NICE STEP Researcher 2019

The National Institute of Science and Technology Policy (NISTEP) selects researchers who are active in various fields of science and technology innovation and who inspire Japan as "Nice Step Researchers". The selection process began in 2005, and past Nice Step researchers include Professor Shinya Yamanaka and Professor Hiroshi Amano, who later received the Nobel Prize.

The selection was based on information obtained through NISTEP's day-to-day research and survey activities, as well as on the work of a network of ~2000 experts. These identified 640 candidates whose recent activities are of note. In the selection process, the 10 finalists were selected through discussions by an internal review board, based on their cutting-edge and groundbreaking research, including in emerging and fused fields, industry-academia collaboration and innovation, and the development of their international research activities, in addition to their research achievements.

The 2019 Nice Step Researchers were mainly young researchers in their 30s and 40s (average age 37) who are expected to play an active role in the future and who have been selected for their cross-disciplinary research. They are involved not only in research activities but also in various forms of domestic and international activities in a wide range of fields. The selection is not limited to research activities alone, but also includes those who are widely contributing their results in a variety of ways, both domestically and internationally.

The activities of these individuals provide the public with dreams for science and technology and contribute to the improvement of science and technology innovation in Japan. The achievements of these people give the public dreams about science and technology and contribute to the improvement of science and technological innovation in Japan, so we are pleased to announce their selection.