The Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) will soon invite proposals for joint research projects under the Strategic International Collaborative Research Program (SICORP). This call will be conducted under the framework of EIG CONCERT-Japan, which promotes multilateral science and technology cooperation between Japan and 12 organizations from 11 European countries, as outlined below.
Call Title: "AI-Powered Robotics for Real-World Applications"
Further details regarding the official launch of the call will be announced on the JST website at a later date.
■ Call Topic and Objectives
The call topic for FY2026 is "AI-Powered Robotics for Real-World Applications."
This call seeks research proposals that integrate AI and robotics to enable scalable applications in real-world environments. By incorporating AI, robots are expected to achieve advanced levels of autonomy, efficiency, safety, and collaboration, allowing them to perform complex tasks, adapt to dynamic environments, and optimize operational costs.
The objective of this call is to support research that leverages these capabilities to create new value in socially important fields.
*About EIG CONCERT-Japan
EIG CONCERT-Japan (Connecting and Coordinating European Research and Technology Development with Japan) is a program established to promote and develop science and technology cooperation between Japan and Europe. The program was originally launched as an ERA-NET project under the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP7) (2011-2014) of the European Union. It has since become independent from EU funding and continues its cooperative activities, such as jointly funded calls for proposals, under the name EIG CONCERT-Japan.
■ Funding
Each joint research project selected is eligible to receive research funding on the Japanese side of up to 39 million JPY over a period of three years.
Note: The commissioned research funding includes indirect costs equivalent to 30% of the direct costs.
■ Eligibility and Requirements
The duration of support for the research projects is three years. Proposals must be submitted jointly by a Japan-Europe research consortium (comprising at least two European countries and Japan).
Detailed application guidelines and related documents will be made available on the JST website upon the official launch of the call.
■ EIG CONCERT-Japan European Member Funding Organizations
(12 organizations in 11 countries, alphabetical order)
• Bulgaria - Bulgarian National Science Fund (BNSF)
• Czech Republic - Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MEYS)
• Estonia - Estonian Research Council (ETAG)
• France -French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS)
• France - French National Research Agency (ANR)
• Germany - German Aerospace Center - Project Management Agency (DLR)
• Hungary - National Research, Development and Innovation Office (NKFIH)
• Italy - National Research Council of Italy (CNR)
• Poland - National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR)
• Slovakia - Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAS)
• Spain - State Research Agency (AEI)
• Türkiye - Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK)
■ European Countries and Funding Organizations Participating in This Call (Tentative)
(Listed in alphabetical order)
As of March 2026, the European countries and funding organizations confirmed to participate in this call are as follows. Other EIG CONCERT-Japan European member funding organizations are still considering whether to participate. For the latest information, please refer to the JST website:
https://www.jst.go.jp/inter/english/program_e/announce_e/announce_cj13.html
Updates are also shared via the JST Department of International Affairs X account: https://x.com/JSTinter.
From Japan, JST is expected to participate as the supporting funding organization.
• Czech Republic - Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MEYS)
• Germany - German Aerospace Center - Project Management Agency (DLR)
• Hungary - National Research, Development and Innovation Office (NKFIH)
• Italy - National Research Council of Italy (CNR)
• Poland - National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR)
• Slovakia - Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAS)
• Spain - State Research Agency (AEI)
• Türkiye - Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK)
■ Inquiries Regarding This Call
EIG CONCERT-Japan Coordination Group
Department of International Affairs
Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)
E-mail: concert(at)jst.go.jp (Please replace (at) with ＠)