An Important Supporter of Young Scientists

Feature
3
The Teijin Scholarship Foundation
Celebrates its 60th Anniversary
An Important Supporter
of Young Scientists
Networking event for
Teijin Kumura Scholarship students
From a desire “to support young scientists with ambitions to realize big dreams and aspirations,”
the Teijin Scholarship Foundation was created 60 years ago as a scholarship system established by
a private company in Japan and as one of the foundations with the greatest history and legacy.
This spirit has since been continuously passed down from generation to generation
and spreading around the globe.
Created Mirroring the Spirit Seita Kumura,
One of the Founders Who Devoted His Life to Research
Support Realizing Many Excellent Scientists, Now Globally
During its 60-year history, 1,542 students have so far benefited
from the scholarship (as of March 31, 2014). Many graduates of
the scholarship program are teaching at universities or actively
involved in government and private research institutions. One
notable example is Dr. Ei-ichi Negishi, Distinguished Professor
at Purdue University and recipient of the 2010 Nobel Prize in
Chemistry, was awarded the Teijin Kumura Scholarship in its
fifth year.
In recent years, the philosophy of “fostering promising
human resources capable of contributing to the society” has
been expanded globally and since 2005, foreign students
studying in Japan have also become eligible for the
scholarship. The Teijin Scholarship Foundation also established
a scholarship system in China in 2010 and has supported
students of Peking University, Tsinghua University, Fudan
University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University. By 2014, foreign
scholarship recipients exceeded 100 students.
Created the Teijin Kumura Scholarship
in 1953 commemorating the 35th
anniversary of the Teijin Group. It was
named after Mr. Seita Kumura who was
one of the founders of the Teijin Group
and also called the father of the Japanese
chemical fiber industry.
Seita Kumura
Seita Kumura, who devoted his life to
continuous research, once said, “All of you need to keep
improving yourselves, develop your abilities and exert
yourselves.” This spirit lives on today in the present Teijin
Scholarship Foundation that fosters young scientists. The
scholarship now applies across a wide range, to the medical
and pharmaceutical, bio-science, science and technology,
engineering, information science and other fields. The philosophy
is to pass on and develop a creative R&D spirit as well as to
foster excellent human resources to contribute to the
development of society. Furthermore, there are no obligatory
constraints in terms of career options after graduation.
number of
1970 Total
scholarship students
number of
1959 Total
scholarship students
History of the Teijin Scholarship Foundation
1910s
1920s
1930s
1918
Established Teikoku Rayon Co., Ltd.,
founding the Teijin Group.
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TEIJIN CSR Report 2014
exceeded
1940s
100
1950s
exceeded
1960s
1970s
1953 1954
Created the Teijin Kumura Scholarship
in commemoration
of the 35th anniversary
of the Teijin Group.
Established the Teijin Scholarship Foundation
as an incorporated entity.
500
1980s
Symposium Commemorating
60th Anniversary
Held on September 27, 2013. In
addition to the commemorative
speech by Dr. Ei-ichi Negishi, a
panel discussion was held.
Approximately 400 people joined
from every part of the country,
providing many people of
different generations and
nationalities with an opportunity
to deepen exchanges.
Certification Ceremony and Networking Event in China
Held for the purpose of motivating scholarship students and
promoting exchange between scholarship students of
different universities and specialties.
The Spirit Lives on Today:
Fostering the Diverse Next Generation
and environmental preservation activities, giving children of
the next generation the opportunity to take on various
challenges. We will continue to support children, always giving
thought to what kind of assistance will be characteristic of the
Teijin Group.
The spirit of Seita Kumura reaches beyond “fostering young
scientists,” with an expansive scope that includes support for
“fostering next-generation scientists” through social
contribution activities.
The scholarship supports contributions in a wide variety of
fields such as science and education, culture, sports activities
Science and Education
Culture
Sports Activities
Environmental Preservation Activities
Co-sponsored
Midorino Komichi
(Green path)
environmental
diary project for
ecological
education of
children through
diary-writing.
Japan High School Soccer Yearbook
Co-sponsored the Koshien Tournament of
Science to expand the pool of science-loving
students.
Expanded “Book Dream Project” to send
picture books to children of Indonesia
and Thailand.
Teijin Group
Corporate Philosophy
In Harmony with Society
Co-sponsored All Japan High School Soccer
Tournament to support sports activities of
the youth.
Our aim is to grow and evolve in harmony with the progress of society, thus justifying the trust
of our shareholders, customers and the public at large. To this end, we strive constantly to raise
corporate value and place our highest priority on safety and the environment.
number of
1987 Total
scholarship students
exceeded
1990s
1,000
number of
2011 Total
scholarship students
exceeded
1,500
2000s
2010s
2005
2010
2011
Established scholarship system in China.
Re-established the Teijin Scholarship Foundation With the 60th anniversary in June,
as a public interest incorporated entity.
held 60th Anniversary Symposium
in September.
Started providing scholarships
to foreign students studying in Japan.
2013
TEIJIN CSR Report 2014
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