Sony Research Award Program’ to Invite Applications for Innovative Tech

Sony Group Corporation (Sony) announced today that it will begin calling for research proposals for the Sony Research Award Program on July 15, 2023. The Sony Research Award Program is an open innovation program, providing sponsored research funding for projects on emerging and innovative technologies in collaboration with Sony Group’s own research groups. Currently in its eighth year, the program is open to universities and research institutions such as government research institutes and nonprofit organizations in the U.S., Canada, 17 European countries^*1 and India.

The Sony Research Award Program is comprised of two awards – the Faculty Innovation Award and the Focused Research Award. The awards create new opportunities for academics to engage in cutting-edge research, leading to the introduction of breakthrough technologies.

Ÿ   The Faculty Innovation Award grants up to $100,000 USD to principal investigators for one year^*2, for research projects that may fall within three broad subject categories (Information Technology, Devices & Materials, and Biomedical & Life Sciences) relevant to Sony’s current research interests.

Ÿ   The Focused Research Award provides support for up to $150,000 USD for one year^*2, to conduct research on 12 themes which is more focused in the areas of Sony’s immediate interest.

^*1 European countries included in the program are Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom.

^*2 With the possibility of an extension.

Comment from Hiroaki Kitano, Senior Executive Vice President and CTO, Sony Group Corporation

“Sony's Purpose is to ‘Fill the world with emotion, through the power of creativity and technology,’ and our mission for research and development (R&D) is to ‘Push our civilization forward and make this planet sustainable.’ Across various fields of our civilization and society, collaboration with external research institutions and academia is essential for Sony to develop technologies that enable creators to unleash their full creative potential and connect with diverse users. We believe that the Sony Research Award Program offers important opportunities for collaboration between researchers around the world and the Sony Group, to develop breakthrough technologies and innovations for a better future.”