Suzuki Foundation announces latest scientific research funding

On 19 February 2010, the Suzuki Foundation selected 34 original, advanced scientific research initiatives to receive fiscal-2009 financial assistance worth a total of ¥48.6 million.

(1)Financial assistance for scientific research projects in progress

The Suzuki Foundation has decided to support 33 scientific research projects that are in progress: two projects on production-engineering technologies; six projects on environmental and energy-saving technologies; 10 projects on measurement-, control-, and analysis-related technologies; eight projects on material-related technologies; one project on electronics- and information-related technologies; four projects on human engineering and medical technologies; and two projects on robot-related technologies.

(2)Financial assistance for proposed scientific research project

As well as supporting scientific research projects that are under way, the Suzuki Foundation selects contemporary problems that it believes need to be resolved, invites proposals for research projects to address them, and selects the most outstanding proposals for funding. It funds each selected project for two years and has selected eight projects in the last six years. For fiscal 2009, the foundation has decided on ¥8.56 million in funding for a proposed environment-, resource-, and energy-related initiative to develop a thermoelectric conversion material capable of efficiently converting waste heat from automobiles and other sources into electric power. The project encompasses development of a high-performance thermoelectric conversion material based on a lead-free IV-VI semiconductor and basic research aimed at practical application of the material.

About the Suzuki Foundation

Suzuki Motor Corporation established the Suzuki Foundation in March 1980 to mark its 60th anniversary. Thus far, the foundation has supported 1,077 scientific research projects with financial assistance worth a total of ¥1.2 billion. The latest round of financial assistance for scientific research is the 30th to be announced by the foundation.

The Suzuki Foundation also conducts a wide range of other activities. Notably, it promotes awareness of research results and further development of research projects by funding symposiums, subsidizing transportation and accommodation for Japanese researchers attending overseas academic meetings, subsidizing programs in Japan for researchers from Budapest University of Technology and Economics, and publishing a foundation newsletter.

Overview of the Suzuki Foundation