TOKYO, Sept 1, 2025 - (JCN Newswire) - TANAKA Memorial Foundation (Representative Director: Hideya Okamoto) has announced that it will be accept applications for research themes for FY2025 Precious Metals Research Grants from September 1 to November 28, 2025. This grant program aims to contribute to the development of science and industry by promoting innovative research, technological development, and product development related to precious metals. Applications for the grants are open to educational institutions and public research institutes in Japan.This year markes the 27th edition of the research grant program. Guided by the catchphrase “Forging a Better Tomorrow with “Hirameki” and “Kirameki.”” the Foundation encourages research themes that contribute toward the creation of a better future by fusing the creativity of researchers and the potential of precious metals.
Recipients will receive a total of 20 million yen in research grants, including 10 million yen—the highest amount—under the Umekichi Tanaka Award; 3 million yen under the Ichiro Tanaka Award; 1 million yen under the Innovative Precious Metals Award; 300,000 yen under the HIRAMEKI Award; and 1 million yen under the KIRAMEKI Award. The Umekichi Tanaka Award is named after founder Umekichi Tanaka, who strove to expand industrial use of precious metals. The Ichiro Tanaka Award honors Ichiro Tanaka, the company’s second president, who strove for international collaboration.
Applications can be submitted using the application form on TANAKA Memorial Foundation website (https://tanaka-foundation.or.jp). Following a rigorous review process, the grant recipients will be announced around the end of March 2026.
TANAKA Memorial Foundation aims to contribute to the development of new potential for precious metals and to the development of science, technology, and the social economy by conducting activities to realize a prosperous society. Through this grant program, the foundation will support a diverse range of research and development that endeavors to create a sustainable future.
Last year, the Ichiro Tanaka Award was presented to “New developments in half-Heusler compounds as highly refractive transparent materials” (Assistant Professor Akihiro Ishii of Tohoku University) and “Establishment of a temperature measurement technique for highly efficient operation of cryogenic fluids using ruthenium complexes” (Professor Yu Matsuda of Waseda University). There was no recipient for the Umekichi Tanaka Award.
Overview of the 2025 Precious Metals Research Grants
Theme
- Themes that involve any of the following: new technologies to which precious metals can make a contribution, research related to precious metals that will bring innovative evolution to products, or research and development of new products using precious metals
Grant Amounts
- Umekichi Tanaka Award: 10,000,000 yen
- Ichiro Tanaka Award: 3,000,000 yen
- Innovative Precious Metals Award: 1,000,000 yen
- HIRAMEKI Award: 300,000 yen
- KIRAMEKI Award: 1,000,000 yen
*The grant amount is treated as a scholarship donation.
*Awards may not be granted in some cases.
Eligible Candidates
- Personnel who work for educational institutions in Japan (universities, graduate schools, or technical colleges) or public and related research institutions may participate.
*As long as the applicant is affiliated with a research institution in Japan, the base of activity can be in Japan or overseas.
*KIRAMEKI Awards are for researchers under the age of 37 as of April 1, 2025.
URL https://www.acnnewswire.com/docs/files/2025901.pdf