Exploratory Research for Advanced Technology 2020-21 ENG Contents 02 History of ERATO 03 What Is ERATO? 04 Stages of ERATO Project 05 On-going Projects 14 Highlighted Publications 16 Special Extension Period 17 Discover More Online 18 Completed Projects 25 ERATO Research Projects Index History of ERATO ERATO is a historic research funding program which has been developing new science and technology trends through its unique research promotion system. In the 1970s, Japan experienced significant economic development but basic research within Japan proved unable to keep pace to generate the subsequent phase of development. Against this backdrop, ERATO was established in 1981 to pioneer innovative basic research. ERATO's focus on "people," which respects the originality and leadership of Research Directors and builds a desirable environment for researchers, initiated a new method of research promotion and subsequently influenced other funding organizations. To date, a total of 140 ERATO projects have contributed to the development of researchers who are leaders in their academic fields, as well as to excellent research achievements. History of JST Development of ERATO Japan Information Center of Science and Technology (JICST) is established. Research Development Corporation of Japan (JRDC) is established. ERATO established Exploratory Research for Advanced Technology (ERATO) is set up under JRDC, the predecessor of JST. The abbreviation “ERATO,” which is the name of the Greek Goddess of romantic poetry, has since become widely known. JICST and JRDC are merged to create the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST). ERATO reorganization Strategic Basic Research Programs is created JST is reorganized to become an to respond to the demands of a new era, independent administrative and ERATO is reorganized to play a role in it. institution. To enhance its functions, the status of ERATO’s current status JST is changed from an“independent administrative institution” to a ERATO has carried out as many as 140 “national research and development projects contributing to the development of a g e n c y . ” science and technology. Researchers associated with ERATO are pursuing their research via more extensive basic research or developing new technologies to the stage of application. 2 Exploratory Research for Advanced Technology (ERATO) is a research What Is funding program of the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), which aims to lead science and technology-based innovations through novel, ERATO? unique, and transformative basic research. In an ERATO project, the project leader(Research Director) together with diverse team members devote themselves to challenging themes that drive forward new areas of science and technology. ERATO greatly values the leadership and originality of project leaders and builds project systems with a focus on“people.” Outline To achieve a significant advance in science and technology through novel and unique basic research, Objective and ultimately contribute to science and technology-based innovation that shapes the future society and economy. Research Each Principal Investigator of ERATO (Research Director) establishes an original project named after him/ System herself. The project is implemented in collaboration with research institutes and JST for the research period. Research Approximately 5 years Period *A preparation period in advance of the research period is possible. Research A maximum of 1.2 billion yen(direct cost) per project Expenses Research Each Research Director sets up exclusive research venues for his/her ERATO project composed of a Venues headquarters in charge of planning and promotion of the project and research laboratories. Features Research Director designs his/her ERATO project Selection of Research Directors based on their own unique concepts, brings together researchers with various expertise and backgrounds, JST identifies prospective Research Directors organizes around three to four research groups of through surveys and references from outside different scientific fields or functions, and supervises experts rather than through public call for the project to develop new fields in science and proposals. technology. Diverse and open project team Independent research venues Research Director establishes several research A research environment can be set up groups by recruiting human resources with separate from existing laboratories to gather different scientific fields from domestic and human resources and facilities exclusively overseas research institutes and industries. for the ERATO project. Flexible project management Collaboration framework Flexible management is enabled, including The host research institute and JST build revision of the research plan and budget a collaboration framework to support the allocation based on the progress of the ERATO project. project. 3 Stages of ERATO Project Selection of ● Seeking suitable candidates through surveys and public calls for nominations Research ● Narrowing down candidates with cooperation from outside experts (Panel Officers) Directors ● Inviting selected candidates to submit a research proposal for review to decide new Research Directors See our website for details: JST ERATO Call for nominations Period for ● Forming research groups preparation ● Setting up headquarters and laboratories Industry Academia ● Designing a project website Public Sector Overseas Researchers from various fields work together for a limited time ERATO Project Research Director Co-Research Director Research ● Carrying out research Lead both research groups and period ● Research promotion headquarters Headquarters Headquarters will assist the Research Established cooperatively by Director regarding budget, schedule the host institute control, intellectual property and JST Research Groups management, outreach activities, etc. ●Mid-term evaluation Flexible support by the Collaboration Framework See page 5 for details about Promoting and supporting research project on-going projects. - Research and budget planning - Technology transfer of resarch results Research - Outreach activities JST Institute - Intellectual property rights management - Publication Management etc. Completion ● Ex-post evaluation of project ● Transition to more extensive basic research or transfer of research results to practical applications ● Follow-up evaluation See page 18 for details about completed projects. 4 Sorted by Research Term On-going Research Term *Japanese fiscal year Project Name Page ■ UEDA Biological Timing 6 2020 ▶ 2025 ■ SUZUKI RNA Modification 6 Projects ■ YAMAUCHI Materials Space-Tectonics 10 ■ KURUMIZAKA Chromatin Atlas 7 2019 ▶ 2024 ■ FUKATSU Evolving Symbiosis 7 ■ MAEDA Artificial Intelligence in Chemical Reaction Design and Discovery 11 ■ Life Innovation ■ IKEGAYA Brain-AI hybrid 8 2018 ▶ 2023 ■ Nanotechnology and Materials ■ HAMACHI Innovative Molecular Technology for Neuroscience 8 ■ Information and Communication Technology ■ MIZUSHIMA Intracellular Degradation 9 2017 ▶ 2022 ■ INAMI JIZAI Body 12 ■ NUMATA Organellar Reaction Cluster 9 2016 ▶ 2021 ■ NAKAMURA Macroscopic Quantum Machines 11 ■ HASUO Metamathematics for Systems Design 13 ■ NOMURA Microbial Community Control 10 2015 ▶ 2020 ■ YAMAMOTO Atom Hybrid 12 ■ KAWAHARA Universal Information Network 13 Sorted by Research Field Affiliation and position of the Research Directors are as of November 2020. Life Innovation Project Name Research Director Title and Affiliation 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 Page Hiroki R. Professor, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo / UEDA Biological Timing Project UEDA Team leader, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research 6 Tsutomu SUZUKI RNA Modification Project SUZUKI Professor, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo 6 Hitoshi Professor, Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, The University of KURUMIZAKA Chromatin Atlas Project KURUMIZAKA Tokyo 7 Takema Prime Senior Researcher, Bioproduction Research Institute, National FUKATSU Evolving Symbiosis Project FUKATSU Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) 7 Yuji Professor, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Science, The IKEGAYA Brain-AI hybrid Project IKEGAYA University of Tokyo 8 HAMACHI Innovative Molecular Technology Itaru for Neuroscience Project HAMACHI Professor, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University 8 Noboru MIZUSHIMA Intracellular Degradation Project MIZUSHIMA Professor, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo 9 Keiji Professor, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University / NUMATA Organellar Reaction Cluster Project NUMATA Team Leader, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science 9 NOMURA Microbial Community Control Nobuhiko Professor, Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University Project NOMURA of Tsukuba 10 Nanotechnology and Materials Project Name Research Director Title and Affiliation 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 Page Professor, School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Queensland / Yusuke Visiting Professor, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Waseda University /Group YAMAUCHI Materials Space-Tectonics Project YAMAUCHI Leader, Mesoscale Materials Chemistry Group, International Center for Materials 10 Nanoarchitectonics (WPI-MANA), National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) MAEDA Artificial Intelligence in Chemical Satoshi Director, WPI-ICReDD / Reaction Design and Discovery Project MAEDA Professor, Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University 11 NAKAMURA