Open call for applications

FY2026 Open call

Message from President on the Launch of the Call for Proposals (Japanese only)

Briefing Materials for the Call for Proposals

LOTUS FY2026 call overview（PDF：509KB）

Sessions for the call for proposals

We plan to hold briefing sessions for the call for proposals on the following dates:

Please note that the sessions above will be held in Japanese only.
Only the Tokyo sessions will be held in a hybrid format; all other sessions will be held onsite only.

If you wish to participate, please register via the link below:
https://form2.jst.go.jp/s/1108eb49/o

Please note that the Session 1 and the Session 2 will cover identical content.

If you wish to participate, please register via the link below:
Session 1 – https://form2.jst.go.jp/s/812c2218/o New registrations are closed as the event is fully booked.
Session 2 – https://form2.jst.go.jp/s/d5cc5dec/o Applications are currently open for this session only.

Depending on the number of registrations, we may close the registration for the briefing sessions earlier than scheduled.

Schedule

Requirements for Invitees

Invitees must meet the following requirements of affiliation / age at the time of exchange participation.
(1) Persons who are enrolled as a graduate student (master's degree, doctoral degree) or postdoctoral fellow at an Indian university, 40 years old and under.

 

Eligibility Requirements for Applicants and Implementing Institutions

(1) Eligibility Requirements for Applicants (Principal Investigator (PI) in Japan)
a. Applicants must themselves belong to a research institution in Japan and be in a position to conduct research at that institution.
b. Applicants must be researchers who can assume responsibility as the Principal Investigator in charge of the joint research between Japan and India throughout the implementation period, including overseeing the invitees.

(2) Eligibility Requirements for Implementing Institutions
Institutions must be universities, research and development agencies, or other entities that have research and development bases within Japan and possess corporate status under Japanese law. These Japanese institutions must be conducting or planning to conduct joint research with Indian research institutions.

Number of adoptions

The total number of fellowship candidates will be about 1,000.

Implementation period

LOTUS Basic

The implementation period is up to 12 months following execution of the contract with the implementing institution. The invitee’s period of stay may consist of multiple visits, provided they fall within the research period.

LOTUS-ASPIRE

The implementation period is up to 36 months following execution of the contract with the implementing institution. The invitee’s period of stay may consist of multiple visits, provided they fall within the research period.

How to Apply

Please make sure to review the “Application Guidelines.”
Applications must be submitted through “e-Rad” by PI in Japan.
Please note that the name of the call differs depending on whether you (1) apply for both [LOTUS-ASPIRE] and [LOTUS Basic], (2) apply only for [LOTUS-ASPIRE], or (3) apply only for [LOTUS Basic].

e-Rad（https://www.e-rad.go.jp/index.html）

For applicants applying only for LOTUS Basic

Apply under:
“FY2026 India-Japan Circulation of Talented Youths in Science Programme (LOTUS Basic) ” via e-Rad

For applicants applying for both LOTUS-ASPIRE and LOTUS Basic, or only for LOTUS-ASPIRE

Apply under:
“FY2026 Adopting Sustainable Partnerships for Innovation Research Ecosystem ASPIRE Exchange Type (LOTUS-ASPIRE)” via e-Rad

* Applicants applying for only one program must ensure that the appropriate section of the application form is checked.

* Please note that registration in e-Rad may take some time. Be sure to prepare well in advance. Applications not submitted by the deadline or applications containing deficiencies will not be considered for review.

Process up to implementation

Application Guidelines

*1 This form is exclusively for those who wish to apply for a transition from the ongoing FY2025 LOTUS Program to FY2026 LOTUS-ASPIRE or LOTUS Basic.

Past Calls

• FY2025
• FY2024