Interlinkages and Innovation for Future Societies

Overview

The Toyota Foundation Research Grant Program has invited 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.” 

The Toyota Foundation targets proposals that fulfill the following points for grants. 

1. Great significance for society 
2. Anticipating internal and external issues 
3. Future-oriented
4. Sustainable and developable 
5. Expected to have a ripple effect

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. We also value trial and error and unintended developments in research activities. 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. We place particular emphasis on sharing with society through policy recommendations, construction of models, and the development of platforms and/or networks.

• Joint 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.

Grant timeline: 

• Selection period: June 12 to late-September, 2023
• Notification of selection and conclusion of memorandum: Late-September 2023 
• Grant Award Ceremony and workshop (tentative): Mid-October 2023 
• Grant initiation: November 1, 2023
• November 1, 2023 to October 31, 2025 
• Submission of interim report: May and November 2024, May 2025
• End of grant period: October 31, 2025 Submission of final report and project outputs: November 30, 2025

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.)