Information on external competitive funding for natural sciences

 We publish information on competitive funding and awards from companies and foundations for the natural sciences, covering grants between 2 million and 10 million yen. This information is presented as an annual schedule, allowing for comparison with other funding programs like Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research, CREST, and Emerging Research Programs. We encourage you to consider applying for these options.

 Smaller-scale external funding opportunities can also be found through listings on the Japan Grant-in-Aid Foundation and the Kobe University Office of Industry-Government-Academia Collaboration websites, which provide links to these sources.
URAs are available to support you with applications; please don’t hesitate to reach out.
*URAs can also provide support when applying, so please feel free to contact us.
List of Large-Scale Funding Calls, Awards, and Grants [University Access Only]
　

Information from government ministries will be updated and published as needed.
While we cannot list all calls from each ministry, we are adding those likely to be relevant.
List of Government Competitive Funding Information [University Access Only]
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List of Research Grants for Humanities and Social Sciences

We have compiled a list of applications with deadlines up to three months out. Please refer below.

▶ [University access only] Latest list of public call information for research grants, etc. for humanities and social sciences research
*If you cannot download with Google Chrome, please open in a new window or try another browser.

Please see below for past distributions (application deadline from July 2019 onwards).
▶ [University only] Past list of public call information for research grants, etc. for humanities and social sciences

Useful Information on External Funds (Basic and Seeds Research)

We have compiled information on academic research (basic and seeds research) from among the government-sponsored projects that are in line with the career and research stage of researchers. Please see below.
*The information below is based on the public recruitment information as of November 2022. For the latest information on future system changes, availability of recruitment based on budgetary conditions, etc., please check the information released by each project.

▶ [University only]
Representative external funding information in line with researchers' careers (PDF)
(Published February 2023)

▶ [University only] List of links to each project in the PDF document

JSPS (Japan Society for the Promotion of Science)
Research Fellow DC (JSPS DC)

About JSPS Research Fellowships for Young Scientists

 JSPS is a researcher support program provided by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) with the aim of "providing excellent young researchers with the opportunity to independently select research topics and devote themselves to research with free ideas, thereby contributing to the training and securing of creative researchers who will lead the future of academic research in Japan".
 There are support programs for students enrolled in doctoral programs (DC) and doctoral students (PD) who conduct research at a research institution different from the one where they obtained their doctorate. DC has DC1, which is applied for in the second year of master's studies, and DC2, which is applied for in the first and second years of doctoral studies.
 Researchers selected for DC are paid a research grant (salary) of 200,000 yen per month and a research budget of up to 1.5 million yen per year (DC1 for three years, DC2 for two years), allowing them to devote themselves to research activities without financial worries during their time at university. Being selected as a JSPS Special Research Fellow is also one of the important steps to building a career as a future researcher. The acceptance rate is around 18% (2023 actual results), so it is by no means easy, but students who aim to become researchers in the future should definitely give it a try.

Application period for 2027 : Early April to June 3, 2025
*The application must be submitted to the JSPS by the applicant's institution (Kobe University), not by the applicant themselves. Therefore, please be sure to check with your university office for the deadline for submitting the application form on campus.

* Applications for special research fellowships are made through the "Researcher Training Program Electronic Application System." The ID and password for the electronic application system will be managed by the applying institution (Kobe University), so be sure to request the issuance of an ID and password from the university office as soon as possible.

Japan Society for the Promotion of Science related sites
DC/PD Fellows (application guidelines, etc.):　
https://www.jsps.go.jp/j-pd/pd_sin.html
Electronic application system:
https://www-shinsei.jsps.go.jp/topyousei/top_ken.html
Electronic application system operation manual:　
https://www-shinsei.jsps.go.jp/topyousei/download-yo.html

Information on URA JSPS DC support
・An introductory guide for creating the JSPS DC "application content file" can be found here (university only)
・Reference information (Q&A) on creating the application form can be found here
・Seminar materials on how to write the application form can be found here (university only)
・Seminar video (university only distribution) can be found here　　　　　　　　　                            

Other on-campus application support and grant information (Industry-Government-Academia Collaboration Division)

We cooperate with the Industry-Academia Collaboration and Intellectual Property Division to provide support such as consultations on how to prepare application forms and their contents, and corrections to application forms. Please feel free to contact the URA if you would like support.
Contact the URA: gksh-ura[at]research.kobe-u.ac.jp (please change [at] to @).

▶ [University only] Information on competitive funding calls from the Industry-Academia Collaboration and Intellectual Property Division
　(Industry-Government-Academia Collaboration Headquarters website)

If you are unsure of where to submit your application,
please first inquire at the administrative office in your department.