JSPS Invitational Fellowships for Research in Japan (Short-term)

The Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) carries out programs that provide overseas researchers who have an excellent record of research achievements with an opportunity to conduct collaborative research, discussions, and opinion exchanges with researchers in Japan. These programs are intended to help advance the overseas researchers' research activities while promoting science and internationalization in Japan.

All fields of the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences are included under this program.

Invitational Fellowship (Short-term) [S]

To invite overseas researchers with excellent records of research achievements for short-term visits to Japan and provide them opportunities for discussions, opinion exchanges, lectures and other activities.

DURATION OF FELLOWSHIPS

14 to 60 days

APPLICATION DEADLINES and NUMBER OF FELLOWSHIP AWARDED

Application deadlines for host institutions to JSPS are as follows. Each host institution may have its own application deadline more than one month before the deadline set by JSPS. Applicants (Host Researcher) should check with the staff of host institution in advance. 

Application periods (for host institution)

• 1st recruitment: September 6, 2019  (by 5 p.m. (JST)
• 2nd recruitment: May 8, 2020  (by 5 p.m. (JST)

Notification of selection results

• 1st recruitment: late of December 2019 
• 2nd recruitment: beginning of August 2020 

Fellowship periods and periods for arrival in Japan

• 1st recruitment: April 1, 2020–March 31, 2021
• 2nd recruitment: October 1, 2020- March 31, 2021 

Number of fellowship award

• 1st recruitment: 90
• 2nd recruitment: 80

APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY

The applicant (host researcher) must, in principle, be a researcher who is employed full-time at a university or research institution as specified in Article 2* of the Procedure for the Handling of Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (Kakenhi), issued by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). However, there are cases when a researcher not employed in a full time position may be eligible. Such persons must be eligible to apply for a KAKENHI grant–in-aid and his/her affiliated institution must judge them able to implement the project and to provide an appropriate research environment (e.g., laboratory, equipment, personnel) for it.

*Eligible host institutions specified under the above MEXT Procedure are as follows:

• Universities and inter-university research institutes
• MEXT-affiliated institutions engaged in research
• Colleges of technology
• Institutions designated by the Minister of MEXT

APPLICANT (Host Researcher) ELIGIBILITY 

Persons are eligible to apply who satisfy the following two conditions at the time of application and during the fellowship period.

• Be affiliated with a research institution as specified in Article 2* of the Procedure for the Handling of Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (Kakenhi), issued by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) and be eligible to apply for a KAKENHI grant-in-aid.
• Be a full-time researcher. Researchers who are not employed full time may be eligible if it is judged that their status in the host institution is equivalent to full time and that they will continue hosting the candidate their research throughout the fellowship period and if the host institution is able to execute its responsibilities under the program including the provision of a suitable research environment (e.g. a laboratory space, facilities and personnel). 

TERMS OF AWARD

• Airfare A round-trip air ticket (economy-class) (based on JSPS’s regulations)
• Maintenance Allowance¥18,000 per day
• Miscellaneous Overseas travel insurance, a research support allowance is available to cover cooperative research-related expenses. Application is made by the host researcher through his/her institution.

PROCEDURE OF APPLICATION

The applicant (host researcher) and the host institution need to implement the following procedures (1) and (2) respectively when they apply.

(1) Procedure of applicant (host researcher)

Log in to the electronic application system (for international exchange projects) and complete the application procedure on the system (enter Form1) by the application deadline specified by each host institution. Submit (send) it to the host institution.

(2) Procedure of the host institution

• Confirm the information in the application submitted (sent) by the applicant (host researcher) on the electronic application system. If there is no problem in the contents, approve (confirm the “application list”) and submit (send) the application form to JSPS before the deadline.
• Obtain the format of the following two lists from the electronic application system and create them.
  • List of applications (Notice of Acceptance included)
  • List of applicants
• Stamp with the seal of the head of institution on List of applications (Notice of Acceptance included) and mail it with List of applicants to JSPS before the deadline.

THE SCREENING CRITERIA

• That the collaboration will contribute to advancing science in Japan and the counterpart country.
• That the collaboration can be expected to advance research in the subject field. Evaluation should place emphasis on researchers invited from other countries.
• That the applicant (host researcher) and candidate have established contact in advance and created a concrete activity plan.
• That the host institution has adequately prepared a system for receiving the candidate.
• That the plan can be carried out within the period of the candidate’s fellowship tenure.
• That the plan has as its objective lectures, discussions or other exchange activities held not only in the host institution but also in some other institutions. That the plan also includes instructive opportunities to foster young researchers.
• That, as much as possible, unbalance should avoided in the selectees' nationalities, host institutions and areas of specialization.
• That not only the score of the document review but also the examiners’ reasons and comments are to be given adequate consideration.
• That the number of selectees with Japanese nationality be no more than about 3% of all the selectees under one recruitment for an application period.
• That two selection judgements be made: (1) Selected and (2) Not-selected.