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"Fostering Advanced Human Resources to Lead Green Transformation (GX)" (SPRING GX) Project

Application Details [for October 2021 enrollment]

The “Fostering Advanced Human Resources to Lead Green Transformation (GX)” (SPRING GX) Project

proposed by Professor Shin-ichi Ohkoshi (Project Officer) has been selected for funding under the “Support for Pioneering Research Initiated by the Next Generation” (SPRING) Program*1 of the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST). We will recruit 600 students from all Doctoral programs (including 4-year Doctoral programs) in UTokyo for support under this project.

1. About the project

To protect the earth, one of the Global Commons, or humankindʼs shared resources, we must confront and resolve a wide variety of global challenges. In this project, we focus on green transformation (GX)*2 as the social innovation needed to better manage the shared global environment and pass it on to future generations (Fig. 1). SPRING GX aims to train a large number of professionals who will play an active role in the realization of GX in all fields. In an environment in which curiosity-driven students with a high level of specialist knowledge and strong research skills can freely conduct pioneering and emergent research, students will understand that the future vision of society can only be GX. They will have multiple opportunities to develop an awareness of the link between their research and the issues facing humanity and to acquire the transferable skills needed to fully utilize their specialist expertise in society (Fig. 2).

We expect SPRING GX students to develop into the following: 1. Researchers who remain curious and consistently pursue pioneering research 2. Professionals who, in view of the fact that GX is the pursuit of all human society, are aware of a variety of

fields other than their specialization and who have an advanced and wide-ranging education 3. Researchers who can actively conduct emerging research with other researchers in a wide variety of fields

For career development and training, SPRING GX provides core programs (Fig. 3) as well as advanced skill development programs (Fig. 4). The three core programs are (1) the “GX Lectures”, which aim to instill a broad knowledge of GX in each student; (2) the “Green Future Exchange Seminar”, which gives students opportunities to uncover the relationship between their research and GX through interdisciplinary exchange with other students; and (3) the “GX Inspire Lectures”, which aim to provide an awareness of the role that GX plays in cutting-edge research in a variety of fields. The advanced skill development programs aim to cultivate GX professionals who can fully utilize their field-specific knowledge in their future careers. The programs provide a variety of activities tailored to the students ̓ individual expertise and circumstances, including overseas assignments, collaboration with industry, and transferable skills programs.

*1) The “Support for Pioneering Research Initiated by the Next Generation” (SPRING) Program was launched by the

Japanese government in September 2021 to support 6000 Doctoral students. The following is an excerpt from the Japan Science and Technology Agencyʼs (JST) call for applications (partially modified) for reference.

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Today's Doctoral students are expected to shoulder the responsibility for future science, technology, and innovation. However, in recent years, the number of students enrolling in Doctoral courses is declining due to financial difficulties and concerns over employment prospects. There is an urgent need to (1) strengthen financial support for excellent aspiring Doctoral students and (2) promote the development of diverse and engaging graduate career paths. The SPRING program supports universities (one project per university), which, after rigorous assessment, are deemed to have the ability and motivation to develop a firm and unique vision for Doctoral training; select excellent Doctoral students from beyond their existing frameworks; provide a research environment in which such students can independently conduct their own research; and support diversity in graduate career paths. A Project Officer is designated by the university to oversee the project and lead a management team to ensure that its activities are carried out effectively. In addition, an ongoing review of the project is carried out to objectively evaluate its effectiveness and ensure that satisfactory results are achieved.

*2) Green transformation (GX) is often narrowly interpreted as the structural changes in industry and social and economic shifts intended to control climate change caused by the release of greenhouse gases and thus generate economic growth. However, we take a broader perspective in this project and define GX as the social transformation required to better manage the shared global environment and pass it on to future generations. Consequently, students working in all fields related to human activity, that is all areas of research, from science and engineering to the social sciences and humanities, are eligible for this program. We believe that collaboration of professionals in the humanities and social sciences with those in science and technology is key to the success of GX.

Figure 1: Green transformation (GX) Figure. 2: Objectives and outline of SPRING GX

Figure 3: GX core programs Figure 4: WINGS advanced skill development programs

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2. Eligibility

To apply for this project, you must be a student in a Doctoral program (D1, D2, D3) or a 4-year Doctoral program (D1, D2, D3, D4) at the University of Tokyo (UTokyo) or be planning to enroll in a Doctoral program at UTokyo in October 2021. You must also fulfill all of the requirements below: ・ You fully understand the purpose of the project, as well as the project requirements and other rules, and will

cooperate with activities related to the project. ・ You agree to apply for the JSPS Research Fellowship for Young Scientists, and should you be accepted, you

also agree to stay in the project. ・ You are eager to participate in overseas assignments, internships in industry, and transferable skills programs.

However, the following students (status on October 1, 2021) are not eligible to apply: ・ Students who have exceeded the standard program duration, students on a leave of absence ・ International students awarded Japanese government scholarships, international students sponsored by foreign

governments, students with a Research Fellowship for Young Scientists (DC) from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), students receiving the University Fellowship Creation Project for Innovation in Science and Technology from MEXT, students in the MEXT Doctoral Program for World-leading Innovative and Smart Education (WISE Program)

・ Program for Leading Graduate Schools students, World-leading Innovative Graduate Study Program (WINGS) students

・ Students receiving financial support of over 160,000 yen per month from other programs of the University of Tokyo or national research and development agencies

・ Students who work for a company and have a stable income from salary or executive compensation that is sufficient to cover their living expenses (2.4 million yen per year or more)

Note: Students may not receive dual funding from SPRING GX and other programs of the University of Tokyo (excluding TA salary).

3. Selection method

Project students will be selected on the basis of their application documents.

4. Number of students to be admitted

600

5. Selection announcement and enrollment procedures

（１） The selection results will be sent to all applicants by email (sent to the email address on the application form) around the end of October 2021.

（２） Enrollment documents will be emailed to successful applicants. Those who have been accepted must finish the necessary procedures (submitting the enrollment documents) by the specified date.

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6. Application procedures

（１） Application documents (a) Applicant Information Access the online application form through the link on the application webpage (you are required to sign in with your UTokyo account) and input the required contents. At that time, choose which WINGS you want to be associated with. (b) Application documents (Research proposal and its relationship to green transformation; Status of your research activities)Download the application document file from the application webpage, fill in the document, and upload the electronic file (PDF file converted from the completed WORD file) from the specified section in the online application form. (c) Permission from your academic supervisor After application submission through the online application form, the system will automatically send an email to the email address of your academic supervisor entered in the applicant information section in (a). The email will request your academic supervisor to complete a confirmation form. Your academic supervisor is required to access the specified confirmation form by signing in with their UTokyo account, and to confirm your application (*1, *2). *1. Please note that the confirmation request will not be sent to the supervisor until the applicant has completed the online application. *2. You must obtain the academic supervisor̓ s permission prior to submission of your application)

（２） Application deadline For doctoral students currently enrolled as of September 2021: October 5, 2021 (TUE) 15:00 (Japan Standard Time) For D1 students enrolling in 2021 autumn semester: : October 12, 2021 (TUE) 15:00 (Japan Standard Time) Complete the application well in advance as the server may become busy just before the deadline.

7. Enrollment period

Students will be enrolled in the project until they complete the Doctoral program (within the standard program duration).

8. Financial support

Students will receive a monthly grant of 180,000 yen. We also plan to provide each student with 340,000 yen per year for research grant. In addition, applications for overseas travel expenses may be paid after evaluation by the Project Officer. Students will become not eligible to receive the monthly grant and the annual research grant from this project once they are selected as a Research Fellowship for Young Scientists of JSPS.

The monthly grant (for living expenses) is treated as miscellaneous income for tax purposes and is subject to income tax and residence tax. Recipients must thus file a tax return to the National Tax Agency. Please also check the following points and inform those responsible for your support (e.g., your parents) as necessary: ・ You are responsible for carrying out the necessary procedures regarding social insurance, pension, etc.

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・ Contact the workplace of the person responsible for your support (e.g., your parents) regarding health insurance and dependents ̓allowance.

・ Contact your local tax office regarding dependents ̓allowance on your income tax.

9. Notes

（１） In principle, only applications for which all of the necessary documents are submitted by the deadline will be considered.

（２） Under no circumstances may an applicant change the contents of their application once it has been submitted.

（３） For unforeseen reasons, changes may be made to these guidelines or the application procedures. In such cases, an announcement will be made to potential applicants.

（４） Personal information such as name made known to SPRING GX through the application process will be used for the following purposes: (a) selection of SPRING GX students (application processing and selection), (b) announcement of selected applicants, (c) enrollment procedures, and (d) management of the project, including career development and academic content, (e) follow-up surveys, (f) payment of monthly grants and research grants. Some personal information may be shared with the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST).

（５） Any student who is found to have made a false statement in their application, even after being selected to join the project, may have their status as a SPRING GX student removed retroactively.

（６） The successful applicants ̓name will be published on the university website. （７） The successful applicants must take research ethics training and compliance training.

10. Contact Information

SPRING GX Office Email: gxoffice.adm@gs.mail.u-tokyo.ac.jp