Marubun Foundation Establishes Special Award for 30th Anniversary; Opens Call for Nominations of Female Researchers and Engineers

The Marubun Foundation (President: Hiroyuki Sakaki; Head Office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo), a general foundation established by Marubun Corporation (President and CEO: Hiroshi Horikoshi; Head Office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo), an electronics distributor, is commemorating its 30th anniversary in 2026 by launching a special, one-time award titled the 'Marubun Foundation 30th Anniversary Special Award (Koretaka Horikoshi Prize).' Accordingly, the foundation announces the opening of candidate nominations for this award starting July 1, 2026.

Additionally, as part of its 30th-anniversary initiatives, the Marubun Foundation plans to host a symposium and publish a commemorative book titled 'Building a Scientific Nation: Japan's Path Forward Part III,' authored by past awardees.

[Background and Purpose of the Special Award]

In recent years, nurturing and promoting the active participation of female researchers and engineers in the electronics field has become an extremely important issue for maintaining and enhancing Japan's scientific and technological capabilities and international competitiveness, particularly from the standpoint of innovation.

On the occasion of its 30th anniversary, the Marubun Foundation has established this special award to recognize female researchers and engineers who have achieved outstanding research and development results in the electronics field—either academically or in industrial applications—transcending the boundaries of academia, industry, and government.

This award honors the late Professor Koretaka Horikoshi, who made significant contributions to the development of electronic devices and electronics at NTT Corporation and Waseda University, and who deeply supported the foundation's award programs, the cultivation of next-generation talent, and the advancement of female researchers. The purpose of this award is to widely publicize outstanding achievements and strongly encourage further accomplishments in the future.

[Overview of the Marubun Foundation 30th Anniversary Special Award (Koretaka Horikoshi Prize)]

Target Technical Fields

① Integrated Electronics and Information System Applications

② Optoelectronics

③ Advanced Materials, Devices, and Systems

④ Energy and Environmental Electronics

⑤ Bio- and Medical Electronics

Eligibility

Female researchers or engineers currently engaged in research and development activities in Japan, affiliated with universities, public research institutions, companies, or similar organizations (no age restrictions)

Award Details

Certificate of Merit and a prize of 5 million yen (awarded per recipient)

Nomination Procedure

Nominations must be submitted by the head of the candidate's affiliated institution (one nomination per nominator)

Nomination Period

July 1, 2026 (Wednesday) to October 23, 2026 (Friday) – must be received by the deadline

Selection Process

Candidates will be reviewed by the Marubun Foundation Selection Committee, with final approval and decisions made by the Board of Directors.

(Selection Committee Chair: Hiroshi Amano, Director of the Center for Integrated Electronics and Future Electronics, Institute of Materials and Systems for Sustainability, Nagoya University, and Special Professor)

Notification of Results

By the end of January 2027 (notification sent to nominators)

Award Ceremony

March 2027 (presentation of certificate and prize; awardees will present their research achievements)

For detailed information about the award and to download the nomination form, please visit the following website:

Marubun Foundation 30th Anniversary Special Award

Nomination Form Download

[Selection Committee Comprised of Distinguished Experts]

Prominent researchers representing Japan's electronics community will serve as selection committee members, evaluating candidates based on originality, academic and technical value, and social impact.

Selection Committee Chair

Hiroshi Amano (Director, Center for Integrated Electronics and Future Electronics, Institute of Materials and Systems for Sustainability, Nagoya University; Special Professor)

Vice Chairs

Takeshi Uchida (Professor, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo)

Yusuke Mori (Professor, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University)

Selection Committee Members

Teruo Ono (Professor, Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University)

Yoshihiko Kaneko (Specially Appointed Professor, Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University)

Masaki Tanaka (Professor, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo)

Toshihiko Baba (Professor, Graduate School of Engineering and Science, Yokohama National University)

Kazuhiko Hirakawa (Professor Emeritus, The University of Tokyo)

About Marubun Corporation

Marubun is an electronics distributor handling cutting-edge semiconductors, electronic components, and electronic application equipment. Founded in 1844, the company now operates globally with electronics markets as its core business domain.

Its business is driven by three pillars: the 'Device Business,' which handles the distribution of semiconductors and electronic components; the 'System Business,' which manages the sales and maintenance services of electronic equipment and systems; and the 'Entrepreneur Business,' which provides development, sales, and maintenance services for advanced solutions such as ICT and robotics.

Guided by the purpose of 'contributing to a better future through technology,' Marubun aims to become the most trusted, one-of-a-kind electronics distributor by delivering unique value.

Head Office: 8-1 Nihonbashi-Ohdenmacho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

Established: 1947

Representative: Hiroshi Horikoshi, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

URL: https://www.marubun.co.jp/

Inquiries

For inquiries regarding nominations, procedures, and selection:

Marubun Foundation Email: [email protected]

For media and press inquiries: Email: [email protected]