Toyota Foundation Research Grants
"Exploring New Values for Society"
The Toyota Foundation Research Grant Program, Interlinkages and Innovation for Future Societies, invites research proposals that address social issues with an awareness of the “connections” among people, between people and nature, and between people and things and technologies. This is based on the belief that in order to realize an affluent and harmonious world, we need to fundamentally reexamine existing social systems and design the future from the perspective of interlinkages.
In evaluating proposals, the Research Grant Program will place emphasis on the interdisciplinary nature of the research, the diversity of the participants, international perspectives, and the impacts on society. It invites ambitious projects that transcend conventional research activities, which often contribute only to the academic world, to address important social issues. It will support researchers who boldly challenge the world and encourage the transformation of social systems using a free-thinking approach that is not constrained by existing values.
Grant Fremework
Program ThemeInterlinkages and Innovation for Future Societies
Grant Amount (Total): 60 million yen (per project, up to around ８ million yen/two years)
Grant Periods: Two years (Nov 1, 2026 to Oct 31, 2028)
Requirements: Project representatives must be 45 years old or under on the day of the beginning of the grant.
Project representatives must have a contact address in Japan.
Projects must be Joint research conducted by two persons or more.
No limitations are placed on proposals with regard to the nationality of the project representative or participants; nor is there any restriction with regard to their affiliation (or lack thereof) with a university, research institute, NPO/NGO, or other organization.
Proposal Submission Period: Wednesday, April 1 to Friday, June 5, 2026 (until 3:00 p.m. Japan Standard Time)
Grant Selection: Formal decisions on the awarding of grants will be made at the Toyota Foundation Board of Directors meetings scheduled to be held in September 2026, based on the deliberations of a selection committee composed of outside
Proposal Guidelines and Project Proposal Form Samples
Basic Information 2026 (sample)
After entry, you will register your basic information in the web form.
Project Proposal Form 2026 (sample)A blank Word file will be available upon entry.
Please click "Entry" below and proceed to the online application page to register applicant information.
Briefing Sessions
Online Briefing Sessions (not compulsory)
First Session: 13:00 - 14:00 on Wednesday, April 9, 2026
Second Session: 11:00 - 12:00 on Thursday, April 22, 2026
*Please note online briefing sessions are held in Japanese only, no English translation available.
Please visit Japanese site for details.
Preliminary consultations are available with the Toyota Foundation’s program officers when applying. If you would like a preliminary consultation, please prepare concept notes (on 1-2 A4 pages, free format) and contact us by email. Preliminary consultations will be available until Friday, May 22, 2026 (only for the applicants declared by May 15, 2026). Please note that we may not be able to provide a preliminary consultation close to the deadline due to the high volume of demand.
*The following information is from FY2025.
Comments by Selection Committee Chair
The chairperson of the selection committee provides comments on the content submitted in the this year's application and on projects that received funding. Please take a moment to read these comments as they may be helpful for understanding this year's trends. For information on submissions made before this period, please refer to the annual reports.
