On June 3, 2026, the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) held a plenary meeting to inaugurate the five newly selected projects for FY 2025 and share the progress of the 13 ongoing projects from FY 2023 and FY 2024 in the quantum field under the Adopting Sustainable Partnerships for Innovative Research Ecosystem (ASPIRE). The event was held online and gathered approximately 60 participants.

Project Information:
https://www.jst.go.jp/aspire/en/program_e/assignment_e/index.html

The meeting began with remarks by Mr. Atsushi Arakawa, Director of the Office of ASPIRE, Department of International Affairs, JST, and Dr. Norio Kawakami, Program Officer of ASPIRE on the quantum field. The principal investigators (PIs) of the projects selected in FY 2025 presented an overview of the joint research plans, international talent mobility and circulation initiatives. Subsequently, the PIs of the projects selected in FY 2023 and FY 2024 presented reports on ongoing research progress as well as on international talent mobility and circulation. In addition, early-career researchers (ECRs) who traveled abroad during the program shared their insights.

The projects demonstrated many examples of how international research collaborations and researcher exchanges are progressing and how ECRs are gaining experience within these international networks, improving their initiative and broadening their perspectives. Furthermore, these exchanges can lead to sustained joint research and future scholarly achievements.

Simultaneously, several challenges facing international research exchanges have been identified, including visa procedures and rising travel costs. To address these issues, the importance of opportunities for information-sharing and program-level support were discussed.

At the end of the meeting, Dr. Kenjiro Miyano, the Program Director (PD) of ASPIRE, reaffirmed that the core of this program was human resource development. He highlighted the importance of clearly indicating outcomes in future assessments concerning the development of ECRs and international talent exchanges. The meeting concluded with expectation that this program will foster the next generation of leading researchers and underscored the importance of strengthening long-term human resource base by utilizing international networks.

With the knowledge gained from this meeting, JST will continue to promote its research projects smoothly.
(Report by Norikane & Koga, Office of ASPIRE, Department of International Affairs)

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