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.

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.

Targeted Projects 

(1) Joint research projects conducted by two persons or more are eligible. 

(2) Project representatives must have a contact address in Japan and must be 45 years old or under on the date when the grant begins. 

● Project team members other than the representatives 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 welcomes 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 representatives) are required to maintain close communication with the Toyota Foundation program officers during the grant period. 

(3) 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.  

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 their affiliation (or lack thereof) with a university, research institute, NPO/NGO, or other organization.

Grant Period: Two years (Nov 1, 2025 to Oct 31, 2027)

Application Language: English or Japanese

Applications are due June 6, 2025 (until 3:00 p.m. Japan Standard Time).

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.

Traffic on the Toyota Foundation website may increase immediately prior to the application deadline (June 6, 2025, 3:00 p.m.), making it impossible in some cases to submit a project proposal, so we recommend that you apply as early as possible.