A VISIT BY MR. KOICHI ISHIZUKA FROM SUMITOMO FOUNDATION

On June 09, 2017, after his introduction of the Sumitomo Foundation at the HCM City University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Mr. Koichi Ishizuka paid a visit to the Center for Vietnamese and Southeast Asian Studies (CVSEAS). Before that, he had had a series of talks at Hanoi University of Languages and International Studies, Hanoi University of Science and Technology, Hue University, Can Tho University, etc., hoping that there would be more applications from Vietnam, which will contribute to promoting exchanges in scientific research between the two countries.

As a non-profit organization founded in 1991, the Sumitomo Foundation is comprised of 20 companies aimed at providing grants for scientific studies and projects on issues facing humankind such as culture and environment. The Sumitomo Foundation offers 5 funded programs, but in the seminar, Mr. Koichi mainly focused on briefing about Japan-related research projects. The grants from this foundation are specially given to conduct research, not to research results. The duration of each project to receive grants is one year, but it can be extended for a maximum of two years with a fund up to 2 million yen.

He also advised that candidates should read regulations on financial issues carefully and pay close attention to their chosen research subject, which needs to be an important, practical and original topic. A few research projects from Vietnam which were awarded grants in 2016 include “Study on waste treatment model in Okimachi city, Japan. Applicable possibility in Danag city of Vietnam” or “Social Supports for People with Disabilities in Japan: Models and Implications for Vietnam”.  

Mr. Koichi emphasized that the fund is open to everyone, irrespective of age, division and region. In 2016 there were 49 applications from Vietnam, and 5 projects were selected. In 2017 applications will be accepted from September 01, 2017 to October 31, 2017. The results are scheduled to be announced in March 2018 and chosen projects will be implemented in April 2018. With quite few applications from the South (only 12 out of 49 nationwide), Mr. Koichi Ishizuka hopes that Southern institutions and agencies will be more active in order to increase their chances of receiving grants.

Dr. Tran Dinh Lam highly appreciates the benefits that the Sumitomo Foundation brings to society as well as the big incentive it offers to Vietnamese researchers and professors so they can conduct useful studies, contributing to strengthening the Vietnam – Japan relations.

Mr. Koichi Ishizuka at the seminar at the HCM City University of Social Sciences and Humanities.

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