher in partial charge of the project, not as a representative researcher.
The Research Fellowship Application Guidelines says, "State all research funds to cover fiscal 2020 acquired as a project leader up to this point (their sources, research theme, amounts and years of acquisition)." Is it OK for me to state in the Form only those research funds still active (continued) at the point of application?
Yes, it is OK for you to do that. State all active (continued) research funds (their sources, research theme, amounts and years of acquisition) you have acquired as a project leader at the point of application. You do not have to include the research funds that have concluded earlier.
I received a total of 60 million yen as a project leader for there years. I won this grant in April 2019. How should I consider the amount of the funds I am receiving per year?
The Research Fellowship Guidelines says, "State all research funds acquired as a project leader up to this point (their sources, research theme, amounts and years of acquisition)." Is it acceptable for me to state research funds related to a research proposal I will make in the Research Fellowship Application Form?
State all research funds you have acquired as a representative researcher at the point of application, irrespective of whether such funds are related to a research proposal you will make in the Research Fellowship Application Form (research theme) or not.
15.
該当する研究対象領域が複数あります。どの領域へ応募したらいいでしょうか？
My research may be applicable to the multiple research fields in the application guideline. How should I select my field?
The selection will not be affected by the research field you will select. Thus, please choose the research field that is likely to be the most relevant to your research.