ASPIRE 2025 Joint Call "Japan-Netherlands Research Collaborations"

(Last updated 16 May 2025)

12 May 2025

The Japan Science and Technology Agency(JST), in cooperation with the Dutch Research Council(NWO), is accepting proposals for the ASPIRE joint call "Japan-Netherlands Research Collaborations" in the field of semiconductors, photonics, quantum and neuromorphic technologies.

Computer manufacturers are pushing the boundaries of what is feasible e.g. clock speed, chip-size and -packaging, bandwidth, and latency to meet social demand and industrial needs in processing power, data crunching, and data transmission. At the same time, high-tech devices and facilities, such as smartphones, computers and datacenters, consume a huge amount of power and scarce materials causing a major impact on the environment.
The call invites researchers from Japan and the Netherlands to propose new research ideas aimed at developing competitive alternative technologies to conventional information processing hardware that can address this challenge.
In particular, the call aims to strengthen international cooperation between Japan and the Netherlands, build new transnational networks, and train early career researchers who can play an active role internationally in the future.

Link to Japanese page

Outline

Proposals submitted to JST and NWO will be jointly evaluated, and adopted projects will be jointly supported. The Japan-based research teams will be supported by JST and the Netherlands-based research teams will be supported by NWO.

Partner country:

Netherlands

Partner funding agency:

The Dutch Research Council(NWO)

Call theme:

Unconventional information processing technologies - research collaborations between Japan and the Netherlands

Research field:

Semiconductor, Quantum

Note:

For details on the themes and scopes of the call, please check the call text.

See also: NWO call page

Support Scale

JST will fund the Japan-based research team up to JPY 250 million per project, including 30% overhead, for a minimum of 4 years and up to 5 years. (Funding is expected to start in June 2026). Approximately four applications are expected to be adopted.

Eligibility

• The Japan-based applicants must be researchers affiliated with a research institution in Japan^* and conduct research at that institution.
  *e.g., university, independent administrative institution, public experimental research institution, public-interest corporation.
• Researchers and research institutions must register with the "Cross-Ministerial Research and Development Management System (e-Rad)" prior to applying.

Note:
The following restrictions on multiple applications apply for the Japan-based applicants.

a. Applicants (PI and Co-PI)^** may only apply to one of the ASPIRE 2025 Call for Proposals. This includes the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) ASPIRE 2025 Call for Proposals.

b. PIs or Co-PIs currently supported under an ASPIRE Joint Call for Proposals may not submit applications.

c. PIs currently supported by the ASPIRE Call for Japan Based Researchers may apply, but if the proposal is selected, the existing ASPIRE-supported project will be terminated.

d. Co-PIs currently supported by the ASPIRE Call for Japan Based Researchers may apply. However, if their proposal is selected, they must withdraw from their existing ASPIRE-supported project. The project that the Co-PI withdrew from will undergo a re-assessment, including a review of the resource allocation and research plans.

**PI: Principal Investigator in Japan, Co-PI: Co-Principal Investigator in Japan

If you are a PI or Co-PI currently supported by ASPIRE and are considering to apply, please contact JST via email in advance.

• The Netherlands-based researchers should follow NWO regulations. For details, please check the call text.
• Private companies can participate through the Japanese and the Dutch teams, but they cannot receive any financial support from JST and NWO. For details, please check the call text.
• Participants affiliated with organizations ineligible to apply as a PI or Co-PI may still contribute through in-kind co-funding. A separate application form is required if a co-funder is involved. Please contact JST in advance to obtain an application form. For details, please check the call text.

Timeline

The schedule for the submission and review of research proposals for this call is as indicated in the table below.
Please note that the schedule (except the application deadline) is subject to change.

Prior notice deadline*	31 July 2025
Application via the e-Rad system deadline for Japan-based applicants**	9 September 2025 (14:00 JST)
Document review	September 2025 to January 2026
Interviews for Japan-based PIs who passed the document review ***	February 2026
Notification of results	March 2026(tentative)
Start of research	June 2026(tentative)

*Applicants are encouraged to provide prior notice of their proposal by 31 July. Further information can be found in the Prior Notice section of this webpage.
**Closing date for the Dutch applicants: 9 September 2025 14:00pm CEST
***Interviews will be held only for Japan-based PIs who pass the document review. Applicants who proceed to the interview stage will be notified by email at least two weeks before the interview date. Please note that we cannot answer inquiries regarding the progress of the review, including whether you will be subject to an interview or not.

Proposal Submission

Please read the "Call Text" and "Annex of Call Text" carefully before applying.

1. Japan-based researchers, in cooperation with the Netherlands-based researchers, should prepare the joint proposal in English using the "Application Form".

2. The Japan-based PI must submit an additional information using the "Annex for Japan-side".

3. The Japan-based PI should fill out the "Questionnaire for Research Security" in either Japanese or English format.

4. The Japan-based PI must merge all application documents into a PDF file to be uploaded to e-Rad.

• The PIs in Japan and the Netherlands should ensure that there are no disparities in the content of the proposals in the designated application forms submitted to JST and NWO.
• If applicants do not submit the required documents to both JST and NWO by the deadline, the proposal shall not be accepted. Please note that proposals should be prepared well in advance, as submission via e-Rad may take time. The PIs and Co-PIs must complete the Research Integrity Information section on the e-Rad platform to be eligible to apply.
• The Netherlands-based PI should submit their application via the NWO application system (ISAAC) in accordance with the call text.

Application Form

Call text and manuals	Call Text
	Annex of Call Text「公募要領別紙」(In Japanese)
	e-Rad Manual(In Japanese)
Application documents	Application Form
	Annex for Japan-side(In Japanese)
	Questionnaire for Research Security

JST's Secure Research and Risk Management

JST may conduct checks on all applications for this call, such as due diligence checks. For more information, please check the call text "3.4.1 Research security measures on Japan-side" and the Annex of Call Text 4.3 in detail.

ASPIRE Japan-Netherlands Joint Call FAQ on Research Security

NWO's Secure Research and Risk Management

For the guidelines that NWO adheres to, please refer to the call text "3.4.2 Compliance with the National Knowledge Security Guidelines in the Netherlands".

Notes

• The Japan-based PI must have completed the designated online research ethics course prior to application. Please refer to the Annex of Call Text for details on enrollment in the research ethics education program. Failure to complete the program will result in the proposal being rejected as incomplete.
• If the institution conducting the research is a national or municipal organization, it must take the necessary budgetary measures before entering into any research contracts for which it is responsible. Please confirm with your institution and contact JST prior to submission.

Prior Notice (recommended)

To predict the total number of applications, we would appreciate applicants submitting prior information on their upcoming proposals to JST and NWO's emails below by 31 July 2025.

*Email:

aspire-nl(at)jst.go.jp
nwo-jst-joint-call(at)nwo.nl
(replace (at) with @)

*Required items:

- Subject: Prior Notice_(JP applicant name)_(NL applicant name)
- Body:

• 1．Research Project Title (Tentative)
• 2. Keywords describing the project (max. 5)
• 3. Proposal Summary (Tentative)
• 4. Japan-based Main Applicant Name / Institution and Department / Position
• 5. Netherlands-based Main Applicant Name/ Institution and Department / Position
• 6. Do you plan to include any co-applicants in the consortium? If already known which ones, please provide their name / institution and department / position.
• 7. Do you plan to include any cooperation partners in the consortium? If already known which ones, please mention them here.
• 8. Do you plan to include any co-funders in the consortium? If already known which ones, please mention them here.

Inquiries for Japan-based Applicants

For any inquiries regarding this call, please contact us via email. Kindly note that we are unable to respond to inquiries by telephone.

Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)
Department of International Affairs

ASPIRE Coordination Group

aspire-nl(at)jst.go.jp (replace (at) with @)