Hosts should follow the accompanying Japanese Application Guidelines when making applications.

March 2012
JSPS

JSPS Invitation Fellowship Program for Research in Japan

FY2013 (2013-2014)

1. OUTLINE OF THE FELLOWSHIP

The Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) carries out fellowship programs that allow researchers
in Japan to invite overseas researchers to Japan. Based on a submitted visit plan, fellowships are awarded in
the categories and for the purposes listed in the table below.
Applications for this program must be submitted to JSPS by a host researcher in Japan through the head of
his/her university or institution.
Categories
Long-term
Short-term
Short-term S

Purposes
Invite overseas researchers to collaborate in carrying out research through long-term visits.
Invite overseas researchers with excellent records of research achievements for short-term
visits for the purpose of contributing to the advancement of research in related fields through
discussions, opinion exchanges, lectures and other means.
Invite overseas researchers with eminent records of research achievements to Japan for
purposes corresponding to those records. They offer advice and cooperate in research
activities throughout the host institution and give lectures or conduct other activities at other
research institutions, thereby elevating the international appraisal of the standard of research
conducted in Japanese universities and other institutions and contributing to the
advancement of scientific research in Japan.

2. FIELDS OF RESEARCH
All fields of the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences are included under this program.
3. HOST RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS
The applicant (host researcher) must be a researcher who is employed full-time or classified as being
employed full-time at a university or research institution of the types listed in Table I.
Fellows must conduct their research at the hosts affiliated institution.
* Full-time employment classification is determined by the regulations of the host institution.
4. ELIGIBILITY
Eligible are overseas researchers with excellent records who meet the conditions of the below-listed categories
(as a rule, researchers who hold full-time positions in an overseas research institution) and whose countries
have diplomatic relations with Japan (researchers from Taiwan and Palestine also being eligible). To be eligible,
researchers of Japanese nationality residing overseas must have lived in the other country for at least 10 years
and been actively engaged in research in that country throughout the period.
Categories
Long-term

Short-term
Short-term S

Qualifications
- Overseas researchers in a position equivalent to a university professor, associate professor or
assistant professor in Japan.
- Overseas researchers who received their doctorate degree prior to six years or more as of 1
April 2013.
Overseas researchers with an excellent record of research achievements.
Overseas researchers who are Nobel laureates or recipients of similarly high-level
international prizes with exceptionally outstanding records of research achievements and
who currently occupy a leading position in their subject field.

5. NUMBER OF FELLOWSHIPS AWARDED

Categories
Recruitment period and number of selectees
Long-term
September 2012; Approximately 70 fellowships will be granted
Short-term
For the 1st Recruitment (September 2012); Approximately 110 fellowships will be granted
For the 2nd Recruitment (May 2013); Approximately 100 fellowships will be granted
Short-term S For the 1st Recruitment (September 2012); Approximately 2-3 fellowships will be granted
For the 2nd Recruitment (May 2013); Approximately 2-3 fellowships will be granted
6. DURATION AND COMMENCEMENT OF FELLOWSHIPS
Categories
Fellowship tenure
Fellowship periods and periods for arrival in Japan
Long-term
At least 2 months (61
April 1, 2013 March 31, 2014
days); up to 10 months
Short-term
At least 14 days; up to
For the 1st Recruitment; April 1, 2013 March 31, 2014
60 days
For the 2nd Recruitment; October 1, 2013 March 31, 2014
Short-term S At least 7 days; up to 30 For the 1st Recruitment; April 1, 2013 March 31, 2014
days
For the 2nd Recruitment; October 1, 2013 March 31, 2014
*Invitation plans for attending just one conference during a several day stay in Japan are not accepted.
7. TERMS OF AWARD
Support for visiting researchers ( funding not provided for accompanying members)
Categories
International
Maintenance
Others
Transportation
Allowance
Long-term
Supply international
Domestic Research Trip Allowance ( 100,000 )
369,000
air tickets (based on
Research expenses ( 40,000 )
per month
JSPSs regulations)
Overseas travel accident and sickness insurance
Short-term
Supply international
18,000
Domestic Research Trip Allowance ( 150,000 )
air tickets (based on
per day
Overseas travel accident and sickness insurance
JSPSs regulations)
Short-term S Supply international
business-class air
42,000
Domestic Research Trip Allowance ( 150,000 )
tickets (based on
per day
Overseas travel accident and sickness insurance
JSPSs regulations)
For hosts:
Hosts cooperation allowance of 50,000
8. APPLICATION PROCEDURE FOR THE PROGRAM
Applicants (host researchers) are required to use JSPSs electronic application system to apply for
fellowships.
Applications for this program must be submitted to JSPS by a host researcher in Japan through the head of
his/her university or institution. Foreign researchers wishing to participate in this program are advised to
establish contact with a Japanese or foreign-resident researcher in their field and to ask him/her to submit an
application. They should make this contact well in advance of the host institutions application deadline
indicated below.
Application process is as follows:
1) Contact made between candidate and applicant (host researcher)
2) Applicant (host researcher) submits application to institutions head office
3) Office submits application to JSPS
* JSPS does not find or introduce host researchers.
* JSPS does not accept applications submitted directly by foreign researchers or through diplomatic channels.
* There is another application channel: JSPS also receives applications for the program through its overseas
nominating authorities (Table II). Regarding this procedure, please contact the nominating authority in
your country.

1) Materials to be submitted
(1) Documents to be prepared by applicant (host researcher) to be submitted to affiliated institution
Documents to be prepared by applicant (host researcher) to be
Categories
Numbers of copies
submitted to affiliated institution
Long-term
Long-term application form to be filled out by the host
researcher (Form 1)
Long-term application form to be filled out by the foreign One original and 3 copies
candidate (Form 2)
of each form
Please staple each set of forms together in Form 1-2 order in
upper left-hand corner. Submit 4 sets of forms, one being the
original.
Short-term
Short-term application form to be filled out by the host
One original and 3 copies
researcher
Short-term S Visit plan
Summary of prize(s) received (within the two sides of one A4
One original and 3 copies
page)
of each document
Please staple each set of forms together in Form 1-2 order in
upper left-hand corner. Submit 4 sets of forms, one being the
original.
(2) Documents to be prepared by the administrative office of the host institution
Form A (indicating the number of applications)
Form B (list of applications)
2) Application deadline (for host institution)
Categories
Application deadline (for host institution)
Long-term
September 3, 2012 September 7, 2012
Short-term
For the 1st Recruitment; September 3, 2012 September 7, 2012
For the 2nd Recruitment; May 2, 2013 May 10, 2013
Short-term S For the 1st Recruitment; September 3, 2012 September 7, 2012
For the 2nd Recruitment; May 2, 2013 May 10, 2013
Note (1): Application guidelines will be distributed only once this fiscal year.
Note (2): These deadlines are for the head of the host institution to submit the application to JSPS; the time
frames for applicants (host researchers) to submit their applications are normally earlier.

9. SELECTION PROCESS AND NOTIFICATION

1) Selection process
Screening is conducted by JSPSs selection committee based on the criteria listed below.
Support is not provided for research with military objectives.
Categories
Long-term

Short-term

Screening process is conducted based on the criteria listed below

) That the collaboration will contribute to advancing science in Japan and counterpart
country.
) That the collaboration can be expected to advance research in the subject field.
) That the applicant (host researcher) and candidate have established contact in advance
and created a concrete research plan.
) That the plan can be carried out within the period of the candidates fellowship tenure
) That the plan has as its objective joint research or other collaborative between the
Japanese researcher(s) and overseas researcher(s).
) That, as much as possible, preference is not given to the candidates nationality, host
institution, or field of specialization.
) That the collaboration will contribute to advancing science in Japan and counterpart
country.

Short-term S

) That the collaboration can be expected to advance research in the subject field.
) That the applicant (host researcher) and candidate have established contact in advance
and created a concrete activity plan.
) That the plan can be carried out within the period of the candidates fellowship tenure
) That the plan has as its objective lectures, discussions or other exchange activities with
not only the host institution but also through visits to other institutions as well. That the
plan also provides for fostering young researchers through exchanges and other
activities.
) That, as much as possible, preference is not given to the candidates nationality, host
institution, or field of specialization.
) While consideration is given to applying items 1) through vi) of the Short-term category,
the following are added:
) The visiting researchers are to be of a Nobel laureate or equivalent level, possessing an
exceptionally outstanding record of research achievements, and currently being a leader
in his/her field.
) His/her visit is to contribute to raising the standard of research in the host institution and
to elevating Japans overall international scientific appraisal.
) The host institution is to provide an environment for the visiting researcher to smoothly
guide research activities, widely participate in joint research, and carry out other
exchange activities. Other research institutions that s/he will visit are also to take
sufficient steps to accommodate the visit.

* Research plans that require approval processing within the affiliated institution
Judgments regarding handling are required when the implementation of a research plan includes such
aspects as the need for a counterparts consent or collaboration, for handling personal information, for taking
bio-ethics or safety measures, or other researcher aspects that require processing based on laws or regulations.
Specific examples of such research would be questionnaire or interview surveys that include private
information, surveys of cultural properties either in or outside Japan, the use of donated specimens, analyses
of the human genome, genetic recombination experiments, and animal experiments. That is, surveys,
research or experiments that require approval by an information-protection committee or ethics committee in
or outside the host institution.
2) Notification of selection results
Notification of the selection results will be made in writing through the head of the applying institution
around the following periods:
1st Recruitment; middle of January 2013
2nd Recruitment; middle of August 2013
Award letter and accompanying documents will be sent to the successful candidates.
Individual requests for selection results are not accepted.
10. OBLIGATIONS
Please bear the following points in mind when submitting an application.
1) The host researcher will, in cooperation with the administration of the host institution, prepare a space and
arrange facilities needed for the fellow to conduct research activities during his/her tenure. When needed,
the host will also assist with immigration processing, securing domicile and other matters related to the
fellows stay in Japan.
2) The fellow and his/her host researcher must submit a research report (using the prescribed forms) within
one month of the completion of the fellowship tenure. Short-term S visitors may submit their reports via
email.
3) When presenting or publishing the content or results of research conducted under the fellowship, the JSPS
fellowship should be acknowledged.
4) Fellows are expected to devote themselves full time to their research during the term of the fellowship, and
may not accept employment in Japan with or without remuneration.

11. ABOUT THE PROPER USE OF COMPETITIVE AND OTHER FUNDS

Appropriate action will be taken in the case of improper conduct, including the misuse of competitive or
other funds, misconduct in educational or research activities (e.g., fabrication, falsification or plagiarization),
and the violation of human rights (e.g., racial discrimination, gender discrimination, sexual harassment,
academic harassment, power harassment, abuse of authority, or neglect). In such cases, the fellowship may
be terminated and the fellow made to reimburse JSPS for all or part his/her already-paid research funds and
allowances. For instructions on the proper use of competitive funds, see the separate document About the
Proper Use of Competitive and Other Funds.
12. HANDLING OF PERSONAL INFORMATION
With regard to personal information contained in application materials, it shall be strictly controlled in
accordance with the Law to Protect Personal Information Held by Independent Administration Institutions
and JSPSs own regulations for protecting personal information. JSPS will use such information exclusively
for implementing its programs. (This may involve the provision of personal information to external companies
commissioned to electronically process and manage program-related date.)
If selected for a fellowship, fellows should note that their name, title, affiliated organization and country;
research theme, host institution, host researchers name and title; and research reports may be given public
access. Fellows are also asked to participate in surveys aimed at improving JSPS programs. With particular
regard to information related to Short-term S visitors, it may be posted on JSPS s webpage, published in
other JSPS literature, or circulated to related institutions.
13. NOTES
1) Application is limited to one candidate for each the first and second recruitment under the Short-term S and
Short-term fellowship categories and one under the Long-term category during a fiscal year.
2) As only one application is allowed par candidate, applicants (host researchers) should verify in advance that
no other applications have been submitted for their candidates.
3) The same person may not simultaneously be a candidate for both this invitational fellowship and a JSPS
Postdoctoral Fellowship Program for Foreign Researchers.
4) The same person may not simultaneously be a candidate for a Long-term and Short-term S, or a Short-term
and Short-term S fellowship.
5) Incomplete or otherwise flawed applications will be rejected.
6) If the applicant (host researcher) is currently conducting international project under a JSPS program or has
been selected for such a project over the past 5 years, please describe what, if any, connectivity it has to the
project being applied for.
7) For more application-related details, please see Points to Observe in Preparing the Application Form.
(Japanese only)

14. CONTACT
ADDRESS: Overseas Fellowship Division,
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
8, Ichiban-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-8472
TEL: 03-3263-2480 (Long-term, Short-term)/3443 (Short-term S)
Email: invitation@jsps.go.jp (Long-term, Short-term)
ff15@jsps.go.jp (Short-term S)