Tokyo (May 13, 2009) - W-BRIDGE (Waseda-Bridgestone Initiative for Development of Global Environment) announces that beginning today it is inviting submissions for environmental research proposals in connection with its Research and Action Support Program which will run from July 2009 to June 2010. W-BRIDGE is the collaborative research project carried out by Waseda University and Bridgestone Corporation. It is a new type of project providing a framework for tri-party integrated research and action to address the environmental problems shared by all the people of the world. In addition to promoting collaboration between industry and academia, it also invites participation from community members, such as environmental NPOs and civic organizations.

Based on the research areas established by Bridgestone, the W-BRIDGE project invites proposals that incorporate collaboration between universities and members of the public. The W-BRIDGE management team will select proposals from among those submitted, and in addition to providing funding it will also provide advice and support for research activities.

Currently, research project activities for the period from January 2009 through June 2009 are being carried out. At the end of this period, an activities report for the research conducted during the period will be published.

Research proposal submission guidelines are as follows.

• Research and research activities eligible for consideration: Research proposals must fall within the four research areas listed below and must include a research action plan that resolves the problem identified in the proposal.
  
  1. Study and Action Bridging Global Warming Countermeasures and Biodiversity Conservation
  2. Study and Action Bridging Environmental Conservation and Socio-Economic Conditions in Regional Areas
  3. Study and Action Bridging Generations for a Sustainable Future through a Backcasting Method
  4. Study and Action Bridging People in the World to Share New Ideas and Findings for a Sustainable Future
• Research period: From July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010
• Total funding for research: ¥20 million
• Submission requirements: NPO or NGO involved in addressing environmental problems in the above four areas. However, a prerequisite is a joint submission with a full-time academic staff member of Waseda University or a Waseda University affiliate school. (For details, please refer to “Request for Proposals,” downloadable from the W-BRIDGE website.)
• Submission closing date: June 1, 2009 (Monday) (submissions must be received by 6p.m. Tokyo time)
• Submission method: Submission information packs can be requested from the W-BRIDGE secretariat by email (w-bridge@list.waseda.jp) by May 20, 2009.When requesting an information pack, write “Request for W-BRIDGE information pack” in the email subject box; and please include the name and address of your organization and your name, email address, and contact number. When submitting your research proposal, please submit all designated forms.
• Selection method: Selection will be made by the W-BRIDGE Screening Committee based on standards and criteria as determined by W-BRIDGE. The Committee will be made up of specialists in environmental subjects. The selection decisions will be announced by the middle of June 2009, and each applicant will be informed of the outcome by post.

After close examination of the research results obtained through the W-BRIDGE project, Waseda University and Bridgestone intend to disclose this information so that it can be utilized by throughout the world.

Note: The details for submissions can be downloaded from the W-BRIDGE website:
http://www.w-bridge.jp/