A total of 214 international joint research projects have been selected for this program so far
(including projects in Infectious Diseases Control field).
Please refer to the following website for an overview of each research project:
https://www.jst.go.jp/global/english/kadai/by-research-field/environment_energy1/index.html
The main changes in the FY2026 Invitation for Research Proposals are listed at the following website:
https://www.jst.go.jp/global/koubo/index.html
(Japanese)
A Post-doc cannot apply as principal investigator or lead joint researcher.
*Staff who have obtained a doctorate or who have left a doctoral program after having obtained the designated number of credits (fulfilled the course requirements) and who are hired on fixed-term contracts and who are 1. employed in research tasks at a university or inter-university research institute but who are not in a post in which they are engaged in teaching or research pursuant to Article 92 of the Basic Act on Education, such as professor, associate professor, assistant professor, or adjunct; or 2. employed in research tasks at an independent administrative corporation or other public research institution (including national and public experimental research institutions) but are not in a management role in their group, such as research group leader or lead investigator
(Reference:https://www.mext.go.jp/b_menu/toukei/chousa06/postdoctor/yougo/1414263.htm
A company or similar organization may either take part as the principal investigator's institution, or may participate by one of the methods below.
Furthermore, even if persons working for the company or other organization concerned do not become participants in the research project, it may be associated with the project as an external supporting institution (such as an advisory institution, an institution responsible for future implementation, or a contract institution undertaking test work or other work not including research components).
Note: If a company is associated with project participation as an external supporting institution, Form 8 need not necessarily be submitted.
The following points need to be borne in mind.
Before JST can conclude a Contract Research Agreement with a company or similar entity, it screens the company to determine whether the contract is possible and what sort of form the contract should take. As a result of this screening, JST may require compliance with a particular form of contractual relationship. If the company's state of finances is markedly unstable, the contract may be judged unfeasible, preventing the research project from being conducted at the proposed research institution. In such a case, the proposer may be required to take action such as reviewing the implementation structure.
Like JST, JICA will ask you to submit the necessary documents before concluding a project contract with a corporation and will review the feasibility of project contract conclusion and the contract method. Depending on the results of this review, you may be asked to follow the contracting method specified by JICA. In the event of extremely unstable financial situations, when contracting is deemed unfeasible and the research institution is unable to conduct a technical cooperation project overseas, you may be asked to revise the research structure.
The SATREPS program is based on the premise of joint research with a partner country. In addition to implementing the research, there are requirements for publication of outcomes and sharing of intellectual assets, and for outgoing transfer of samples and information, etc. The company is requested to confirm in advance with the partner country side that entering into such a relationship with private-sector affiliated researchers is not a problem.
Salary etc. for the person in charge of the research (principal investigator/lead joint researcher) cannot be covered as direct expenses.
If certain conditions are satisfied, it is possible to cover salary etc. for other research participants (members involved with a specific research item).
When using JICA costs to procure machinery and equipment, in principle the corporations, etc. should use a competitive procurement process (either bidding or comparative quotes), based on specifications that do not require specific brands.
Details on JST items are available at the following website under Contract Research Agreement Administrative Procedures (for private-sector companies).
https://www.jst.go.jp/contract/index2.html (Japanese)Details regarding contract research expenses are available at the following website under Contract Research Agreement Administrative Procedures.
https://www.jst.go.jp/contract/index2.html (Japanese)
Can the research contract with the lead joint researcher's institution in Japan be structured as subcontracting (see note) via the principal investigator's institution?
Note: Subcontracting in the research contract refers to a situation where only the principal investigator's institution signs a contract with JST, and a research contract is signed by that affiliated institution and the joint researcher's affiliated institution.
Under the SATREPS program, a subcontracting structure is not used for research contracts. JST concludes separate research contracts with the research institutions that the principal investigator and lead joint researcher are affiliated with.
In principle, Forms 1-9 should be completed in Japanese. However, if that is problematic, English is acceptable. English-language copies of the application forms are posted on the English-language SATREPS website.
https://www.jst.go.jp/global/english/koubo/index.html
The research proposal forms must be submitted via e-Rad, the Cross-ministerial R&D Management System. This system has some sections that require entry in Japanese. For those sections, seek assistance from a Japanese speaker.
Interviews in the selection process are also in principle conducted in Japanese, but if that is problematic, English is acceptable.
Please submit Form 8 for all the corporations among the institutions participating in the study on the Japanese side. However, for corporations acting as external support institutions, this submission is voluntary. Submission is unnecessary for institutions falling under any of the following.
Under the SATREPS program, one of the key perspectives applied when selecting projects is whether a research proposal is in line with the needs of the developing country. Proposals are expected to show a proper understanding of the partner country needs, obtained through means such as prior contact and interaction in a research context. One useful reference is the Country Assistance Policy (an ODA policy that MOFA establishes by comprehensively taking into account factors such as the local political, economic, and social situations, development plan, and development challenges) which has been formulated for some countries. Country Assistance Policies are published on the MOFA website:
https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/gaiko/oda/seisaku/kuni_enjyo.html
Furthermore, in order to conduct sustainable international joint research, a systematic approach is expected in the partner country, bringing in partner country government agencies, etc. The selection process takes into account whether the structure is adequate for that purpose. When setting up a project, we also recommend liaising in advance with the Japanese embassy in the partner country and with the local JICA office.
Another useful method of understanding the needs of a developing country is to attend area studies conferences and similar events, and talk with other participants who are active in the partner country.
Note: Inquiries should preferably be made by email, except when urgent.
For inquiries on SATREPS Application Guideline or application form, please contact:
SATREPS Group, Department of International Affairs,
Japan Science and Technology Agency
Tokyo Headquarters, 8th Floor, K's Gobancho
7, Gobancho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 102-0076 Japan
TEL: +81-3-5214-8085
Inquiry FormFor inquiries on framework of ODA technical cooperation or official request for ODA technical cooperation, please contact:
Office for Science, Technology and Innovation, and Digital Transformation, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
E-mail:gpgsd(AT)jica.go.jp
replace (AT) by @ before sending.
Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)
Department of International Affairs
SATREPS Group
TEL : +81-3-5214-8085