We support research conducted by junior and senior high school students on themselves, and help each individual take a step toward changing the world. We create a communicative and presentation environment where students can confidently pursue their research in their own way, and mentors with expertise will support their unprecedented, unique, and creative research ideas.
Any development or research that focuses on one's own characteristics and minority identity
| Subject of application | Junior high school students, high school students, and technical college students (3rd year or younger) who are engaged in research activities Applicants with hearing or visual impairments are also eligible to apply. (Please consult with us if you have any concerns about other applicant characteristics.) |
|---|---|
| Examples of recruitment themes | I want to solve issues that I found because I am a minority. I have a hard time concentrating on conversations with friends in noisy places. I want to find a way to concentrate. Why is it that some days I don't want to go outside? Food availability is limited. We want to create a food environment where people can still enjoy themselves with their families and friends. I want to communicate my thoughts in ways other than speech. I want to find a way to communicate that suits me. I have trouble sleeping when I stay out overnight. I want to find a way to get back to sleep. |
| Usage | Expenses required for research and development (materials, purchase of parts, etc., equipment, transportation, etc., but excluding food and beverage expenses). (excluding food and beverage expenses) |
| Research Support Period | 2026年9月〜2027年3月 |
| Thoughts of the person in charge | Click here to read the interview article. |
| briefing | 今回募集する研究の内容や対象についてもう少し詳しく知りたい方、ご質問のある方は、ぜひオンライン説明会にご参加ください。詳細は近日公開いたします。 Dates: 6月24日（水）17:00-18:00 Subject: Teachers, parents, etc. Contents: You will hear about research from researchers who have conducted studies on themselves, and we will introduce ways to proceed with research and support. Participation Fee: free Click here to apply note (supplementary information) symbol Libanes ID Please log in to the "Application" page and click "Click here to apply". |
| Application Process | Application Process for more information, Application page here Please proceed with the description and application of your research from |
| Message | Are you feeling bewildered, middle and high school students? Perhaps, if you study those feelings thoroughly, it may lead to the first step to change your surroundings and society. If you have never done research before... don't worry, you will have a mentor with you. We look forward to hearing from you! |
| Support | We will consider how to follow up based on the applicant's characteristics, so please feel free to consult us with any concerns. I will support you from the creation of the application form. |
| Other | *In case of sensitive content, the student's name may not be open and a pseudonym may be used when posting on the web or making a presentation. |
| Grant details ①. | 50,000 yen for research |
|---|---|
| Grant details (2) | Research mentoring by self-study experts |
| Grant details ③ | Results Presentation Meeting |
| Number of adoptions | Approx. 3 persons |
| Application period | 2026年6月1日（月）〜2025年7月31日（金）18:00 |
|---|---|
| online briefing |
2026年6月24日（水）17:00-18:00 |
| Application Deadline | 2026年7月31日（金）18:00 |
| Interview period | 2026年8月上旬〜中旬（オンライン面談） |
| Announcement of adoption | 2026年9月上旬 |
| kickoff | 2026年9月中旬 |
| Research grant | 2026年9月末 |
| science castle |
2026年12月12日－13日(土･日) |
| presentation of results | 2027年3月 |
Please review the terms and conditions and the application guidelines on this page, and consult with us if you have any questions about the content.
All middle and high school students who wish to apply are required to register all members of the team, whether they are representatives or not, with their RIBANES ID. The Research Grant Entry screen will appear after you log in to your RIBANES ID, so please register with your RIBANES ID.
If this is part of a school activity, please prepare a consent form for school teachers (for schools); otherwise, please prepare a consent form for the person responsible for the protection of all team members (for individuals). Please download the model of the consent form below.
interpoint (interword separation) Science Castle Research Grant Agreement (for schools and individuals)
Please upload the scanned data of the completed and sealed documents from the application form, and send the original documents to the Science Castle Research Funding Office.
郵送先：株式会社リバネス 人材開発事業部 土屋
Iidabashi Miyuki Building 5F, 1-4 Shimomiyabicho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-0822, Japan
Application page herePlease proceed with the description and application of your research from
In addition, please refer to the following points when writing the following two items when applying for this research grant.
(1) Application item: Why do you want to conduct the research or development (awareness of the representative's personal issues)?
<Points mentioned
Please be specific about how you arrived at the theme of this research, such as what experiences you had and how you felt.
Please also include any reasons why you decided to take on the challenge of research and development, rather than leaving issues and questions unanswered.
(2) Application Item: Anticipated Results and their Significance
<Points mentioned
In addition to the projected results of the research and development, please also describe what you would like the applicant to be like when the research and development is completed (a long-term perspective is fine, not limited to the period of support).
探究テーマというと、自然現象や社会課題など、自分の外側にあるものを調べるイメージがあるかもしれない。しかし、自分自身が今困っていること、周りの人とは少し違うなと感じることも、研究の出発点となる。そうした一人ひとりの切実な違和感を、研究や開発として形にする後押しをしたいという思いから、サイエンスキャッスル研究費 DE&I賞は2023年に生まれた。
人には小さく見えても、本人にとっては切実な違和感がある。そうした自分にとっての一大事を観察し、言葉にし、他者と共有できる問いにしていく。それが、このプログラムで大切にしている「自分研究」だ。自分だけの個人的な課題だと思っていたことも、研究し、発信することで、周囲に理解者が増えたり、同じような違和感を抱える誰かの助けになったりすることがある。これまでのDE&I賞でも、話しかけたいのに声をかけられない理由、教室や保健室で自分が安心できる条件、先延ばししてしまう行動パターンなど、生徒自身の経験や感覚から生まれたテーマが研究されてきた。
自分研究の入口は、周囲の誰かではなく、自分自身の中にある。はじめは、まだうまく言葉になっていなくてもかまわない。その違和感がいつ、どこで、誰といる時に起きるのかを見つめ、記録する、話を聞く、道具を試す、行動を少し変える。そんな小さな一歩から、研究や開発のテーマは育っていく。採択後は、専門家やリバネススタッフが研究コーチとして伴走し、問いの整理や進め方を一緒に考えていく。例えば、身近な人の聞こえにくさを補う道具をつくりたいと考えていた生徒は、当初「似たような製品があるなら、自分が取り組む意味はないのでは」と悩んでいた。メンタリングを通して、既存の道具では解決しきれていない身近な困りごとに目を向けるようになった。また、完成品を目指すのではなく小さな試作から始めてもよいことに気づき、振動で情報を伝えるメガネの開発に踏み出した。自分だけではどうしようもないと思っていたことに、研究という方法で関わり直してみる。その過程で、自分にできることが見えてきたり、悩みとの向き合い方が変わったりすることも、このプログラムの大きな魅力だ。
自分の問いに向き合うことは、時に「これでいいのだろうか」と迷いながら進む挑戦でもある。だからこそ、このプログラムでは、自分と同じように違和感をきっかけに研究を始めた仲間や、その問いに耳を傾けてくれる大人との出会いも大切にしている。これまでに参加した生徒からは、「自分の研究に耳を傾けてくれる人がいること、あたたかい態度で聞いてくれることが本当に心の支えになった」という声もあった。他者が感じた違和感を「大したことない」と流さず、すぐに答えを押しつけることもない。そんな人との出会いこそが、自分の問いに向き合い続ける力になる。
まだ言葉にならない違和感も、自分にとって切実であれば、それは研究のはじまりだ。自分の中にある思いや違和感を見つめ、研究や開発として形にしていってみてほしい。（文・大島 友樹）
Target: Those who love manufacturing and solve problems with their own hands.
Deadline: March 1 - May 14, 2026
Subject: Environmental and Ecosystem Sustainability | Materials, Structures, and Design Innovation | Sustainable Exploration and Discovery | Sensing, Monitoring, and Detection Systems | Human-Machine Collaboration.
Deadline: June 30, 2026
Subject: Any development or research that focuses on one's own characteristics or minority status.
Deadline: Monday, June 1, 2026 - Friday, July 31, 2025, 6:00 PM
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