Contents
1. What is Nanotechnology Support/Nanonet Program?
2. Research Subjects
3. Beamlines and the Number of Shifts Available to Users
4. Proposal Submission
5. Submission Deadline: December 9, 2010, 10:00 am (Japan Time)
6. Proposal Review Process
7. Required Reports
8. User Fees
9. Consultation
10. Other
11. Contact

1. What is Nanotechnology Support/Nanonet Program?

The Priority Nanotechnology Support Program administered by the Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute (JASRI) and the Nanotechnology Researchers Network Project for the Innovation Support Program administered by the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) and the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) commissioned by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) intend to support research in the field of nanotechnology and nano-materials for innovation creation in 5-10 years time. Please note that under the programs targeting the specific research, only non-proprietary research is available. Interested candidates are encouraged to apply. Please prepare your proposal application using the following guidelines and instructions.

2. Research Subjects

[Nanotechnology Support Proposal] (Public and RIKEN Beamlines)
Based on recommendations made by the external review panel, the Nanotechnology Support Program supports only the Priority Fields from 2010B. Instead, three new subjects have been added to the Priority Fields: NF4, NF5 and NF6. Furthermore, under the government project aimed at creating a low-carbon society, the nanobeam X-ray fluorescence spectrometer at BL39XU and the nanobeam X-ray absorption spectrometer at BL37XU will become available to users from 2011A.
Priority Fields
[NF1] Future magnetic recording materials
　Research related to next-generation magnetic recording materials such as next-generation magnetic recording media, next-generation magnetic heads, magnetic nano particles, magnetic nano-wires, etc.
[NF2] Energy conversion and/or storage materials
　Research related to energy conversion and storage such as secondary batteries, fuel cells, solar cells, thermoelectric conversion materials, gas adsorption materials, etc.
[NF3] Nanoelectronics materials
　Research on nanoelectronics materials such as silicon (LSI) materials, graphene electronics materials, compound semiconductor nano structures, spintronics materials, oxide electronics materials, etc.
[NF4] Nano-medical/nano-biotechnology researches
　Medical/bio research using nanotechnology such as drug delivery system, nanomaterials for medical applications, biomolecular imaging, nano-bio-sensing, etc.
[NF5] Environmental nanotechnology
　Environmental technology research using nanotechnology such as technology for removing toxic substances, environmental cleanup technology, biodegradable materials, environmental catalysts, environmental assessment technology, etc.
[NF6] Advanced nano-scale measurement techniques
　Research related to the development of new nano-scale measurement techniques.

[Nanonet Support Proposal](Contract Beamlines)
Priority Fields
[NF1] Future magnetic recording materials
　Research related to next-generation magnetic recording materials such as next-generation magnetic recording media, next-generation magnetic heads, magnetic nano particles, magnetic nano-wires, etc.
[NF2] Energy conversion and/or storage materials
　Research related to energy conversion and storage such as secondary batteries, fuel cells, solar cells, thermoelectric conversion materials, gas adsorption materials, etc.
[NF3] Nanoelectronics materials
　Research on nanoelectronics materials such as silicon (LSI) materials, graphene electronics materials, compound semiconductor nano structures, spintronics materials, oxide electronics materials, etc.
New Fields
[NA1] New functional nanoparticles
　Materials research utilizing new functions appearing in nanoparticulation or other advanced catalysts developments.
[NA2] New functional nanolayers
　Research related to thin film functional materials controlled at nanoscale level such as organic electronics materials research.
[NA3] New interdisciplinary nanotechnology researches
　Research leading to new functions and phenomena obtained by interdisciplinary research between nano materials research and other area of research (biology, medicine, environment, etc.).
[NA4] New nanoscale measurement techniques
　Research related to the development of new nano-scale measurement techniques.

3. Beamlines and the Number of Shifts Available to Users

[Research Period]
         From April through July 2011
         (User beamtime for BL37XU and BL39XU is scheduled to start in late May 2011.
          For details, please read the "Call for 2011A SPring-8 Research Proposals - Overview -.")

[Beamlines and the Number of Shifts Available to Users]
Priority Nanotechnology Support Proposals (Public and RIKEN Beamlines)

Nanonet Support Proposals (Contract Beamlines)

Prior consultation is required before submitting nanonet support proposals. Please contact and consult with the personnel in charge of each beamline.

For details about each beamline, please click here:

Note: The number of shifts available at BL37XU and BL39XU will be 75 shifts each, accounting for 30% of total user beamtime (10% increase from the previous period for the government project aimed at creating a low-carbon society).

Several Bunch Mode Operation in 2011A
If you have a preference for a particular operating mode, choose from the pull-down menu on the Basic Information page of the online application form, and explain the difference in efficiency between your first- and second-choice modes in the box provided for "Others."

For several bunch modes for 2011A, click here.

4. Proposal Submission

Applicants/project leaders are required to submit proposals online through the web-based proposal submission system. Before starting the application process, please first carefully read the "Call for 2011A SPring-8 Research Proposals -Overview-."

User Information Website (UI site) > Log in to My Page > Proposal Submission > New > Non-Proprietary Research > Nanotechnology Support Proposal or Nanonet Support Proposal

It is possible that the web browser crashes while working on an application, so you are strongly encouraged to draft your application offline first using a MS Word template.

For step-by-step instructions on how to submit proposals, please see this page.

In addition to the information required of general proposals, applicants of nanotechnology-related proposals are required to provide the research subject, the significance of the proposal in the field of nanotechnology research, and the specific field(s) of science, technology, or industry that is (are) expected to be developed through the conduct of proposed research.

Before applying for beamtime, please check the status of experimental stations. If you have any questions, please contact the Beamline Scientist of the desired beamline. If you are not sure what beamline is best suited for your research please contact the Nanotechnology Research Promotion Group (see 9. Consultation).

Important Note about Multiple Applications:
You can submit the same application as a general proposal as well. In such case, please make sure that this is clearly stated in the second box of the "Abstract" page on the online application form. If either of your nanotechnology proposal or general proposal is adopted, the other proposal is rejected.

Please note, however, that a proposal with the same application details may not be submitted as an industrial application proposal: if this happens, both proposals will be disqualified.

5. Submission Deadline

Thursday, December 9, 2010, 10:00 am (Japan time)

To avoid last minute technical problems and possible network congestion caused by heavy traffic, you are strongly encouraged to complete and submit your application well in advance of the deadline. If you have trouble completing/submitting your application online, please contact the SPring-8 Users Office (see 11. Contact) before the deadline.

Upon successful submission, you will receive a confirmation email with a copy of Agreement (Rules for Users) in PDF format attached to it. If you do not receive the confirmation email, please log in to the system and check if your proposal has been submitted successfully.

Deadline for Proposals 2011B (next half-year research term):
Deadline for 2011B proposals (second half of fiscal 2011) is scheduled for late June 2011.

6. Proposal Review Process

Review Criteria:
Just as general proposals, scientific and technological significance, necessity of SPring-8 as a research tool, technical feasibility, and safety of the experiment are fully peer reviewed. In addition, scientific and technological significance as a nanotechnology proposal and research strategies are reviewed as well. Please note that as for applicants who have conducted experiments at SPring-8 in the past, the number of papers registered with the SPring-8 Publications Database is also considered during peer review in determining, in part, the merits of your proposal.

Notification of Review Results:
Applicants will be notified of the review results in writing mid-February 2011.

7. Required Reports

After the experiment is completed, project leaders are required to submit an "Experiment Report for Nanotechnology Research" (2 pages of A4 paper) as well as a "SPring-8 Experiment Report."

Two weeks after the deadline for all Experiment Report submissions (60 days + two weeks after the end of each half-year research term), the submitted experiment reports will be incorporated into the experiment report database with search capabilities and made available to the public on the UI site.

Please also be sure to disseminate your research results through publication in refereed journals, oral conference presentations, etc. and register the results with the SPring-8 Publications Database as soon as they are published.

8. User Fees

For information about the User Fees, read the "Call for 2011A SPring-8 Research Proposals - Overview -."
Click here for more details.

9. Consultation

The Nanotechnology Research Promotion Group is available for consultation on a variety of nanotechnology experiments using synchrotron radiation. You are welcome to send your questions directly to nano_tech@spring8.or.jp.

10. Other

The Priority Nanotechnology Support Program and the Nanotechnology Researchers Network Project for the Innovation Support Program are administered under the same rules. Since these two programs are conducted by different organizations, however, procedures for user fee collection may vary depending on the organization.

11. Contact (for questions about online proposal submission)

SPring-8 Users Office, JASRI
1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo-cho, Sayo-gun, Hyogo 679-5198 Japan
Fax: +81-(0)791-58-0965
email: sp8jasri@spring8.or.jp