Note: This page was translated by AI from the Japanese original. In case of any discrepancy, the Japanese version shall prevail.
Original post date (Japanese version): March 30, 2022
This page contains content currently under consideration (as of 2022/03/30).
To all users,
Thank you for always using the equipment managed by the Division of Analytical Electron Microscopy, IMR. Our division is currently considering revising and clarifying the framework for equipment usage, and we are planning to make some significant changes for usage from FY2022 onwards, so we would like to explain the content and approach as of now. Details will be announced once the related regulations are finalized.
1. Principle of Publication of Results
- As a rule, the results obtained using the equipment and various support managed by our division should be used and published by the users themselves.
- Providing data to joint research partners, etc. is possible, but as with direct use by the user, the principle is that the results will be published.
- If some or all of the results are to be undisclosed, an application for use as an ARIM Independent Project (CINTS Non-disclosed Project) is required (Item 5).
Disclosure Content and Timing
| Timing | Disclosure Content | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| At reception | Applicant affiliation, applicant name, research project name, research summary, equipment used, data provider destination (joint research, commissioned research, etc.) | Displayed on website and reservation page |
| At any time | Paper submissions, conference presentations, graduation thesis presentations, etc. | |
| End of usage year | Usage report (approx. 1 sheet of A4 paper) | In the case of an ARIM disclosed project (Item 3) |
2. About Usage Fees
Our division’s usage fees are set into the following categories from the perspective of publication of results and the presence or absence of subsidies from commissioned funds, etc.
| Fee Category | Publication of Results | Calculation Breakdown |
|---|---|---|
| Fee A | Disclosed | Running costs |
| Fee B | Disclosed according to project contents | Running costs + part of the introduction (renewal) costs (A portion of the costs is covered by subsidies from commissioned funds, etc.) |
| Fee C | Can be non-disclosed | Running costs + all (or most) of the introduction (renewal) costs |
- In the fee categories up to FY2021, Fee A generally corresponds to internal rates (Analytical Research Core for Advanced Materials (ARCAM) accepted projects), and Fee C generally corresponds to external rates (CINTS non-disclosed).
- Fee B is a newly set fee level primarily to correspond to the Advanced Research Infrastructure for Materials (ARIM) project, and is expected to be approximately 1.5 to 2 times Fee A.
- Specific fees for each piece of equipment and support are currently being prepared for revision. Current fee settings apply until the new fees are finalized.
3. About the Advanced Research Infrastructure for Materials (ARIM) Project
Our division is receiving a subsidy as an implementation institution for the “Advanced Research Infrastructure for Materials (ARIM) Project”, the successor to the MEXT Nanotechnology Platform. As our primary equipment such as aberration-corrected electron microscopes and FIB are commissioned devices from this project, operation aligned with the project’s objectives is required.
- For equipment and support where ARIM commissioned funds are invested, over 60% of the operating time must be accepted as ARIM disclosed projects. (A maximum of 40% can be operated as independent projects at the discretion of the implementation institution.)
- To promote data collection and accumulation, there is a difference in usage fees between “Equipment Usage” and “Data Sharing”.
| ARIM Disclosed Project Category | Overview |
|---|---|
| Equipment Usage | ・Conventional equipment sharing carried out in the Nanotechnology Platform Project. ・Submission of a usage report is required for each project. (Once a year, approx. 1 sheet of A4 paper) |
| Data Sharing | ・Promoting data utilization projects by collecting, accumulating, sharing, and publishing experimental data obtained through equipment usage. ・In addition to the usage report, provision of experimental data and metadata is required. |
4. About Technical Support Fees
Our division sets a technical support fee for costs related to technical support by staff, and we are changing the fee setting according to the support content and the fee category in (2).
| Support Category | Support Guideline | Fee A | Fee B | Fee C |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Training | ・Training using standard specimens (Technical substitute applies for brought-in samples) | 1500 | 3000 | 4500 |
| Technical Assistance | ・User operates the equipment themselves ・Operational assistance without academic judgment | 1500 | 3000 | 4500 |
| Technical Substitute (Standard) | ・Routine corresponding experiments ・Attendance experiments (With specific instructions from the user) | 3000 | 4500 | 6000 |
| Technical Substitute (Difficult) | ・Support requiring academic judgment by the supporter | 4500 | 6000 | 9000 |
| Joint Research | ・Individual handling ・Support requiring highly academic judgment. | 3000 | – | – |
Please check with the staff regarding the selection of specific support categories according to the work details. (Support examples are being prepared)
5. About ARIM Independent Projects
For equipment and support where ARIM commissioned funds have been invested, use at the discretion of the implementation institution is permitted up to a maximum of 40% of the operating time, and we will set the following two usage slots for the equipment managed by our division.
| Usage Category | Content | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Non-disclosed Projects | ・No usage report submission required ・No data sharing required ・Can be non-disclosed including experimental implementation ・NDA selectable (requires separate contract) ・Fee C applies | Applications requiring strict IP management, such as use by private companies |
| Advanced User Slot (Provisional Title) | ・No usage report submission required ・No data sharing required ・Direct usage by the user ・Technical support cannot be used ・Follows the Analytical Research Core for Advanced Materials (ARCAM) accepted project policies (Disclosure is required) ・Fee A applies ・Can be used on holidays and at night | ・Available only when certified as an advanced user ・By setting up this slot, we promote the development of human resources capable of operating advanced experimental equipment independently. |
*This post was created by an AI agent.