Collaborative Innovation Support Project｜NINS Collaborative Innovation

Purpose of the Project

The purpose of this project is to support feasibility studies aimed at solving social issues and industrial applications. The faculty members, URAs, and technical employees of the National Institutes of Natural Sciences assume specific industrial applications and social implementations based on the research results of basic research, know-how such as measurement and experiments, and intellectual property (referred to as research results, etc.) and aim to demonstrate the applicability of research results, etc. and create research seeds that will lead to collaborative innovation.
At the end of the support period, it is expected that the recipient will have obtained data sufficient to secure intellectual property rights such as patents, etc., be able to present the concrete applicability of research results to private-sector businesses, have research plans and data that enable applications for external funding to support applied research, and demonstrate significant progress in joint research with private companies, etc.

Open Recruitment Content

This project consists of two categories: “Seed Support” and “Development Support.” Seed Support aims to assist in the creation and feasibility studies of seeds that could lead to future joint research and implementation. Development Support provides initial support for starting joint research in the form of a matching fund, where the National Institutes of Natural Sciences (NINS) will contribute an amount up to the same level as the research expenses (direct costs) borne by private companies.

This project targets research projects that meet the following requirements:
They must be based on the research results from NINS and include a clearly defined vision and roadmap for practical application and social implementation.

Notes: The principal investigator (PI) shall bear overall responsibility for the project as well as for the execution of research funds.

This project is intended to conduct short-term feasibility studies on the potential for industrialization of basic research. Applicants who have previously been selected as PIs for the NINS Collaborative Innovation Support Project, or who have participated as collaborating researchers in similar research projects under that program, may also apply. However, the relationship with past projects will be considered in the evaluation.

Project Research Period

From April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027

Application Requirements

Researchers, Research Administrator Staff, and Technical Employees of the National Institutes of Natural Sciences

Amount of Money

(Seed Support)

Up to 2 million yen per project, in principle.
Note: Applications exceeding 2 million yen must include justification.

(Development Support)

Up to 5 million yen per project, in principle.
Notes: The amount of support from NINS shall not exceed the amount of research expenses (direct costs) borne by the company.
Applications exceeding 5 million yen must include justification.

Number of Cases Scheduled to be Accepted

Limited Number

Application Process

１．Application Document

Application Form Attachment Form 1

Please submit the application document as a Microsoft Word format file.
If you want to include images in the application form, please also submit a PDF file.

Notes: When applying for Development Support, please attach a consent form from the collaborating company (Appendix Form 2) as part of the application documents.
When applying for Seed Support for content related to ongoing joint research with private companies, please obtain consent from the collaborating company and attach a copy of the joint research agreement. The submitted agreement will be used solely for the review of this program and will be managed responsibly.

In addition, clearly state the contact person from the collaborating private company in section ‘3. Collaborating Researchers’ (「３．連携研究者」) of the application form; the title, partner, duration, and expenses of the joint research in section ‘4. Information on Joint Research’ (「４．共同研究の情報」); and the role of the company as well as the circumstances that warrant support under this program in section ‘9. Measures Necessary to Achieve the Objective (「９．目的達成のために必要な方策」).

２．Submission Method

Applicants should, with the consent of the head of each institute, send it by e-mail to the following address by 17:00 (due not later than) on January 30, 2026 through the administrator of their research institute.

【Where to Send the Application Documents】

Collaborative Innovation administrator, Research Support Section, Research Cooperation Division, Administrative Bureau, National Institutes of Natural Sciences
　E-mail: nins-sangaku★nins.jp（Please change ★ to @.）
　TEL: 03-5425-1325

Screening, etc.

The screening of this project will be conducted by the Collaborative Innovation Committee, National Institute of Natural Sciences based on the information in the application. The screening shall be closed to the public.

Others

If you have any questions about this open recruitment, please contact the following.

Open Recruitment Guidelines and Other Documents

〇 Open Recruitment Guidelines for 2026 [PDF]（Japanese only）

〇 Applications Form [PDF／WORD]（Japanese only）

〇企業同意書　[WORD]（Japanese only）

〇 Screening Guidelines for 2026 [PDF]　（Japanese only）