The Call for Applications for FY 2025 International Joint Research with Research Fund is open until January 20 (Mon), 2025, 12:00 noon (JST). Successful projects will receive research funds from the International Joint Digital Archiving Center for Japanese Art and Culture (ARC-iJAC), Art Research Center, Ritsumeikan University.

Learn more about the application here.

• Guidelines
• Application Form

About the Joint Research Projects

（A）International Fixed Theme Project

An international joint research project that works on one of the following themes set by the ARC, with its digital system infrastructure and technical support provided.

1.　Joint research to digitally archive and utilize Japanese art and cultural resources at institutions outside Japan.
2.　Joint research to construct and/or utilize digital archives targeting cultural resources, such as World Cultural Heritage and intangible cultural heritage in Japan and beyond, creating possibilities for international collaborative studies.
3.　Joint research to contribute to global society beyond the Humanities by suggesting new ways to utilize cultural resources through the development of digital-archiving technologies to promote digital archives.

（B）International Open Theme Project

An international joint research project that works on a theme set by the research team. The project is required to utilize the ARC's digital resources listed below and related research material for its research. The leader of the research project should be based outside Japan.

（C）Open Theme Project

A joint research project that works on a theme set by the research team. The project is required to utilize the ARC's digital resources listed below and related research material for its research.

The list of ARC's digital resources for Types (B) and (C):
Japanese history, historical GIS, Japanese arts/craft traditions, Japanese literature, Japanese performing arts, Japanese movies, videogames, TV commercials, etc.

Please note that Types (B) and (C) of this fund are designated as start-up funds to start research by using the research environment of the Center. In general, research projects funded in FY 2024 will not be granted funding for FY 2025. From the second year on, the research project is expected to move onto the "Joint Research to Utilize the Center's Facilities and Equipment" (D) type or "Joint Research to Utilize the Center's Database System" (F) type project, which will secure your free access to the Center's technical support, databases and other digital research infrastructure (ARC Research Space). If you wish to continue your research in FY 2025 on the same theme as the project selected in FY 2024, please submit an application that clearly explains the reason why you were unable to start in earnest in FY 2024.

How to submit a proposal, i.e., "Application Form for International Joint Research with Research Fund"

Please submit the application form for FY 2025 International Joint Research with Research Fund by e-mail. We will send you a confirmation of receipt by the next business day. If you did not receive a confirmation by then, please contact the Office of the Art Research Center.

Application deadline:

Mon, January 20, 2025, 12:00 noon (JST)

Submit to:

Office of the Art Research Center
Research Office at Kinugasa Campus
Ritsumeikan University
E-mail：r-darc (at) st.ritsumei.ac.jp (change "at" to @)

Selection process and notification

The International Joint Research Reviewing Committee of the Art Research Center will evaluate the research proposals. We will send out the evaluation results in late March 2025 by e-mail.
Please note that we consider the following points when evaluating proposals:

- Whether or not a project utilizes the database system, digital research resources, and related research materials operated by the ARC to promote international joint research.

- Whether or not a project can make progress in constructing its own digital archive and develop the research by utilizing the ARC Research Space.

- Whether or not the research plan and research expenses have been well thought out to achieve the research objectives.

- Whether or not a project includes plans to develop its activities internationally. (For Types A and B)

- Whether or not a project is expected to get involved in international activities.

- Whether or not a project is interdisciplinary, combining the humanities and sciences.

- Whether or not a project helps to foster young researchers, such as graduate students and scholars who who received the PhD degree within the past 8 years.

- Whether or not a project is expected to develop new research activities and disseminate research results that would be feasible in the society after the spread of COVID-19 (society coexisting with COVID- 19).

Others

Regarding the accreditation for the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) International Joint Usage/Research Center Program:

We are currently in the process of applying for a continuation of our status as a MEXT International Joint Usage/Research Center. There is a possibility that our application may not be accepted. However, even in that event we will still grant funding for joint research projects independently through the Art Research Center (ARC) in FY 2025.

Contact
Emily Li (Ms.), Tomoko Kubota (Ms.)

International Joint Digital Archiving Center for Japanese Art and Culture (ARC-iJAC)
Office of the Art Research Center, Research Office at Kinugasa Campus
Ritsumeikan University
E-mail：r-darc (at) st.ritsumei.ac.jp (change "at" to @)