Objective

The FWO wants to optimally promote international collaboration, as a lever for excellence. To this end, the FWO has signed a collaboration agreement with the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS). JSPS offers within this call 1 postdoctoral fellowship for researchers from Flanders.

This programme supports excellent junior researchers from a postdoctoral level onwards who wish to carry out scientific research at a Japanese institute recognized by JSPS, for a specified period of time. The programme is open to the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences.

Important dates

8 January 2026: call opens
2 April 2026 at 5PM: call closes (last application date at FWO)
June 2026: evaluation by the Cross-Domain Panel (CDP)
July 2026: nomination by FWO
Within 3 months: final selection and communication by JSPS
- Announcement of results: award letter will be sent to the host institution in Japan, digital copy will be sent via e-mail to the applicant
Before 30 November 2025: start postdoctoral fellowship in Japan
- Please take into account that the visa application procedure for Japan can take up to 3 months and is not the responsibility of the FWO.

Features

For research at a Japanese institute recognized by JSPS (see document 'Guidelines JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship Program 2026' below for more information)
1 postdoctoral fellowship per call available
Amount: These grants cover travel expenses (return trip), a settling-in allowance of 200,000 Yen (approx. € 1,100) and a fixed monthly allowance of 362,000 Yen (approx. € 2,000). In addition, the beneficiary receives travel accident and sickness insurance coverage.
Period: minimum 12 and maximum 24 (full) months

Profile and conditions

You already are a postdoctoral researcher and you have obtained your doctoral degree at a Flemish scientific institution on or after April 2^nd 2020, or you will obtain your doctoral degree at a Flemish scientific institution before start of the JSPS fellowship.
You have not previously received a postdoctoral JSPS fellowship (not even partly).
Please be aware that researchers who are Japanese citizen and foreigners who are permitted permanent residence in Japan are not eligible.

Application, evaluation and selection procedure

Carefully read the ‘Guidelines JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship Program 2026’ (see ‘Documents and additional information for applicants’ below) and verify which restrictions regarding international cooperation in FWO funding instruments are in place.
You complete the application form (in English) that you can download on this page (see below) and return it before the deadline to interprog@fwo.be as well as a copy of your PhD degree diploma. (If the degree diploma has not yet been awarded, a letter is required from your institution stating the date that you will officially receive the degree.)
You attach a research plan in the application form (see point 18), prepared in consultation with the Japanese researcher with whom you will be staying.
You attach an approval of acceptance of the Japanese supervisors(s), signed by the host himself/herself, that states that the programme will be executed during the intended period.
The advice (letter of reference/recommendation) of your current supervisor or the head of the current research unit should be attached to your application.
Your application is presented in June 2026 to the Cross-Domain Panel (CDP). They nominate 1 candidate to JSPS. Please be aware that this is an international panel composed of members with a broad variety of scientific expertises. Therefore you are kindly advised to write your proposal for a wide scientific audience.
JSPS informs both the FWO and the candidate of its final decision within three months.

Submitting your application

You complete the application form (in English) and return it before 2 April 2026 at 5PM to interprog@fwo.be as well as a copy of your PhD degree diploma.

Application form