Total Prize Money Up to 250 Million Yen. Recognizing R&D that Pioneers the Future of the Cosmetics Industry
NEDO has launched an open call for the "NEDO Challenge, Beauty Visionary Awards," a new theme under its "NEDO Prize-Based R&D Program." This initiative aims to strengthen the international competitiveness of Japan's cosmetics industry by awarding up to 250 million yen in prize money for innovative research and development, particularly in safety evaluation technologies and unique cosmetic ingredients.
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NEDO has today launched an open call for "NEDO Challenge, Beauty Visionary Awards: Recognizing R&D that Pioneers the Future of the Cosmetics Industry!" (hereinafter, "this project") as a new theme for the "NEDO Prize-Based R&D Program" (hereinafter, "this program"), which solicits diverse seeds and solutions contributing to the resolution of technological and societal challenges through a contest-format, prize-based R&D method.
In this project, a total prize money of up to 250 million yen will be awarded for three themes of research and development that contribute to strengthening the international competitiveness of Japan's cosmetics industry.
Through this program, NEDO aims to quickly discover seeds that will lead to the resolution of future societal challenges and the creation of new industries, thereby promoting opportunities for joint research, practical application of seeds, and commercialization.
Figure 1: Key visual for "NEDO Challenge, Beauty Visionary Awards"
1. Overview of NEDO Challenge
NEDO has been implementing this program*2 since FY2023, which solicits diverse seeds and solutions contributing to the resolution of technological and societal challenges through a contest-format, prize-based R&D method*1. The aim is to quickly discover seeds that will lead to the resolution of future societal challenges and the creation of new industries, thereby promoting opportunities for joint research, practical application of seeds, and commercialization.
Figure 2: Key visual for "NEDO Challenge, Beauty Visionary Awards"
2. Overview of this Project
As discussed in the "Cosmetics Industry Vision (Cosmetics Vision 2021)" (https://www.meti.go.jp/policy/mono_info_service/mono/bio/cosme/cosme_vision2021.pdf) led and formulated by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and the "Cosmetics Industry Competitiveness Enhancement Study Group" newly established by the same ministry from FY2025, for the sustainable growth of Japan's cosmetics industry, expansion into the continuously expanding international market is indispensable in addition to the maturing domestic market. On the other hand, in the international market, regulations are becoming stricter and international competition is intensifying, requiring the creation of innovative technologies based on R&D capabilities and the strengthening of responsiveness to international regulations and market trends. In particular, efforts related to the establishment of safety evaluation technologies and testing, and compliance with international regulations have limitations when handled by individual companies, necessitating common foundational R&D and functional development that contribute to improving the international competitiveness of the entire industry. Meanwhile, it is believed that innovation in the development of cosmetic ingredients and materials will arise from the ingenuity and competition of diverse entities.
This project is an open call for R&D that contributes to improving the international competitiveness of Japan's cosmetics industry, and a prize-based contest will be held with the aim of soliciting more innovative and original proposals.
Through this project, by widely recruiting participants not only from the existing cosmetics industry but also from other industries, we aim to create new industries and new businesses that contribute to the globalization of the cosmetics industry in the future.
3. Details of the Prize Advertisement (Open Call) and Future Plans
(1) Details of the Prize Advertisement (Open Call)
Applications will be accepted for three themes, and prize money will be awarded to the winners of each.
The contents of each theme are as follows:
■ Theme 1: Development of Innovative Safety Evaluation Technologies for Cosmetics
[Background]
Against the backdrop of the EU-led ban on animal testing and environmental regulations, the establishment and utilization of new evaluation methods are crucial for the development of cosmetic ingredients, which are a source of competitiveness. Currently, the number of test methods registered in OECD guidelines*3 is increasing. However, safety evaluation for cosmetic ingredients such as plant-derived components, mixtures, and oily compounds, as well as evaluation methods related to systemic toxicity, are difficult to address by simply evolving conventional evaluation methods. Therefore, cosmetics companies currently face significant challenges in the development and implementation of these safety evaluation technologies.
[Aim of Recruitment and Examples of Technologies Sought]
We are widely seeking innovative safety evaluation methods for cosmetic ingredients and products. In this open call, we expect proposals that envision future collaboration with the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) and adoption into OECD guidelines.
Examples:
* Establishing methods to support the selection of appropriate test methods according to the physical properties and composition of compounds such as plant-derived components, mixtures, and oily compounds.
* Proposing systemic toxicity evaluation systems utilizing integrated approaches.
* Presenting scientific evidence regarding the interpretation and judgment of test results.
■ Theme 2: Development of Groundbreaking and "Unique" Cosmetic Ingredients or Material Technologies
[Background]
We are widely seeking groundbreaking and "unique" cosmetic ingredients or material development technologies that Japan can lead. The "unique" here refers to...
In this project, a total prize money of up to 250 million yen will be awarded for three themes of research and development that contribute to strengthening the international competitiveness of Japan's cosmetics industry.
Through this program, NEDO aims to quickly discover seeds that will lead to the resolution of future societal challenges and the creation of new industries, thereby promoting opportunities for joint research, practical application of seeds, and commercialization.
Figure 1: Key visual for "NEDO Challenge, Beauty Visionary Awards"
1. Overview of NEDO Challenge
NEDO has been implementing this program*2 since FY2023, which solicits diverse seeds and solutions contributing to the resolution of technological and societal challenges through a contest-format, prize-based R&D method*1. The aim is to quickly discover seeds that will lead to the resolution of future societal challenges and the creation of new industries, thereby promoting opportunities for joint research, practical application of seeds, and commercialization.
Figure 2: Key visual for "NEDO Challenge, Beauty Visionary Awards"
2. Overview of this Project
As discussed in the "Cosmetics Industry Vision (Cosmetics Vision 2021)" (https://www.meti.go.jp/policy/mono_info_service/mono/bio/cosme/cosme_vision2021.pdf) led and formulated by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and the "Cosmetics Industry Competitiveness Enhancement Study Group" newly established by the same ministry from FY2025, for the sustainable growth of Japan's cosmetics industry, expansion into the continuously expanding international market is indispensable in addition to the maturing domestic market. On the other hand, in the international market, regulations are becoming stricter and international competition is intensifying, requiring the creation of innovative technologies based on R&D capabilities and the strengthening of responsiveness to international regulations and market trends. In particular, efforts related to the establishment of safety evaluation technologies and testing, and compliance with international regulations have limitations when handled by individual companies, necessitating common foundational R&D and functional development that contribute to improving the international competitiveness of the entire industry. Meanwhile, it is believed that innovation in the development of cosmetic ingredients and materials will arise from the ingenuity and competition of diverse entities.
This project is an open call for R&D that contributes to improving the international competitiveness of Japan's cosmetics industry, and a prize-based contest will be held with the aim of soliciting more innovative and original proposals.
Through this project, by widely recruiting participants not only from the existing cosmetics industry but also from other industries, we aim to create new industries and new businesses that contribute to the globalization of the cosmetics industry in the future.
3. Details of the Prize Advertisement (Open Call) and Future Plans
(1) Details of the Prize Advertisement (Open Call)
Applications will be accepted for three themes, and prize money will be awarded to the winners of each.
The contents of each theme are as follows:
■ Theme 1: Development of Innovative Safety Evaluation Technologies for Cosmetics
[Background]
Against the backdrop of the EU-led ban on animal testing and environmental regulations, the establishment and utilization of new evaluation methods are crucial for the development of cosmetic ingredients, which are a source of competitiveness. Currently, the number of test methods registered in OECD guidelines*3 is increasing. However, safety evaluation for cosmetic ingredients such as plant-derived components, mixtures, and oily compounds, as well as evaluation methods related to systemic toxicity, are difficult to address by simply evolving conventional evaluation methods. Therefore, cosmetics companies currently face significant challenges in the development and implementation of these safety evaluation technologies.
[Aim of Recruitment and Examples of Technologies Sought]
We are widely seeking innovative safety evaluation methods for cosmetic ingredients and products. In this open call, we expect proposals that envision future collaboration with the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) and adoption into OECD guidelines.
Examples:
* Establishing methods to support the selection of appropriate test methods according to the physical properties and composition of compounds such as plant-derived components, mixtures, and oily compounds.
* Proposing systemic toxicity evaluation systems utilizing integrated approaches.
* Presenting scientific evidence regarding the interpretation and judgment of test results.
■ Theme 2: Development of Groundbreaking and "Unique" Cosmetic Ingredients or Material Technologies
[Background]
We are widely seeking groundbreaking and "unique" cosmetic ingredients or material development technologies that Japan can lead. The "unique" here refers to...