Tokyo Institute of Technology,School and Graduate School of Bioscience and Biotechnology,Global COE Program

21st Century COE Program

Targeted Support for Creating World-standard Research and Education Bases (Centers of Excellence)

Based on a MEXT report entitled "A Policy for the Structural Reform of Universities," this program was established in 2002 to cultivate a competitive academic environment among Japanese universities by giving targeted support to the creation of world-standard research and education bases (centers of excellence). By thus raising the standard of both education and research at them, the program seeks to elevate Japanese universities to the world's highest echelons, while fostering people of talent and creativity who will be qualified to assume roles as world leaders.
In carrying out this program, JSPS established the "21st Century COE program committee," chaired by Dr. Leo Esaki, a 1973 Nobel laureate in Physics, to oversee program implementation.

Global COE Program

Based on assessments of the "21st Century COE Program" and verifications of its results to date carried out by Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) from FY2002, a decision was made to establish the "Global COE (Centers of Excellence) Program". The program will provide funding support for establishing education and research centers that perform at the apex of global excellence to elevate the international competitiveness of the Japanese universities. The program will strengthen and enhance the education and research functions of graduate schools, to foster highly creative young researchers who will go on to become world leaders in their respective fields through experiencing and practicing research of the highest world standard. JSPS has established the "Global COE Program Committee" to oversee the grant selection process and COE performance assessment under the program.