2021 Joint Usage/Research Program Application Guidelines Institute for Catalysis, Hokkaido University

 

Since April 2010, Catalysis Research Center (CRC), the predecessor of Institute for Catalysis (ICAT), has been authorized as the Joint Usage/Research Center in catalytic chemistry. The institute has been conducting joint researches with nationwide researchers and has produced many fruitful achievements concerning catalytic chemistry. When CRC was reorganized into ICAT, Catalysis Collaborative Research Center was established in addition to the Department of Fundamental Research, Department of Practical Applications and Department of Target Research, in order to build a new catalytic science by stepping over the conventional framework of catalytic chemistry. Through collaboration with different fields such as physics, materials science, life science, mathematics, information science, chemical engineering, etc., we pursue collaborative researches on catalytic science and aim at forming an international network of catalyst research.
　In 2021, we open application to the Joint Usage/Research Program on sustainable catalysts aimed at building new energy, resources and material systems, creation of new academic fields based on catalysts, improvement of catalyst function and support for multidimensional analysis of catalyst. Please follow the instruction below to submit your application.

 

1. Application guideline

In Joint Usage/Research Program, a researcher outside Hokkaido University becomes the Principal Investigator and a faculty member at ICAT becomes the Partner Researcher. In principle, the research should be conducted jointly at ICAT. There are three types of Joint Usage/Research Programs as below. For the categories (5) to (7), see the application guideline indicated below.

1-1 Categories in the Research Project

(1) Strategic Research Project:
　Based on the opinion of the research community, ICAT sets up the Joint Usage/Research subjects for each fiscal year. In particular, we welcome proposals that incorporate different fields and international collaborations.
(Form 1 Word fileWORD PDF file PDF)

It is possible to use the budget for necessary items and traveling expenses (Please ask the ICAT Partner Researcher for limitations). Researchers from multiple research institutions (including overseas) can participate in the project. The research will start from the beginning of the fiscal year and conduct throughout the fiscal year.（See Table I PDF for the research subject of this fiscal year ）

→For more details, please see Section 2.
(2) Proposal-Based Project:
　ICAT accepts research subjects based on the researcher’s proposal related to catalytic science. We welcome unprecedented ideas, such as exploratory research proposals, proposals beyond the framework of catalytic chemistry, etc.
(Form 2 Word fileWORD PDF file PDF)

　It is possible to propose various types of Joint Usage/Research, such as researches at exploratory, inventive, pilot and preparatory stages, and proposals of research meetings or workshops. The starting date of the research has some flexibility. (We issue three calls for proposals each year.)

→For more details, please see Section 2.
(3) On-Demand Collaboration:

　 ICAT accepts collaboration in catalysis and related area of science at any time when necessary.

The collaboration in this category is self-supporting, and ICAT does not provide research budget.

(Form 5 Word fileWORD PDF file PDF)
→For more details, please see Section 2.

(4) ICAT Colloquium:

　 For those who wish to present or discuss their research results at ICAT, the institute provides an opportunity for a lecture as an ICAT colloquium. The expenses for the lecture is self-support
(Form 6 Word fileWORD PDF file PDF).
→For more details, please see Section 3.

(5) Visiting Scholar:

　 ICAT accepts highly motivated researchers as Visiting Scholar to collaborate with the faculty members on a continuous and systematic basis. In accordance with the budgetary allocation criteria, the research expenses and travel expenses will be allocated.
→For more details, please find the application guideline.
(http://www.cat.hokudai.ac.jp/employment.html)

(6) Advanced Training Program for Catalytic Study (ATPCat):

　 ICAT provide an opportunity for practical education to the researchers who have strong motivations to learn catalysis. The institute might cover the expenses for experiments within the scope of the budget. Travel expenses will not be covered.
→For more details, please find the application guideline.
(http://www.cat.hokudai.ac.jp/koubo/koubo24/koubo20120516.html)

(7) Young Invited Lecturer at ICAT International Symposium:

　 ICAT invites young researchers who wish to present their research results at prestigious institutes in foreign countries. In addition to the opportunity as an invited speaker at the ICAT international symposiums, we also provide a partial subsidy for travel expenses.
→For more information, please see the announcement of the Call for Proposals posted through the
Catalysis Society of Japan (http://www.shokubai. org/).

2. Strategic Research Project, Proposal-Based Project, On-Demand Collaboration

2-1 Research units

Joint Usage/Research is conducted in collaboration with an ICAT Partner Researcher in Research Division, Research Cluster, and HU Catalysis Alliance of ICAT. Prior to submitting your application, you should discuss the research objective and plan with the ICAT Partner Researcher who is in charge of your proposal. Please refer to the Table Ⅱ PDF for a list of the Partner Researchers.

2-2 Research period

For Strategic Research Projects, the period starts from April 1, 2021 through March 31, 2022. For Proposal-Based Projects, it is from the date of adoption (see Table below, three times a year) through March 31, 2022. It is possible to continuously apply for both Strategic Research Projects and Proposal-Based Projects, and the applications are screened every fiscal year. Strategic Research Projects can be continued for up to two years. For On-Demand Collaboration, the project starts from the day of approval until March 31, 2022.

2-3 Research Expenses

ICAT will bear the expenses for the Joint Usage/Research within the budget (see table below). Experimental items which are directly necessary to carry out the Research Project are available for purchase. It is possible to pay the travel expenses for visiting ICAT for the Principal Investigator, Co-Investigators and Collaborators listed in the application form.
　　 For the On-Demand Collaboration, the research expenses are self-supported.

  Strategic Research Project Proposal-Based Project
Project
Type		 Research plans set by ICAT for each fiscal year Three calls for proposals each year to agilely respond the opportunity for Joint Usage/Research.
Research
Period		 2021/04/01 - 2022/03/31 (First period) 2021/04/01 - 2022/03/31
(Second period) 2021/08/01 - 2022/03/31
(Third period) 2021/12/01 - 2022/03/31
Number of
Adoption		 About 3 to 5 About 15
(Number of adoption depends on the budget.)
Budget Within 1,000,000 JPY Approximately 150,000 JPY
Application
deadline		 January 29 (Fri), 2021 (First period) January 29 (Fri), 2021
(Second period) June 18 (Fri), 2021
(Third period) October 23 (Fri), 2021
2-4. Qualifications

A Principal Investigator applying for the Joint Usage/Research should be a researcher in a university (national, public, private) or a research institution (public, private), or equivalent. Hokkaido University is excluded.
　In order to carry out the research project, Principal Investigator can add Co-Investigators who have the above qualification. Graduate students (excluding undergraduate students) instructed by the Principal Investigator can be added as “Collaborators”. In these cases, it is necessary to obtain prior consent from the ICAT Partner Researcher.

2-5. Proposal Guidelines

Fill out the application form(Form 1 Word fileWORD PDF file PDF(Strategic Research Project), Form 2 Word fileWORD PDF file PDF(Proposal-Based Project), and Form 5 Word fileWORD PDF file PDF(On-Demand Collaboration)) and submit it by the above deadline.
　It is necessary to obtain approval from the head of the applicant’s organization in advance (excluding those who are not currently affiliated with the organization, such as emeritus professors.)
　Completed application forms should be submitted by email as an attachment to the email address below. Title of the email should be “Joint Usage/Research Proposal Application”.
　You can apply for duplication in the Proposal-Based Project with the same research subject as the Strategic Research Project. In that case, please circle “Yes” in the corresponding column of the application form (Form 1 Word fileWORD PDF file PDF).

2-6. Application deadline

The deadline is stated in the table above.

2-7. Selection procedure

With regard to the adoption and the amount of the budget, the director of ICAT will make the final decision after the discussion by the Screening Committee for Cooperative Research Projects in ICAT.

2-8. Notice of adoption / rejection

The result of the selection will be informed to the applicant directly.
　After adoption, promptly submit "Agreement with Institute for Catalysis, Hokkaido University on the Joint Usage/Research" (Form 3Word file WORDPDF file PDF).

2-9. ICAT Fellows

A title of "ICAT Fellow, Institute for Catalysis, Hokkaido University" will be given to the Principal Investigators and Co-Investigators of a Strategic Research Project. (Faculty members of Hokkaido University is excluded).

2-10. Submission of Report, Disclosure of Research Outcomes
  1. Research Report of the Joint Usage/Research, Institute for Catalysis, Hokkaido University
    　Please submit "Research Report of the Joint Usage/Research, Institute for Catalysis, Hokkaido University" (Form 4 Word file WORDPDF file PDF) within 30 days after the end of the research period. Additionally, a report is requested to submit for publishing on the ICAT web page. A two-page or one-page report in A4 sheet is required for a Strategic Research Project or a Proposal-Based Project, respectively. For the Proposal-Based Project, the report for the web page can be substituted by the off-print of articles after the publication. The submitted reports will be published within one year after the end of the research period. For the On-Demand Collaboration, the report submission is not mandatory but appreciated.
  2. Disclosure of Research Outcomes
    　When you present your research outcomes as a journal article or other means, please acknowledge the outcome as the result of a Joint Usage/Research project with ICAT, Hokkaido University. Please submit a copy of abstracts or papers promptly to the ICAT Partner Researcher and the following submission destination.
    　Below is an example of an acknowledgment.
    　This study was supported by the Cooperative Research Program of
    　Institute for Catalysis, Hokkaido University. (Proposal #.........)

    3. The researchers who are entitled as an ICAT Fellow is kindly requested to write the title and affiliation in papers such as “ICAT Fellow, Institute for Catalysis, Hokkaido University.”

  3. Intellectual Property Rights
    Intellectual property rights generated from the Collaborative Research will be separately negotiated.

3. ICAT Colloquium

3-1 Research units

Researchers in Research Division and Research Cluster of ICAT are responsible for the host of the colloquim. Prior to submitting your application, you should discuss with an ICAT host researcher. Please refer to the Table Ⅱ PDF for a list of the host researchers. Researchers in HU Catalysis Alliance Unit is not included in the list.

3-2 Research Expenses

In principle, ICAT does not support the expenses for the lecture.

3-3. Qualifications

A researcher applying for the ICAT Colloquium should be a researcher in a domestic/foreign university (national, public, private) or a research institution (public, private), or equivalent.

3-4. Proposal Guidelines

Fill out the application form(Form 6 Word fileWORD PDF file PDF)and submit to the address indicated below.

 

4. Contact information

Research Cooperation Section, Northern Campus Area Joint Administration, Hokkaido University
Kita21, Nishi10, Kita-ku, Sapporo 001-0021 JAPAN
Tel: +81-11-706-9202, 9264 FAX: +81-11-706-9110
E-mail: k-kenkyo@jimu.hokudai.ac.jp
Submit your report to: kyoten@cat.hokudai.ac.jp
URL: http://www.cat.hokudai.ac.jp