The FOREST program has started accepting research proposals for FY2026.
Call for Proposals
Call for Research Applications for FY 2026
FOREST program invites applications for challenging and original research that requires long term endeavor without fear of failures, targeting research fields related to science and technology (excluding those related to the humanities alone) with the potential to create seeds that will lead to disruptive innovation.
The call for research applications will be conducted via the Cross-ministerial R&D Management System (e-Rad). Those applications which have not completed the application process by the specified deadline will not be accepted for any reason.
Please note that, for the FY 2026 call, only one application will be accepted per applicant regardless of the affiliated institution at the time of the application.
For details, please read and understand the Application Guideline.
The publication of application forms and applications via e Rad are scheduled to begin on April 1.
Selection Schedule for FY 2026
| Start of call for research application | Friday, March 27, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Application deadline (The submission of application via the Cross-ministerial R&D Management System [e-Rad] must be completed.) |
Thursday, May 14, 2026 12:00 pm (noon) <Strictly enforced> |
| Document screening period | Late May to June 2026 |
| Notification for interviewees | Late June to July 2026 |
| Interview screening period | Late June to August 2026 |
| Notification/Announcement of selected projects | October 2026 |
| Research Start | December 2026 |
*The dates after the application deadline are tentative. They are subject to change in the future.
Documents for Application
Please download the following application forms and submit via e-Rad before the deadline. Applications that are not completed the submission until the deadline, or using wrong application form will not be accepted.
| Application Guideline | 1.3MB |
|---|---|
| Application Forms／Guidance | In preparation. Scheduled to be released on April 1. |
| FAQ (in Japanese) | 0.4MB |
| Appendix: How to Apply Using the Common R&D Management System (e-Rad) (in Japanese) |
2.8MB |
Message from Program Officer
In preparation. Scheduled to be released on April 1.
Interview schedule
In preparation. Scheduled to be released on April 1.
Information Sessions on Call for Research Applications(in Japanese)
We will hold several Zoom-based webinar-style presentations on the Call for Research Applications (first 500 participants per session). Pre-registration is required for each session. Please register in advance for the date and time you want to attend. The name and e-mail address entered on the registration form will only be used to confirm your registration and to contact you in case of any problems related to the session, and will not be used for any other purpose. In case of any problems, we will update the information on the top page of our website as necessary.
Information Sessions on Call for Research Applications Date and Time(in Japanese)
| Date | Time | Pre-registration URL |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday, April 9 | 15:00～16:30 | https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_5zGeOn26QhaDltWZJKvnsQ |
| Friday, April 17 | 10:30～12:00 | https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_uR_a6N2fTMerb7bClzeq0g |
| Wednesday, April 22 | 15:00～16:30 | https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_IS4HyEQNTH-9tLk1iAVHog |
| Tuesday, April 28 | 10:30～12:00 | https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Ct6sPyyARyKjqEWpaFaasA |
Contact
For inquiries related to call for applications of FOREST program, please contact to the following email address.
souhatsu-application (at)* jst.go.jp