Description

The JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship for Research in Japan (Standard Programme) is a mobility programme established through a scientific cooperation agreement between the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) and the Fund for Scientific Research – FNRS.

The programme provides postdoctoral researchers from the Wallonia-Brussels Federation (Belgium) with the opportunity to conduct collaborative research at Japanese universities or research institutions under the supervision of a Japanese host researcher.

The fellowship aims to promote international scientific exchange and strengthen research collaboration between Japan and Belgium while supporting the career development of early-stage researchers.

Funding Amount

The fellowship provides individual mobility funding, including:

• Monthly maintenance allowance: approximately JPY 362,000 per month
• Round-trip international airfare (economy class)
• Settling-in allowance: JPY 200,000 upon arrival
• Overseas travel insurance
• Possibility of additional research funding (Grant-in-Aid for JSPS Fellows) requested by the Japanese host researcher.
• Duration of fellowship: 12 to 24 months.

Submission Deadlines

For FNRS applicants (FY2026 call):

• Call opening: 17 October 2025
• Application deadline to FNRS: 4 May 2026 (14:00 Brussels time).

JSPS global schedule:

• Fellows must start their research stay between mid-May 2026 and 30 November 2026.

Eligible Types of Applicants

Eligible applicants are:

• Postdoctoral researchers (R2) affiliated with institutions in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation.
• Researchers must be highly qualified postdoctoral researchers nominated through FNRS.

Additional JSPS eligibility conditions generally include:

• Holding a doctoral degree obtained within the past six years before the start of the fellowship.
• Having a Japanese host researcher and host institution willing to supervise the research stay.

Eligible Countries

• Belgium (Wallonia-Brussels Federation) – applicants funded through FNRS
• Japan – host institutions where the research is conducted.

Submission Conditions

Key conditions include:

• Applicants must identify a Japanese host researcher and host institution before submitting the application.
• Applications must be submitted to FNRS, which acts as the nominating authority for JSPS for researchers from the Wallonia-Brussels Federation.
• The fellowship supports research conducted under the supervision of the Japanese host.
• Selected fellows must conduct their research full-time in Japan during the fellowship period.