Konica Minolta Imaging Science Foundation

The Konica Minolta Imaging Science Foundation (officially the Konica Minolta Science and Technology Foundation, 公益財団法人コニカミノルタ科学技術振興財団) is a Japanese public-interest incorporated foundation affiliated with Konica Minolta, Inc. Its stated purpose is to provide aid and support for research in science and technology — particularly in the fields of light and imaging — thereby promoting science and technology and contributing to the advancement of scholarship and culture. It is a grant-making body rather than a commercial operating company, but it carries the Konica Minolta corporate brand and is housed within the company's Hachioji, Tokyo premises. The foundation's main activities are grants for research (the Imaging Science Award), grants to research institutions, academic societies and study groups, grants for hosting international conferences, symposia and research meetings, and university research grants. Its largest program, the Konica Minolta Imaging Science Award, annually calls for research themes in the light and imaging domain that are original and challenging, and awards grants to outstanding proposals. The organization traces its origins to 1966, when it was established as the Hokoku Hozenkai (財団法人橘保善会). It was renamed the Konica Imaging Science Foundation (財団法人コニカ画像科学振興財団) in 1993, when the Konica Photo Award was launched, and began public solicitation for the Konica Imaging Science Award in 1994. In 2004 it was renamed the Konica Minolta Imaging Science Foundation (財団法人コニカミノルタ画像科学振興財団), reflecting the merger that created Konica Minolta. In 2010 it received recognition as a public-interest incorporated foundation and adopted its current name, Konica Minolta Science and Technology Foundation. It marked the 20th anniversary of the Imaging Science Award in 2014 and published a 50th-anniversary volume in 2016. The foundation is chaired by Masatoshi Matsuzaki, honorary advisor of Konica Minolta, Inc., and its secretariat is led by Secretary-General Kaori Miyuri. It is not classified as a public-interest corporation with a particularly close relationship to the state. It publishes annual business reports, financial statements, business plans and budgets, and its articles of incorporation.

The organization that became the Konica Minolta Imaging Science Foundation was established in 1966 (Showa 41) as the Hokoku Hozenkai (財団法人橘保善会). Its founding prospectus set out the aim of supporting research and contributing to scholarship and culture. In 1993 (Heisei 5) it was renamed the Konica Imaging Science Foundation (財団法人コニカ画像科学振興財団) and launched the Konica Photo Award (コニカ写真奨励賞). The following year, 1994 (Heisei 6), it began public solicitation for the Konica Imaging Science Award (コニカ画像科学奨励賞), which became its flagship grant program. In 2004 (Heisei 16), following the integration of Konica and Minolta into Konica Minolta, the foundation was renamed the Konica Minolta Imaging Science Foundation (財団法人コニカミノルタ画像科学振興財団). In 2010 (Heisei 22) it received recognition as a public-interest incorporated foundation and, under a new set of articles of incorporation, changed its name to the Konica Minolta Science and Technology Foundation (公益財団法人コニカミノルタ科学技術振興財団). In 2014 (Heisei 26) the Konica Minolta Imaging Science Award marked its 20th anniversary and the foundation published a commemorative volume. In 2016 (Heisei 28) it published a 50th-anniversary volume. The foundation continues to solicit applications for the Imaging Science Award annually and to sponsor lectures by award winners, publishing related materials. Its chairman is Masatoshi Matsuzaki, honorary advisor of Konica Minolta, Inc., and its secretariat is headed by Secretary-General Kaori Miyuri. The foundation states that it is not a public-interest corporation with a particularly close relationship to the state, and it publishes its business reports, financial statements, business plans, budgets and articles of incorporation.

• 2016

  50th-anniversary volume published.

• 2014

  20th anniversary of the Konica Minolta Imaging Science Award; commemorative volume published.

• 2010

  Recognized as a public-interest incorporated foundation; renamed Konica Minolta Science and Technology Foundation under new articles of incorporation.

• 2004

  Renamed Konica Minolta Imaging Science Foundation (財団法人コニカミノルタ画像科学振興財団).

• 1994

  Began public solicitation for the Konica Imaging Science Award.

• 1993

  Renamed Konica Imaging Science Foundation (財団法人コニカ画像科学振興財団); launched the Konica Photo Award.

• 1966

  Established as the Hokoku Hozenkai (財団法人橘保善会).

A corporate-affiliated public-interest grant-making foundation dedicated to advancing research in light and imaging science.

• Konica Minolta Imaging Science Award

  Annual public call for original and challenging research themes in the light and imaging domain, with grants awarded to outstanding proposals.

• Grants to research institutions, academic societies and study groups

  Support for research organizations and scholarly bodies.

• Grants for international conferences, symposia and research meetings

  Support for hosting international conferences, symposia and research meetings.

• University research grants

  Grants supporting university research.

1. 1コニカミノルタ科学技術振興財団konicaminoltastf.or.jp
2. 2Konica Minolta Imaging Science Foundation (Wikidata)wikidata.org