Call for Proposals

JST-NSF Joint Research Call on Information and Communication Research

The Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) is launching a joint call in collaboration with the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) as an international partner of VINES. VINES is a research program in the field of information and communication, managed by the NSF. The JST Strategic Research Program’s AIP Network Lab encourages teams of Japan-U.S. researchers to submit proposals in the area of “Information and Communication Research,” which is critical for next-generation wireless networks and network systems.

Overview of VINES

(1) Program Title: Verticals-enabling Intelligent Network Systems (VINES)

(2) R&D Targets: The scope of this program includes areas critical to future generations of wireless networks and network systems, such as new wireless devices, circuits, protocols, and systems for 6G and beyond (not limiting to cellular); security, privacy, and resiliency; mobile edge computing; distributed machine learning and inferences across mobile devices; and fine-grained and real-time dynamic spectrum allocation and sharing.

(3) Partners: Ericsson, Intel, Qualcomm

(4) Scheme: Track 1 (Use-inspired Fundamental Basic Research) and Track 2 (Verticals-Driven Technology Development, Demonstration and Translation)
JST will conduct the Track 1 open call. Please refer to the following NICT website for the Track 2 call.

(5) Proposal selection method: NSF-led lead agency method
Please refer to the NSF website for details. In addition, the Japanese Principal Investigators should also refer to the “Japan-side Call Text Annex (in Japanese)” for more information.

https://www.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/vines-verticals-enabling-intelligent-network-systems

Support Details

JST will provide research funding to the Japan side and NSF will provide the same level of funding to the U.S. side.
The total budget for JST's support of the Japan research teams under this call for proposals is expected to be approximately 110 million yen (including indirect costs) over a period of approximately three years* per research project. If the research proposal is selected, JST will pay the research cost (direct cost) plus indirect cost (up to 30% of the direct cost) to the research organization as a contract research expense, based on a contract research agreement. The total amount of approximately US$750,000 (including indirect costs) will be allocated to the U.S.-based researchers from the NSF. The amount of research funds allocated to each research team will be determined by the content of the proposal, evaluation results, and the number of research projects selected.

*The research period for JST is expected to start from April 2026 till the end of March 2029, while the research period for NSF is 36 months from the research start date.

How to Apply

(1) Princ ipal investigators from the U.S.-side and Japan-side should jointly prepare a research proposal in English. (see the NSF website for the format of the proposal).

(2) The Japanese PI must also prepare the “Japan-side Application Form” in Japanese. The application form can be downloaded from the “Application Form” section below.

(3) The Japanese PI must enter the required items in the e-Rad system (https://www.e-rad.go.jp/) and submit the “Japan-side Application Form” to the e-Rad system before the Japan-side deadline.

(4) The Principal Investigators of both sides must submit their jointly prepared English research proposal and the Certificate of Eligibility (issued by JST to the Japanese PI) to the NSF via the electronic submission system designated by the NSF before the U.S.-side deadline.

(5) The Japanese PI must also submit the English research proposal submitted to the NSF to JST in a manner specified by JST.

* The “Japan-side Application Form” is only required for submitting the application to the e-Rad system. JST will review the application and issue a Certificate of Eligibility to the Japanese PI(s). The Japanese PI should immediately send the Certificate of Eligibility to the U.S.-side PI after receiving the certificate. The U.S.-side PI must submit the Certificate of Eligibility with their application to the NSF, otherwise the application will not be accepted by NSF.

* If the Principal Investigators are not able to submit the research proposal by the deadline of both countries, the proposal will not be accepted under any circumstances.

Application Deadlines

Japan-side: Thursday, August 12, 2025, at 12:00 noon (Japan Standard Time)
U.S.-side: Monday, August 25, 2025, at 5 p.m. (Local Time)

Application Form

Document	Link
Japan-side Call Text (in Japanese)	PDF (725KB)
Japan-side Call Text Annex (in Japanese)	PDF (1.68MB)
Supplemental Japan-side Application Form (in Japanese)	Word (36.2KB)

Inquiries

ACT-X Group, Department of Strategic Basic Research
JST (Japan Science and Technology Agency)

TEL：03-6380-9130
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