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- Call for Applicants for the Ninth Monodzukuri Nippon Grand Awards
Call for Applicants for the Ninth Monodzukuri Nippon Grand Awards
May 20, 2021
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology collaboratively conduct the Monodzukuri Nippon Grand Awards program, which is an award program presented by the Prime Minister to recognize people who lead the front line in manufacturing (monodzukuri) fields.
METI will start a call for applicants for the awards on May 20, 2021.
1. Outline of the Monodzukuri Nippon Grand Awards
The Monodzukuri Nippon Grand Awards is a program of awards presented by the Prime Minister to commend people from various generations who lead the front line in manufacturing fields, and in particular those who have been recognized as exceptional. It aims to make sure that the manufacturing methods and know-how that support Japan's industrial and cultural development and significantly contribute to the richness of its citizens’ lives are passed on and further developed, while flexibly meeting the changes brought about by new business environments.
Since its inauguration in 2005, the program has been held every two years, and will be held for the ninth time in 2021.
[Monodzukuri Nippon Grand Awards logo mark]
2. Details of applicants to be selected
METI will recognize people who lead the front line in manufacturing fields, by granting the Prime Minister's Award, the METI Minister's Award, and several other awards.
In the previous eight award programs, METI has granted the Prime Minister's Award to 49 winners and the METI Minister's Award to 139 winners, who were selected from 3,679 applicants in total.
3. Categories of the awards
METI will call for applicants for the following five categories. For the past winners of each category, please visit the website below:
[i] Manufacturing and production process (Prime Minister's Award, METI Minister's Award, and other awards)
These awards will be granted to individuals or groups that have achieved a production revolution, such as dramatic streamlining of production processes, by developing and introducing breakthrough systems and methods in manufacturing and production processes, and that have created new added value through providing service solutions, etc.
[ii] Product and technology development (Prime Minister's Award, METI Minister's Award, and other awards)
These awards will be granted to individuals or groups that have achieved development and commercialization of outstanding and breakthrough products, and parts or materials that have created new added value through providing service solutions, etc.
[iii] Application of traditional technology (Prime Minister's Award, METI Minister's Award, and other awards)
These awards will be granted to individuals or groups that have achieved development and commercialization of innovative and unique products, parts, materials or production processes, through their creativity and application of regional-based cultural technology and traditional skills which have been passed on by masters and that have created new added value through providing service solutions, etc.
[iv] Connected Industries-outstanding collaboration (METI Minister's Award and other awards)
These awards will be granted to individuals or groups that have created new added value or that have advanced efforts toward solutions to challenges by connecting a variety of things, e.g., machines, technologies and people, through data sharing and other initiatives in harmonization areas.
[v] Human resource development support (METI Minister's Award and other awards)
These awards will be granted to enterprises, non-profit organizations (NPOs), and other organizations*1 that are recognized for the excellence of wide-ranging supportive activities for fostering promising human resources in the field of monodzukuri in Japan, e.g., fostering human resources*2 who have expertise in digitalization and are able to address the fourth industrial revolution.
1. Enterprises, NPOs and other organizations with legal personality are eligible for this category, excluding schools.
2. Companies that have been supporting internal activities involving development of human resources who have expertise in digitalization can also apply for this category. However, in this category, METI will particularly recognize enterprises or NPOs that have been supporting human resource development targeting a wide range of people, such as students, new graduates and employees in other companies beyond the border of internal activities for human resource development.
For further details, such as eligibility, past winners, and other information, as well as a downloadable application form, please visit the following website:
4. Future schedule (tentative)
May 20, 2021 (Thu.): Start of the call
August 31, 2021 (Tue.): Close of the call (applications must arrive by this date)
From autumn 2021: Primary and secondary examinations
After autumn 2022: Announcement of winners and award ceremony
Division in Charge
Manufacturing Industries Policy Office, Manufacturing Industries Bureau