I am SUGINO Tsuyoshi. I assumed the presidency of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science to 1 April 2022. I look forward to your continued support as we at JSPS work together with partners around the world to advance science and enrich society.

Scientific research acts as a pioneer on the frontiers of human knowledge. Knowledge created and systematized through research in various scientific fields is passed on as valuable human cultural assets to following generations while, at the same time, it presents them with new challenges. It is through the untiring pursuit of scientific research that new technologies were developed that have contributed the improvement of human welfare and the solution of global issues while spawning new concepts that have revolutionized society. The history of scientific advances teaches us the importance of “knowledge circulation.” Knowledge generated through scientific research is the wellspring of innovation, and the motive force that impels future societal and national development. The world’s most leading scientific research is born from the free ideas of individual researchers who unconstrained by conventional concepts boldly challenges what’s thought impossible to achieve. To ceaselessly create and circulate knowledge, it will be all the more important at this time to foster the talented people who will shoulder the advancement of next-generation scientific research.

Founded in 1932 with an imperial endowment, the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science is the Japan’s sole independent funding agency dedicated to the advancement of science across a wide and diverse spectrum of program initiatives, including the funding of scientific research, the promotion of international scientific exchange, and the reform and internationalization of Japanese universities. JSPS provides stable and steady support for the activities of researchers.

In 2018, JSPS entered its fourth 5-year period of mid-term objectives, which comprise the five pillars upon which JSPS vigorously carries out programs that are essential to the advancement of science. These pillars are 1) Creating diverse genres of world-level knowledge, 2) Fostering the next generation of talented researchers who will take on the challenge of pioneering new knowledge, 3) Enhancing the education and research functions of universities by leveraging their unique strengths, 4) Building a robust international research infrastructure, and 5) Creating a comprehensive base for analyzing science information. As we approach the final year of this five-year period, we are reviewing our 4th mid-term plan as it winds down while considering the roles that JSPS will advance in the next period.

As the COVID-19 continues to menace societies throughout the world, it is hampering the implementation of scientific research activities. In response, JSPS is taking special measures to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on researchers participating in our various programs and to prevent the situation from increasing their administrative burden. We are doing so flexibly in ways that take their needs and circumstances into account.

JSPS provides comprehensive support for researchers who boldly challenge the pioneering of new knowledge across the various fields of the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. While resolutely improving our programs and reforming our systems from a stronger researcher perspective, JSPS is steadfastly working to both effectively and efficiently implement its operations and to cultivate an environment in which researchers can both freely and fully pursue their activities.

While working to meet the expectations of the public—including, of course, researchers in every field and young researchers who aspire to academic careers—JSPS will use the power of knowledge to propel Japan’s contributions to the global community.

As we work to move this agenda forward, I wish to ask you for your greatly appreciated guidance, support and cooperation.