生物系特定産業技術研究支援センター

ムーンショット型農林水産研究開発事業

Public Call for Project Manager

Bio-Oriented Technology Research Advancement Institution


Moonshot Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Research and Development Program

Public Call for Project Manager:「Moonshot Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Research and Development Program」

DATE : May the 11th,2020
Last update date : June the 9th,2020

Bio-Oriented Technology Research Advancement Institution (hereinafter referred to as "BRAIN") supports research and development on specific biotechnological industrial technology conducted by private companies, universities, national research and development corporations, prefectural experimental stations, and local independent administrative agencies. Based on the Moonshot R&D system, BRAIN will carry out "Moonshot Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries R&D Program" (hereinafter referred to as "this program").

For carrying out this project, BRAIN conducts the public call for Project Managers (PMs) who preside over the R&D projects (hereinafter referred to as "project") for realizing the R&D concept that defines the fields / areas in which the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (hereinafter referred to as "MAFF") should promote the challenging R&D (hereinafter referred to as "the R&D concept") in order to achieve Moonshot Goal 5 "Creation of industry that enables sustainable global food supply by exploiting unused biological resources by 2050 ", which is one of the six Moonshot Goal determined by the Council for Science, Technology and Innovation (CSTI).

【Updated contents】

June the 9th,2020

  • Uploaded the Q&A

May the 28th,2020

  • Uploaded the Recruitment Explanatory Materials

May the 21th,2020

  • Uploaded the Project Manager Application Guidelines

May the 19th,2020

  • Uploaded the video of the explanatory meeting for this public call (in Japanese).
  • Updated the information about individual consultation in inquiries section.

1. Program outline

(1) Background

CSTI determined to promote challenging R&D called Moonshot (hereinafter referred to as "MS"), based on ideas that are not just extensions of conventional technology to create disruptive innovation in Japan.

Based on the MS R&D system, BRAIN has established the fund as the research promotion agency that conducts the operations related to the R&D, and promotes challenging R&D toward the realization of the R&D concept in order to achieve the MS goal determined by CSTI.

(2) Program Description

In this program, the R&D which concentrates various research ideas is to be carried out based on the R&D concepts determined by MAFF, in order to achieve the MS goal determined by CSTI.
Please refer to the following for the MS goal and the R&D concept targeted for this public call.

  • MS Goal
    The goal of this program is "Creation of industry that enables sustainable global food supply by exploiting unused biological resources by 2050". For more information, please refer to Exhibit 1 of the Project Manager Aapplication Guidelines.
  • The R&D Concept
    The R&D concept describes the R&D cases that are assumed in achieving the MS goal and the direction of R&D toward achieving the MS target. For more information, please refer to Exhibit 2 of the Project Manager Aapplication Guidelines.

(3) Program Period

The period would be generally five years and maximum ten years, starting from 2020.

2. Public Call Period

May 11, 2020(Mon)~ July 20, 2020(Mon) 12pm(Japan time)

3. Project Manager Application Guidelines, Proposal Form

(1) The Project Manager Application Guidelines

Note: The Japanese version is official, and the English version is provisional.

(2) Proposal Form (TBA)

(3) Q&A

(4) Explanatory meeting of this public call (video in Japanese)

From the perspective of preventing the further spread of new coronaviruses (COVID-19), we will not hold the explanatory meeting of this public call. Please watch the video materials related to the public call instead of the explanatory meeting.

(5) Reference Information

(6) Contract procedure

The representative organization to which the adopted PM belongs will directly execute the contract with BRAIN.

Please refer to Exhibit 6, "Moonshot Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries R&D Program" for more information regarding procedures for contracts, etc.

※This form is subject to change hereafter.

Under the direction of the PD, the PM is to refine (review and materialize) the contents of the project proposed at the time of application. The refinement includes scenarios leading to the MS goal, project plans, addition or deletion of joint research institutions and cooperating institutions, and research costs.

Once the above projects planning have been completed, it will be possible to start the R&D by determining the portfolio, establishing a consortium, and contracting procedures, etc.

4. Application method for this public call

The R&D management system common to all ministries and agencies (hereinafter referred to as "e-Rad") is decided to use in applying, so please make an electronic application by referring to Exhibit 4 of the Project Manager Aapplication Guidelines. (Please note that we cannot accept submissions by Mail, Bring, Fax or E-mail.)

The candidate of PM should summarize the research content of the research group and apply.

5. The later schedule(tentative)

  • Start of this public call
  • May 11, 2020
  • Explanatory meeting of this public call (video in Japanese)
  • May 19, 2020
  • Due date
  • July 20, 2020 12pm(Japan time)
  • Document examination
  • Early August
  • Interview examination
  • Late August
  • Determination/Announcement of PM to be adopted
  • Mid-September
  • The R&D project planning
  • September~November (in principle within three month)
  • Execute the contract
  • December

Note: The schedule is subject to change on account of the examination progress etc.

6. Inquires

Please refrain from consulting or contacting the Program Director (PD) directly, including the content of public call, proposals, and examination.Depending on the content and time of your question, it may be difficult to answer, so please contact us in well advance.

【Regarding this public call】

Strategic research development division
MS team
E-mail : seiken-moonshot[at]ml.affrc.go.jp
Please Replace[at]with @.

【Regarding the contract procedure】

Research management division
E-mail : seiken-moonshot[at]ml.affrc.go.jp
Please Replace[at]with @.

〈Individual consultation〉
Basically, we use the web conference system (Skype for Business) for individual consultations concerning this public call. In case the system is not available, you can consult with us by telephone, however, please understand that there are retrictions because we are working from home. Depending on the content of the consultation, we may respond by e-mail. Please note that there is a possibility that we might not be able to answer a part of your question depending on the content, in the interest of selection fairness. Anyone who wishes to conduct an individual consultation session is asked to notify us via the above e-mail address by noon of July 6th (Mon).(Japan Standard Time) Individual consultations will be held until July 13th(Mon). We will inform you on HP when it is possible to conduct directly face-to-face consultation given the to the infection status of the COVID-19.

Please apply for an individual consultation with the following contents.
The Subject of e-mail:"Request for individual consultation : Moonshot Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Research and Development Program(Affiliation / Name)"
The body of e-mail:Please ensure to fill in the following information.
・Name
・Affiliation
・Summary of consultation
・Date and time for an Individual consultation, preferred dates for consultation (Please indicate multiple desired dates, excluding Saturdays and Sundays, and other holidays in Japan)
Note:Individual consultations will be held until July 13th (Mon).

【Regarding the e-Rad System】

e-Rad Help Desk
Telephone : +81570-066-877 (Navi Dial), +813-6631-0622 (direct number)
Web-site [External link]