DLab Challenge Research Grant 2021 awarded to four diverse teams － Asst. Prof. Ken Masuya and Asst. Prof. Jiang Zhu are among the grant recipients －

Tokyo Tech's DLab has awarded four research teams with the "DLab Challenge: Laboratory for Design of Social Innovation Global Networks (DLab) Research Grant for Academic Year 2021." A ceremony was held on July 8 to present successful applicants with their notices of award. This is the second cohort of research teams to receive the grant after its launch in academic year 2020.

The DLab Challenge Research Grant supports research connected to the realization of the future image and scenarios created by DLab, and research that contributes to the creation of new disciplines required to realize this image. The grant also aims to help individual researchers discover the links between their own research and the future of society, conduct research with a backcasting approach, and heighten awareness of the societal impact of their research.

At the July 8 event, DLab Director Isao Satoh and Associate Director Naoto Ohtake, who also served as the head of the review board, shared comments and future expectations regarding each selected research topic. The principal investigators and collaborators who were present also openly exchanged opinions regarding the projects, creating an opportunity to foster new ideas and networks for future research activities.

Asst. Prof. Sangyeop Lee,  Institute of Innovative Research

Asst. Prof. Kei Sasaki,  School of Environment and Society

Hyunsoo Kim,  Administrative Support Staff,   School of Environment and Society

*Senior researcher  Shinsuke Hara,  National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT)

*Masao Fujita, Engineer,  Maxell, Ltd.

Asst. Prof. Yuki Taoka,  School of Environment and Society

Assoc. Prof. Momoko Nakatani,  School of Engineering

Assoc. Prof. Shoichi Hasegawa,  Institute of Innovative Research

*Dr. Chen Hao, Post-Doctoral Researcher,  Delft University of Technology

*Assoc. Prof. Celine Mougenot,  Imperial College London

*Assoc. Prof. Mika Yasuoka,  Roskilde University

*Nana Hamaguchi, Lead UX Designer,  NTT TechnoCross Corporation

Asst. Prof. Yuno Tanaka,  School of Environment and Society

Asst. Prof. Yuta Kurashina,  School of Materials and Chemical Technology

Asst. Prof. Jin Takahashi,  School of Computing

Asst. Prof. Kazuhide Nakayama,  School of Environment and Society

Asst. Prof. Kenichiro Sano,  School of Engineering

Assoc. Prof. Tatsuya Miura,  School of Science

Asst. Prof. Yohei Yamaguchi,  School of Science

Asst. Prof. Ken Masuya,  School of Engineering

Asst. Prof. Kohei Sato,  School of Life Science and Technology

*Research Associate, Junya Yamauchi,  The University of Tokyo

*Asst. Prof. Yasuhiro Nambu,  Kyushu University

Asst. Prof. Yuval Kahlon, School of Environment and Society

Assoc. Prof. Takuya Oki,  School of Environment and Society

Assoc. Prof. Momoko Nakatani,  School of Engineering

Asst. Prof. Jiang Zhu,  School of Engineering

*Dr. Santosh Maurya,  Researcher,  Hitachi Ltd.

Note: Principal investigator followed by joint researchers 
*Collaborator

Bold：Faculty in Department of Mechanical Engineering

The objective of this grant is to help create a better future through science and technology by supporting research that contributes to the realization of the image of future society created by DLab, or research that advances the creation of new academic disciplines that are required to realize this image.

Additionally, this grant aims to help individual researchers discover the links between their own research and the future of society, conduct research with a backcasting approach, and heighten awareness of the societal impact of their research.

Applications must be submitted by a team that includes at least two members. These members should ideally include experts from at least two different fields. The representative (applicant) must be an associate professor, lecturer, or assistant professor employed by Tokyo Tech.

In principle, grants will continue until the end of the third academic year at the latest. Funding decisions for the third academic year will be made by the review board before the completion of the second year.