Manai Grant
We offer junior high and high school students
grants for research on science and technology
Time to show your potential
Your immersing yourself in research does not just yields benefits
but involves and excites others, creating power to make a
global move in a chain reaction.
Just do whatever you like as you like.
You don’t have to care about things like
“for the world” or “for science.”
Your dedication itself will have an impact on the world.
All you have to do is indulge your interest.
We spare no effort to help you do that.
We wantyour research
Reward
¥150,000
and more…
Application details
- Age range
- First grade in junior high (7th grade) to second grade in high school (11th grade) (As of application)
- Application to be sent by
- July 31st, 2021 (should be made on and before this date)
- Amount of a grant
- 150,000 yen
- Application is required for every purchase
- Application of more than 150,000 yen will be accepted after agreement
- How to make an application
-
- Movie presentation (your achievements and plans/free format)
- Research schedule (given format)
- Host organization
- General Incorporated Foundation, Manai foundation
- Supported by
- NPO Nippon Science Service (NSS) Manai Enterprise Co., Ltd.
Manai Grant Overall flow
Step.1
Give a presentation on your research
and submit your future study schedule
Step.2
Examined by Manai
（Examiner: Manai Foundation Academic Supporters）
If application is rejected,
we will tell you where to revise and advise making an application again.
Step.3
Research expenses are provided.
Application is required for every purchase before Manai remits the expenses or sends items purchased by Manai.
Step.4
Research at your place or Manai’s facility
with mentoring as necessary
Step.5
Give your research presentation at Manai’s event
within a year
How to examine
Examination items
- Presentation movie on your research
- Research schedule
After submission of the above items, Manai foundation’s academic supporters perform examinations. An examiner for each research field, appointed by the head of academic supporters, is in charge of your examination. Basically, one examiner is responsible for determination of a grant for one research. You may have to answer questions from an examiner if required. There is no restriction in the number of research to be funded.
Examination criteria
- Whether the research has been carried out for a certain period of time and made achievements
- Prospects of the research to be given international science awards such as ISEF
- Originality of the research
Examiner (Manai Foundation Academic Supporters)
Professor, Department of Cell Biological Science, Graduate School of Life Science, Faculty of Advanced Life Science, Hokkaido University
After clinical training, graduate studies at Asahikawa Medical University in Japan, working as Pathology researcher at University of California Irvine in US, and Associate Professor at Asahikawa Medical University as physician scientist, I have been running the Innate Immunity Laboratory at Hokkaido University since 2006. Gastroenterology and Immunology are my specialties. In the lab, we are focusing on understanding mechanisms of “gut innate immunity” and “food, microbiota, health and disease”.
http://altair.sci.hokudai.ac.jp/infsig/english/
Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, assistant professor
2010 Department of Chemistry, School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Ph. D.
2010–2012 Department of Chemistry, School of Science, The University of Tokyo, postdoctoral researcher
2012–2014 Department of Chemistry, School of Science, The University of Tokyo, project assistant professor
2014–present Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, assistant professor
2017–present Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Rikkyo University, visiting associate professor
2018–present MI-6 Ltd., consulting chemist
Professor, Institute for Planetary Materials, Okayama University at Misasa
1981 Research and Teaching Assistant, Department of Geology, University of Toronto
1986 Post-doctoral Fellow, Institut de Physique du Globe. Department des Sciences de la Terre, Universites de Paris 6 &7
1987 Assistant Professor, Institute for Study of the Earth’s Interior, Okayama University at Misasa
1992 Associate Professor, Institute for Study of the Earth’s Interior, Okayama University at Misasa
1995 Professor, Institute for Study of the Earth’s Interior (Now: Institute for Planetary Materials), Okayama University at Misasa
1999 Adjunct Professor of the Institute for Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS), Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
2003 Director of the Institute for Study of the Earth’s Interior Okayama University at Misasa. Program Leader of “Center of Excellence for the 21st Century in Japan”, entitled “Establishment of an International Research Center for Solid Earth Science”
2004 Honorary Professor, Institute of Geology & Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
2014 Director of the Institute for Study of the Earth’s Interior, Okayama University at Misasa
2016 Director of the Institute for Planetary Materials, Okayama University at Misasa
Professor, Director of Research Center for Nuclear Physics, Osaka University.
2013-present Director of Research Center for Nuclear Physics, Osaka University
1991-1993 Research Associate, University of Alberta, Canada
1993-1996 Research Associate, Osaka University
1996-2000 Associate Professor, Osaka University
2000-2013 Professor, Osaka University
Associate Professor in School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech)
Masato Nikaido is a Japanese evolutionary biologist known for the development of a novel genetic analysis which leaded to his discovery of the close relationship between hippopotamus and whales. He is also the head researcher who determined the whole-genome sequences of coelacanths. He received a Ph.D. from Tokyo Tech and researched as an assistant professor. He has been researching there as an associate professor since 2015. Currently his laboratory has been focusing on evolutionary biology by integrating various combined knowledge in genome informatics, molecular biology and field research.
http://www.nikaido.bio.titech.ac.jp
Professor, Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Director, Department of Physics, Faculty of Science,
1990 Assistant Professor, Institute for Solid State Physics, The University of Tokyo
1995 Researcher (Group Leader), Hirao Active Glass Project (ERATO)
1997 Associated Professor, Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Kyoto University
2004 Professor, Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Kyoto University
2008 Professor, Institute for Cell-Material Integrated Systems (iCeMS), Kyoto University
2013 Professor, Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Kyoto University
2016 Director, Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Kyoto University
2018 Councilor, Education and Research Council, Kyoto University Vice Dean, Faculty of Science, Kyoto University
2020 Director, Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Kyoto University
Emeritus Professor (The University of Tokyo), President / The Institute of Applied Energy, Former Institute of Engineering Innovation, The University of Tokyo
1983 JSPS Postdoctoral Fellow
1984 Research Associate (Nuclear Engineering Research Laboratory, The University of Tokyo)
1986 Guest Scientist, LLNL, USA
1987 Associate Professor (Dept. of Nuclear Engineering, The University of Tokyo)
1992 Guest Scientist, KfK (Currently KIT), Germany
1999 Professor (Dept. of Quantum Engineering & Systems science, The University of Tokyo)
2003 Moved to Nuclear Engineering Research Laboratory, The University of Tokyo
2005 Moved to Department of Nuclear Engineering & Management, The University of Tokyo
2007 Moved to Institute of Engineering Innovation, The University of Tokyo
2020 Retired from The University of Tokyo, Emeritus Professor (The University of Tokyo)
A distinguished professor of Osaka University (Graduate School of Medicine and of Frontier Biosciences). A Dean of Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences. A director of Research Center for Autophagy, Osaka University.
Prof. Tamotsu Yoshimori was graduated from the Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Osaka University and studied at the Graduate School of Medicine at Osaka University. He received his PhD degree in Medical Science from Osaka University. After working at several places including European Molecular Biology Laboratory (Prof Kai Simons’ lab) and National Institute of Basic Biology (Prof Yoshinori Ohsumi’s lab), he is now a distinguished professor of Osaka University (Graduate School of Medicine and of Frontier Biosciences), a Dean of Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences and a director of Research Center for Autophagy, Osaka University. His research interests are focused on intracellular membrane trafficking, and especially for the last 22 years, autophagy. He authored or coauthored over 220 journal articles and book chapters. He is an editor of Journal Cell Science, and on the editorial board of Journal of Cell Biology, and so on. He was a president of Japan Society for Cell Biology (2016-2018). He was awarded the Prize for Science and Technology by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in 2013, the Kakiuchi Saburo Memorial Prize by the Japanese Biochemical Society in 2014, Highly Cited Researcher 2014 and 2015 by Thomson Reuters, the Uehara prize in 2016 by the Uehara Memorial Foundation, the Mochida Memorial Academic Prize in 2017, Highly Cited Researcher 2019 by Web of Science, and Medal with Purple Ribbon 2019.
QA
How can I receive a grant?
Please make an application every time you need to purchase an item.
After approval,
1) Manai will purchase the item(s) and send it to the applicant
or
2) Manai will remit the price to the applicant by bank transfer
It is discussed between Manai and the applicant which way to adopt as required. Either will be chosen upon agreement.
Is group research applicable?
Yes.
In the case of group research, what would mentoring be like?
Essentially, a representative will take mentoring and report progress. Other members may take part in mentoring and report sessions when necessary. If your schedule allows, you can participate in every meeting as a group.
I can’t visit Manai in Ichigaya, but is it okay? Are mentoring and research presentations available online?
No problem. We offer mentoring online.
Is mentoring after adoption mandatory? Is it possible to receive a grant only before working on a research?
Mentoring from Manai is voluntary when necessary. Even if you don’t need mentoring, answering progress to Manai is appreciated.
I found more grants than given are needed as I proceeded with my research. What should I do?
A grant of 150,000 yen is only a rough estimate for launching your research. When we find it necessary, an extra grant will be provided upon agreement.
If I discontinued my research, would I need to refund a grant?
You should refund remitted, unused expenses for purchasing fixtures. Also, fixtures may be asked to return. You should follow M’s request for returning such fixtures.
I couldn’t use up all the grants before the research presentation. Can I receive the balance from 150,000 yen in cash?
We remit costs for approved fixtures for a designated use when necessary, or Manai purchases and sends items. Since it doesn’t mean that 150,000 yen in cash is given when starting your research, you never have to give a grant back that has already been provided (However, you need to send us back all the money remitted if your research plan changes after approval and remittance).
Do I need to send a receipt to prove the use of the grant?
We request you to send it as required. Please keep receipts of purchases.
Do all members of the group have to be in an application age range?
All members of the group are required to be junior high or high school students at the time of the final presentation.
Is the research already done in school club activities acceptable?
Yes. A grant will be given to a future research, not the one in the past. In the case you would like to apply as a school club activity, you should turn in future plans of the current research.
If it is a research performed at school, should I get an approval from a teacher prior to application?
Please clarify that you would like to make the application as a school activity with a school teacher as an advisor or as a research conducted by an individual or a group independent from school. If the former, you must get approval from your teacher.
Upon receiving a grant, what would be the obligation (responsibility/commitment) of students? What do we need to do in return for having a grant?
All you have to do is give a final presentation and enjoy your research.
When is the final presentation?
Within a year after the date of grant determination.
How much progress in my research is required when giving a final presentation?
You need to make a conclusion as of the final presentation.
