Exchange Research Grant is to support independent researches of young researchers by subsidizing exchange research expenses and joint research expenses of foreign researchers accepted by or of Japanese researchers dispatched overseas, by research institutes such as universities or national & public research institutes in Japan, or research expenses of international students both in Japan and abroad engaged in research activities expected to develop into exchange research and collaborative research in the future.
Regarding the use of subsidies, there are no restrictions on the use of grants as long as they are properly accounted for in accordance with the regulations of the organizations the researchers belong to.
The grant is intended for graduate students aged 35 years or younger, who are engaged in the target technical fields (those who are dispatched for doctoral programs in graduate schools in Japan or abroad), postdoctoral researchers, or similar young researchers, regardless of nationality.
To apply, a recommendation from the head of department (or equivalent person) is required. Approximately 12 applicants will be selected and awarded the grants from among applicants. Award winners will be selected by the selection committee through strict and fair selection and will be approved by the Board of Directors of the foundation.
In addition, Japanese researchers dispatched abroad can apply for an additional overseas special encouragement grant.
Researchers and graduate students (doctoral program), who are engaged in the target technical fields and satisfy the following conditions.
[1] As of March 31, 2025, aged 35 or below
(The age limit will be reconsidered separately if there is a particular reason.)
[2] Those, who fall under any of the following during the subsidy period (from September 1, 2024 to March 31, 2026), have strong needs for the grant, and are expected to be able to make a considerable progress by receiving the exchange research grant.
(A) Japanese researchers or graduate students (doctoral program), who are sent to other research organizations abroad by the research institutions for the purpose of exchange research or collaborative research etc, or those students, who are expected to engage in exchange researches in the future, who meet the following conditions.
1) In case a researcher is dispatched to a overseas research institution etc. for a collaborative research, etc., the same researcher needs to spend more than 2 months consecutively or cumulatively for the same research purpose within the grant period and acquire the consent of an appropriate responsible person of the receiving research institution and recommendation from a responsible person of the sending research institution.
2) Applicants, who are enrolled in overseas postgraduate doctoral course for the purpose of acquiring degrees and able to receive recommendation from the home graduate schools which the applicants belong to as well as consent from the accepting graduate schools.
"Special Overseas Research Encouragement"
If the grant candidate is aged 30 or younger and if you can judge that the research is particularly important for the future of the researcher, you can apply for "Special Overseas Research Encouragement Grant" in addition to the normal grant.
(B) Foreign researchers accepted from overseas by research institutes for exchange researches or international collaborative researches etc, or foreign students expected to conduct exchange research in the future, who satisfy the following conditions.
1) When accepted in international collaborative researches etc., those, who can spend more than 3 months continuously or cumulatively for the same research purposes within the grant period and, who can receive the recommendation from the receiving official person.
2) Those, who are enrolled in the postgraduate doctoral course in Japan and able to receive the recommendation of the appropriate responsible person.
(However, if there is a special reason, those, who are enrolled in the graduate school course and are planning to take a postgraduate doctoral course later, are acceptable)
[1] Recommender:
1) At university, department chief, chief professor etc. (It can be a direct adviser)
2) In public research institutes etc., the director of the research institution or the director of the research etc.
[2] Number of Recommendations:
One recommender can make one recommendation in principle.
[3] Recommendation Method:
Submit the following documents to the secretariat division of the foundation.
(A) Format when sending a researcher
Form - A
"Exchange Research Grant Candidate Recommendation Form", a form for dispatch to overseas
"Application Form for Exchange Research Grant" (needs to be filled out by the candidate him / herself)
(B) Format when inviting a researcher
Form - B
"Exchange Research Grant Candidate Recommendation Form", a form for invitation from overseas
"Application Form for Exchange Research Grant" (needs to be filled out by the candidate him / herself)
Grant Recipients will be selected at the selection committee of the foundation to be held in late December after the document examination and will be approved by the Board of Directors.
Grant recipients shall promptly submit a prescribed outcome report to the foundation after the grant period expires.
For Exchange Research Grant recipients in the past, Click here.
Address to send documents & Contact
