TOKYO, Sept 1, 2026 - (JCN Newswire) - TANAKA Memorial Foundation (Representative Director: Hideya Okamoto) has announced that it will invite research proposals for its FY2026 Precious Metals Research Grants from September 1 to November 30, 2026. This grant program aims to contribute to the development of science and industry by promoting innovative research, technological development, and product development related to precious metals. The grants are open to individuals affiliated with educational institutions and public research institutes in Japan.This year marks the 28th edition of the research grant program. With the aspiration of "Forging a Better Tomorrow with 'Hirameki' and 'Kirameki'," the Foundation looks forward to receiving research proposals that combine researchers' creativity with the potential of precious metals and contribute to creating a better future.
This year, a total of 20 million yen will be available across five award categories. The Umekichi Tanaka Award offers the highest grant amount of 10 million yen, alongside the Ichiro Tanaka Award, the Junichiro Tanaka Award, the HIRAMEKI Award, and the KIRAMEKI Award.
The major awards are named after individuals whose achievements helped shape TANAKA's growth, including advances in the industrial use of precious metals, international collaboration, and the expansion of its business fields. The Junichiro Tanaka Award, newly established this year, is an enhanced version of the former Innovative Precious Metals Award and is intended to further encourage research and development that opens up new potential for precious metals.
Origins of the Names of the Major Awards
Umekichi Tanaka Award
Company founder Umekichi Tanaka established Tanaka Shoten in 1885, laying the foundations of TANAKA. While expanding the refining of foreign gold coins and bullion trading, the company also established advanced technologies such as the recovery of platinum from used incandescent bulbs and the processing of fine platinum wire. Tanaka Shoten pioneered the development of industrial applications for precious metals, helping to establish the foundations of precious metals technology for industrial use in Japan and supporting the growth of the country's manufacturing industry.
Ichiro Tanaka Award
Tanaka Shoten's second president, Ichiro Tanaka, played a leading role in the growth of the company's industrial precious metals business. The company established a stable procurement system for key metals such as platinum and palladium, thereby strengthening the supply base for the chemical industry, telecommunications, and laboratory equipment fields. Through the supply of materials that support technical innovation, the company made significant contributions to the development of Japan's manufacturing industry, science, and technology.
Junichiro Tanaka Award
The company's third president, Junichiro Tanaka, opened new possibilities for the industrial use of precious metals alongside the development of the electronics, telecommunications, and semiconductor industries. The company promoted the research, development, and commercialization of contact materials for electronic components, semiconductor-related materials, precious metal catalysts, and other products, expanding Japanese-developed precious metals technology to the global market. It played a leading role in driving the evolution of cutting-edge technologies and the formation of industrial infrastructure on a global scale.
Press Release: http://www.acnnewswire.com/docs/files/20260901_EN.pdf