Interlinkages and Innovation for Future Societies

Overview

The Toyota Foundation Research Grant Program, Interlinkages and Innovation for Future
Societies, invites research proposals that address social issues with an awareness of the
“connections” among people, between people and nature, and between people and things and
technologies. This is based on the belief that in order to realize an affluent and harmonious
world, we need to fundamentally reexamine existing social systems and design the future from
the perspective of interlinkages.

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 

In evaluating proposals, the Research Grant Program will place emphasis on the
interdisciplinary nature of the research, the diversity of the participants, international
perspectives, and the impacts on society. It invites ambitious projects that transcend
conventional research activities, which often contribute only to the academic world, to address
important social issues. It will support researchers who boldly challenge the world and
encourage the transformation of social systems using a free-thinking approach that is not
constrained by existing values.

Projects will have a clear idea of the social issues that they address and will include concrete plans
and ideas toward the transformation of social systems. Projects will also aim to actively share
research findings with the wider society.

We value trial and error and unintended developments in research activities. However, we
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.
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 have a contact address in Japan and must be 45 years old or under on the date when the grant begins.

Grant Period: November 1, 2024 to October 31, 2026 (2 years)

Application Language: English or Japanese

Apply through the website of the Research Grant Program at https://www.toyotafound.or.jp/english/grant/research/
Traffic on the Toyota Foundation website may increase immediately prior to the application deadline, making it impossible in some cases to submit a project proposal, so we recommend that you apply as early as possible.