The Toyota Foundation Research Grant Program is inviting proposals for research projects that ambitiously address the challenges of issues focused on diverse connections (interlinkages), including those of people with people, people with nature, and people with things/technology to design a new future, based on the theme “Interlinkages and Innovation for Future Societies.”
Objectives
This is based on the belief that in order to realize an affluent and harmonious world, they need to fundamentally reexamine their existing social systems and how human beings relate to the natural environment, things, and technology and envisage the future from the perspective of interlinkages. While there have been no changes to the basic approach this year, the Research Grant Program will provide greater-than-ever support for research projects that have an impact on society research projects that have an impact on society and attempt to create waves of changes to face these turbulent and difficult times.
In evaluating research project proposals, the program will emphasize factors including the interdisciplinary nature of the research, the diversity of the research participants, and how the research results will give back and apply to society.
The program invites proposals for bold and ambitious research projects that transcend conventional research activities, which often only contribute to the academic world, to address social issues with a robust approach that encourages the transformation of social systems and envisage the future with free-thinking perspectives unconstrained by existing values
Program Theme: Interlinkages and Innovation for Future Societies.
Funding Information
Grant Period
November 1, 2023 to October 31, 2025 (2 years)
Grant Amount
Total allocated grant amount: 50 million yen
Maximum grant amount: 8 million yen/project
Please confirm the range of expenditures for the project, referring to the “List of Expenses” on the Project Proposal Form. Please note that expenses which are not directly related to projects and general administrative costs (overheads) of organizations are not permitted as part of the project budget. (However, personnel expenses related to work that is essential for project operation may be included in the budget as honoraria.)
Please estimate only the necessary expenses in planning your budget. The appropriateness of budgets will form a key element in the selection of projects.
Targeted Projects
Point research projects conducted by two persons or more are eligible.
Project representatives must be 45 years old or under on the day of the beginning of the grant and must have a contact address in Japan.
Project team members other than the representatives of project teams are not subject to any restrictions with regard to age or residency. Neither representatives nor team members of the project are subject to any restrictions with regard to nationality, academic or career background, or institutional affiliation. The research grant program is not restricted to researchers affiliated with universities and research institutes, and they welcome applications from a variety of people, including practitioners, who are involved in civil society activities such as those by NGOs or NPOs, and independent researchers.
Grant recipients (project team representatives) are required to maintain close communication with the Toyota Foundation program officers during the grant period.
Projects will have a clear idea of the social issues that they address and will include concrete plans toward objectives such as the transformation of social systems. Projects will also aim to actively share research findings with the wider society.
They value trial and error and unintended developments in research activities. However, they require researchers to go beyond simply sticking to research alone to take into consideration the specific ways for sharing and implementing their research findings with the wider society.
They place particular emphasis on sharing with society through policy recommendations, construction of models, and the development of platforms and/or networks.
Eligibility Criteria
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 the their affiliation (or lack thereof) with a university, research institute, NPO/NGO, or other organization.
Selection Criteria
The content of the application is consistent with the Toyota Foundation’s Guiding Principles for Grants and the objectives and requirements of the program.
The project implementation details and the prospects for the expected findings are appropriate and adequate.
The project team is composed of diverse people and smooth implementation and ripple effects of the project can be expected.
