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Global News

17 February 2017

Suzuki Foundation Announces Research Funding for Fiscal 2016
- Total disbursements of ¥97.71 million
- Of which 38 research funding worth a total of ¥78.00 million

On 17 February, 2017, the Suzuki Foundation (Chairman: Osamu Suzuki) selected 38 scientific technology and proposed subject research initiatives from universities and other research institutes in Japan to receive fiscal 2016 financial assistance worth a total of ¥78.00 million. The Foundation also announced other financial assistance, bringing its overall fiscal 2016 disbursements to ¥97.71 million.

Financial assistance for fiscal 2016 Number of assistance Disbursements
(1) Scientific technology research projects 36 ¥39.81 million
(2) Proposed subject research projects 2 ¥38.19 million
Total of (1) + (2) 38 ¥78.00 million
(3) Other financial assistance and activities - ¥19.71 million
Total amount of disbursements   ¥97.71 million

(1) Financial assistance for scientific technology research projects

The Suzuki Foundation has decided to support 36 original, advanced scientific technology research projects on seven fields: production technologies; environmental and resource energy technologies; measurement, control, and analysis technologies; material technologies; electric, electronics, and information technologies; human engineering and medical technologies; and robot technologies. The Foundation’s financial assistance for these 36 projects totals ¥39.81 million.

(2) Financial assistance for proposed subject research projects

As well as supporting fundamental and original research projects in the field of natural sciences, since fiscal 2003, the Suzuki Foundation has been selecting contemporary problems that it believes need to be resolved, inviting proposals for research projects to address them, and selecting the most outstanding proposals for funding. It funds each selected project for two years and has selected 23 projects in the past 14 years.

For fiscal 2016, the Foundation has decided to fund the following two researches that lead to innovative weight reduction of transportation, which is represented by automobiles, for the preservation of global environment and the conservation of energy resources.

  • 1) “Development of High-strength Steel Lightweight Hollow Part Joined by Hemming Using Press Machine”, which joins hollow part by pressing.
  • 2) “Development of Smart Pseudoelastic Material with Organosuperelasticity”, aimed to create lightweight restored material that combines rigidity and flexibility upon impact.

The Foundation will disburse a total of ¥38.19 million for these two projects and for the second year of funding for three projects that it selected in the previous year.

(3) Other financial assistance and activities

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, and subsidizing programs in Japan for researchers from overseas including Budapest University of Technology and Economics. The Foundation’s fiscal 2016 support for such activities totals ¥19.71 million. The Foundation also publishes a Foundation newsletter.

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 1,516 scientific research projects with financial assistance worth a total of ¥1,716.60 million. The latest round of financial assistance for scientific research is the 37th to be announced by the Foundation.

Overview of the Suzuki Foundation

Chairman: Osamu Suzuki
(Representative Director and Chairman of Suzuki Motor Corporation)
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Total assets: ¥7,488.67 million (as of the end of March 2016)
Goals: The Suzuki Foundation aims to contribute to the development of the Japanese machinery industry and to the national welfare by supporting scientific research related to the production and use of machinery and by disseminating the fruits of such research to the general public.