Invitation programs for foreign-based researchers to Japan 2026

Guidelines for application

An application for the program should be made by a qualified Japanese research institute (a host institute) that has a plan to conduct a collaborative R&D with a participation of foreign-based researcher. A researcher who wishes to participate in this program should contact such a Japanese research institute and develop a joint research plan in coordination with the host institute

For further details, please refer to the terms and conditions of the program and application procedure, provided at NICT web site, or inquire of secretariat of the program at NICT.

Please note that this program is aimed to support researchers who wish to conduct R&D at research institute other than NICT. If a researcher is interested in becoming a guest researcher at NICT, he or she should contact Deployment Promotion and International Exchange Planning Office at ICT Deployment and Industory Promotion Depertment of NICT.

Invitation Programs for Foreign-based Researchers to Japan 2026[PDF 187KB]

Contact Info

Deployment Promotion and International Exchange Planning Office. ICT Deployment and Industry Promotion Department

National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT)

E-mail: [images omitted]

Outline of the program

NICT provides invitation programs for foreign-based researchers in support of collaborative R&D activities of Japanese research institutes in ICT. The programs will support direct expenses necessary to invite the researchers.

Supports provided by the program

Round trip airfare to Japan, living expenses of 9,300 to 40,000 yen per day and other direct expenses such as domestic business trip expenses will be covered by the programs.

Qualification requirements for research institutes and invited researchers

Applicants should be a Japanese research institutes who wish to invite foreign-based researchers to conduct collaborative R&D in ICT. Research institutes here means is the research and development department of private companies and public interest corporation. However, NICT is excluded.

A foreign-based researcher invited by the program must have an excellent research achievement of ICT and an academic degree equivalent to a Japanese doctorate, or research ability equivalent to it.

Duration of R&D activities

Duration of R&D activities supported by the program should be within 12 months commencing between April 1, 2026 and March 31, 2027.

Period for acceptance of applications

Begins on Thursday, Jun 19, 2025 and ends at 5 p.m. JST on Thursday, October 9, 2025

Maximum number of enrollment

About 8 researchers

Terms and conditions

Terms and conditions for Invitation Programs for Foreign-based Researchers. Terms and conditions for Invitation Program for Foreign-based Researchers.[PDF 195KB]