Application information for Global Students’ Idea Factory 2026
Overview of the Global Students’ Idea Factory 2026
Please check the overview of the Global Students’ Idea Factory 2026 before application.
Qualifications
We are looking for bold research ideas that address global challenges, driven by your original vision and motivation.
Eligibility for application
- Graduate students (Master’s or Doctoral courses) currently enrolled in a university in Japan, regardless of citizenship.
- Graduate students currently enrolled in overseas universities.
FAQ: Eligibility for Students Graduating in March 2026
- I am scheduled to graduate (complete my program) in March 2026. Am I still eligible to apply? If so, which “Student Category” should I select?
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Yes, you are eligible to apply. Your “Student Category” is determined by your status and residency after April 2026. Please select the appropriate category based on the following criteria:
- If you will remain in Japan (April – August 2026):
- Japanese Student in Japan: Select this if you are a Japanese citizen residing in Japan.
- International Student in Japan: Select this if you are a non-Japanese citizen residing in Japan.
- Note: In both cases, you are required to attend the Spring Boost Camp and the Final Presentation in person.
- If you will move or return overseas (after April 2026):
- Overseas Student: Select this if you will no longer be residing in Japan after your graduation, regardless of your citizenship.
- If you will remain in Japan (April – August 2026):
Target fields of study
- All fields welcome: natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, engineering, and interdisciplinary studies
- No restrictions on research areas
Notes on application
-Research ideas to be submitted-
Research ideas that you are currently working on in your laboratory or ideas that are solely your own (without any feasibility studies) are both acceptable provided that they contribute to a social issue with a global perspective.
We expect a high level of enthusiasm for the research idea.
If there are any existing projects or related laboratories that are similar to the research idea you are applying for, please declare at the time of application the differences and originality with those projects and laboratories.
Note: Be aware that this program is not to implement the research idea you submit as it is. It will be integrated with other participants’ research ideas and expected to become an advanced research concept (or an actual research plan) throughout the program.
-Research ethics-
Please make sure you understand and respect research ethics before you apply.
See, for example, the website of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology:
Initiatives for Promotion of Research Integrity
Guidelines for responding to Misconduct in Research
-Open Policy for the outputs of the project-
Please be aware that the Final Presentations may be broadcast live or streamed on the Internet after the event. A summary of the presentations will also be made available on the Internet. We shall not be liable for any trouble, loss and damage caused by the publication of the output of the project. We appreciate your understanding in advance.
-Intellectual property rights-
All intellectual property rights for the submitted documents remain with the applicant. However, as noted above, presentations and summaries of selected ideas will be made public. Please exercise due diligence, especially if you are considering a patent application.
Notification of selection results
All applicants will be notified of their selection results via email (scheduled for mid-March 2026, TBD).
Detailed information regarding the Spring Boost Camp will be sent individually to successful applicants.
Submission of a letter of commitment and proof of enrollment
- Those who pass the screening will be asked to submit a separate written pledge and proof of enrollment (student ID, certificate of enrollment, etc.) Note: You can view a sample of last year’s written pledge here.
- Failure to submit the pledge and proof of enrollment will result in denial of participation in all programs.
- Applications found to be in violation of the Pledge, such as violations of research ethics or false declarations, will be disqualified.
Privacy policy
Personal data
The Global Students’ Idea Factory Executive Committee will handle personal information collected and acquired in the course of the Global Students’ Idea Factory in accordance with the “Personal Information Protection Policy” (https://jaas.science/policy/) of the Japan Association for the Promotion of Science, and will comply with laws and regulations regarding the protection of the rights of individuals and personal information.
Purpose and scope of use of personal information
- The information will be used for procedures necessary to implement the Spring Boost Camp, Global Workshops and the Final Presentation.
- The information will be used for operations related to the Global Students’ Idea Factory, such as the counting of applications, screening, awards, publicity activities, and surveys.
- The Global Students’ Idea Factory secretariat will use the information to contact applicants.
- The host, sponsors, and press may take video and photographs and conduct interviews, which may be used in the media and on the Internet.
- Questionnaires will be used to verify the results of the program, to follow up with participants, and to inform them of related events.
- When aggregating and analyzing the attributes of applicants and participants, the information will be processed to prevent the identification of individuals.
- Applicants will be notified if the purpose of use exceeds the scope of the purposes described in the preceding paragraph.
- The purpose of use will not be changed without the consent of the applicant.
- If an applicant requests disclosure, correction, or discontinuation of use of his/her personal information, we will deal with the request in an appropriate manner.
Application procedures
Please click the application button on this page, fill in the required information in the form, and submit your application.
Please use English when filling out the application form, writing your research idea summary, and creating the detailed materials.
(*All programs, including the Spring Boost Camp, Global Workshops and Final Presentation, will be conducted in English in principle.)
How to apply
(A) Application Form
(B) Research Idea Summary & Detailed Materials Upload Form
Submitting both forms (A) and (B) completes your application. You will receive an application completion email at the email address you provide for both (A) and (B), so please check your inbox.
Note: It is not necessary to complete (A) and (B) simultaneously, but both must be submitted within the application period.
Required information
(A) Application Form
- Full name (in Roman Alphabet)
- Student Categories
- Name of your university/campus
- Grade
- Gender
- Name of the university from which you graduated and the country of that university
- Phone number
- Email Address
- Confirmation of participation in the Spring Boost Camp, Global Workshops and Final Presentation
- Submission of Written pledge, Personal Identification Documents, etc.
- Agreement for publication of research presentations and abstracts, and management of Intellectual Property Rights
- Response to our survey
(B) Research Idea Summary & Detailed Materials Upload Form
How to Use the Application File Upload System
- Enter the same email address you used in the (A) Application Form, check the “I’m not a robot” box, and click the “Send Verification Code” button.
- A 6-digit code will be sent to your email. Enter this code on the screen and click “Verify and Proceed.”
- Click “Submit/Edit Application Files,” fill in the required information, upload your files, and click “Submit.”
Note: You can update your submission as many times as needed until the deadline by following the same steps. Please make sure to log in using the same email address as your initial application.
The following information is required for your application:
- Title of research idea
- Research idea summary (one page maximum, accepted file formats: jpg, jpeg, png, gif, pdf, file size: 20MB or less)
- Do not include any personally identifiable information in the summary, such as your name, school name, etc.
- Please answer to the following 3 questions (maximum 300 words per question)
- Describe the social issue with a global perspective that you would like to address.
- Describe your research idea and explain how it will contribute to addressing this issue.
- Detailed materials (optional) (accepted file formats: jpg, jpeg, png, gif, pdf, file size: 20MB or less)
- Do not include any personally identifiable information in the detailed materials, such as your name, school name, etc.
- Declaration of whether there are any existing projects similar to your research idea or relevant laboratories.
- (If “yes” to the previous item) Declaration of differences, originality, etc. from those projects/laboratories.
Note: Personal information such as name, gender, affiliation, and grade is not required, as the screening will be based on the research idea.
Application deadline
21 February (23:59 JST) 2026
Note: Please submit your application well in advance of the deadline, as high traffic near the deadline may prevent your registration from being submitted.
Application
Submitting both forms (A) Application Form and (B) Research Idea Summary & Detailed Materials Upload Form completes your application.
It is not necessary to complete (A) and (B) simultaneously, but both must be submitted within the application period.
First, please enter your information in the “(A) Application Form” below and submit your application.
After submitting the “(A) Application Form”, please upload your research idea summary and detailed materials through the “(B) Research Idea Summary & Detailed Materials Upload Form” below once they are complete.
Your application is complete once you have submitted both the “(A) Application Form” and the “(B) Research Idea Summary & Detailed Materials Upload Form”. You will receive a confirmation email at the email address you provided for each form, so please check your inbox.
If you do not receive a confirmation email after submitting both forms, please check your spam or junk folder. If you still cannot find the email, please contact the Global Students’ Idea Factory Executive Committee.
Note: Please note that inquiries made immediately before the Application deadline may not be answered in time. We encourage you to contact us well in advance of the deadline.