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Sakura Science Program
(Open Application)
Annual Mutual Exchange Course (Course D)
Application Guidelines for FY2025 (Overview)
Application must be prepared and submitted by the Japanese host organization.
1. Basic Framework of the Program
1.1 Purpose
Countries share the challenge of advancing science and technology while transforming the R&D results
into innovations. In 2014, the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) established the “Sakura Science
Program.” Since then, the program has invited talented young individuals to Japan, giving them the
opportunity to experience Japan’s cutting-edge science and technology as well as its culture. The Sakura
Science Program’s objectives include:
To support the development of talented human resources from overseas who have the potential to
contribute to innovation in science and technology.
To Accelerate the international brain circulation.
To promote continuous collaboration, cooperation and interaction between Japanese educational and
research institutes and overseas ones.
To strengthen good relationship between Japan and other countries and regions that will help science
and technology diplomacy.
Annual Mutual Exchange Course (hereafter referred to as the “Course D”), in principle, is intended for
students, researchers, faculty members, or individuals working in science and technology-related fields, and
are 40 years of age or younger. The goal is to strengthen the relations between people and institutions in
Japan and India/Africa by fostering exchange activities that are sustainable and promotes international brain
circulation.
For example, Japan and India/Africa will select a shared social issue as a theme and implement a project-
based exchange (*) (dispatch/invitation) through inter-institutional collaborations (**) throughout the year.
These collaborations will be realized by utilizing the existing networks and relations between Japanese
organizations and counterpart country organizations cultivated by the past Sakura Science Program (Course
A/B/C) exchange activities, etc.
The dispatch and invitation with a maximum of 90 days/person are assumed to be a hybrid exchange
combined with online exchanges.
*Project-based exchanges:
Exchanges that will achieve research or education goals shared by the universities and other institutions
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in Japan and the partner country. Examples:
・Exchanges that foster the development and networking of students, post-doctoral fellows, and other
laboratory personnel, with the aim of contributing to brain circulation efforts and promoting future
joint research in fields agreed upon by the universities.
・Exchanges that support the training and facilitate networking among faculty members for activities
such as faculty dispatch, joint supervision (JS), double degrees (DD), etc.
・Exchanges to foster networks and develop human resources to establish internships, joint degree
programs, start-ups, joint campuses, etc. between the organizations.
**Inter-institutional cooperation:
Cooperation based on an agreement between universities, etc. (including faculties, departments,
research institutes, centers, etc.) in Japan and the partner country. Examples:
・Development of exchange from symposiums, etc.
・Development of exchange through public external funding or technical cooperation.
・Development from international exchange at universities, etc.
(inter-institutional cooperation agreements, joint degree programs, exchange programs, etc.)
1.2 Countries or regions for invitation
India and African countries are eligible for this course. For exchanges with India, multiple Indian
institutions can be involved in one exchange, but Institutions from outside of India cannot participate.
Exchanges with African countries can include institutions from multiple African countries but cannot
include institutions from outside of Africa.
1.3 Fields of exchange
Science and technology (natural sciences, humanities, and social sciences)
(Project-based international youth exchanges through inter-institutional collaboration)
1.4 Exchange plan requirements
Exchange plans must align with "1.1 Purpose".
This course aims to support mutual exchange (dispatch and invitation) in all fields of science and
technology, thereby improving the quality of exchange, fostering the next generation of outstanding young
people, and strengthening relations between people and institutions in Japan and India and Africa to
deepen and continue exchange in activities that contribute to brain circulation. The program also aims to
deepen and continue exchanges in activities that contribute to brain circulation.
1.5 Requirements for Participants
Participants must meet the following requirements at the time of the exchange:
(1) Affiliation / Age（※）
Technical college students, university students, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, educators
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involved in science and technology, individuals working in science and technology related fields at public
institutions, and research and development personnels at private companies, who are under 40 years old.
※ Unlike the other courses of the Sakura Science Program, it is not necessary for invitees to be first-time
visitors to Japan, but the same exchange host organization cannot invite participants who were invited
under the Sakura Science Program Courses A, B, and C in the same fiscal year to participate in Course
D. The participants from Japan do not have to be a first-time visitor to the counterpart country.
※ The same exchange plan may be submitted for multiple years. Participants from previous years are
permitted to participate again in the same program in subsequent years.
※ Those who were enrolled at an exchange institution at the time of application but have graduated or
left their employment before the exchange cannot participate, unless they have decided to continue
their enrollment by entering a graduate school at the exchange institution.
Supervisors who can lead the invited/dispatched participants and are able to ensure that the exchange
proceeds safely and effectively are allowed to participate as a chaperone in the D Course. The
requirements for supervisors are those who can take on the above-mentioned roles, and there is no
age requirement.
(2) The number of participants
The total number of invited and dispatched participants should not exceed 10.
※ No more than 10 participants in total regardless of the number of institutions involved in the exchange
(There is no set ratio of invitees/dispatched participants, however, please make sure that the ratio is
optimized to achieve the objectives of your exchange plan when drafting your exchange plan).
※ Supervisors (no more than one per exchange organization involved) may participate but will count
toward the total participant number.
1.6 Eligible Japanese organizations
Universities, technical colleges, national research and development agencies, independent administrative
agencies, private enterprises, local public entities, organizations having corporate status such as public
corporation, or general corporation in Japan.
1.7 Exchange activity types not covered
i. Those not relevant to science and technology (language training, etc.)
ii. Those with the purpose of profit.
iii. Those training its own employees of the exchange organization or its subsidiaries, or students from its
own school or local subsidiary in the partner country.
2. Recruitment period
Opening date Deadline Result notification Exchange period
From after signing the
FY2025 March 18(Tue) April 21(Mon) Mid-June contract around late-July
to March 13, 2026
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3. Selection criteria (Abstract)
(1) Purpose and outline
Evaluations will be based on how well the proposed exchange plan meets the "1.1 Purpose" of this
program. We will evaluate specifically how the activities proposed will advance the following goals:
Training and securing talented individuals who can contribute to science and technology
innovation and the promotion of international brain circulation
Promote sustainable collaboration, cooperation, and exchanges between institutions in Japan and
the partner country
Strengthen the foundations for sustainable collaborations and have a positive ripple effect
through the exchanges.
Training and securing talented individuals who will contribute to scientific and technological
innovation and promote international brain circulation efforts
We will evaluate how the activities of the exchange plan will support the development of talented
individual who can play an active role internationally, promote study abroad and employment, foster
sustainable cooperations and strengthen relations (joint research, etc.), and facilitate international brain
circulation between the participants of both countries.
Promote sustainable collaboration, cooperation, and exchanges between institutions in Japan and
the partner country that have a positive ripple effect on the surroundings.
We will evaluate how the program activities promote sustainable collaboration, cooperation, and
exchanges between institutions in Japan and the partner country. We will especially be looking at whether
the proposed exchange plan will strengthen the foundation for sustainable collaboration, and its potential
to positively impact the surroundings and encourage further networking and participation in the plan. The
exchange activities should also enhance mutual understanding and be co-created two-way exchanges
aimed at achieving shared research and education goals.
For example, establishing of new opportunities to foster mutual exchanges regularly, and concluding or
strengthening agreements with specific initiatives such as study abroad, internships, joint degree
programs, etc.
(2) The counterpart institution and the Main Implementer
The organization (institution, faculty, laboratory, etc.) to which the participant from the counterpart
country belongs must be an institution with excellent talent that is well-suited for achieving the objectives
and implementing the activities of the exchange plan. In addition, the organization's proposal on how they
plan to further develop and utilize the results of this exchange, such as strengthening exchange and joint
research efforts, will also be evaluated.
The “Main Implementer” in the counterpart country will be evaluated on their ability to advance the
exchange plan’s goals, such as their knowledge in implementing initiatives that promote international brain
circulation efforts and their experience in leading or guiding research at their institution.
(3) Japanese Exchange Organization and the Main Implementer
The organization (institution, faculty, laboratory, etc.) to which the Japanese participant belongs must be
an institution with excellent talent that is well-suited for achieving the objectives and implementing the
activities of the exchange plan. In addition, the organization's proposal on how they plan to further develop
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and utilize the results of this exchange, such as strengthening exchange and joint research efforts, will also
be evaluated.
The “Main Implementer” will be evaluated based on their abilities and experiences in international
academic exchanges (not limited to relations with the counterpart’s county) which promotes international
brain circulation efforts, such as its international network or their experience with international joint
research and teaching.
(4) Program content and alignment
The activities detailed in the proposal must be well-suited and effective for achieving the purpose and
objectives of the exchange plan. The exchange program must set a theme mutually decided upon by Japan
and its India/Africa counterparts and include complementary exchange activities that leverage the strengths
of each country to support the development of talent and promote innovation aligned with this theme.
We will also evaluate whether the exchange plan is a hybrid exchange program with a well-balanced
combination of online exchanges and face-to-face exchanges through dispatch and invitation. Additionally,
we will assess the effectiveness of the balance between dispatch and invitation, as well as the efforts to
establish a solid foundation for cooperation between the institutions.
(5) Effective utilization of the existing exchange infrastructure
Proposals will be evaluated on how well it leverages the achievements and relationship built up over many
years through various exchange programs between Japan and India/African countries in the fields of science
and technology (example: Sakura Science Program) and how it plans to build on this existing foundation.
For consecutive applications in FY2025 and beyond, we will evaluate the application based on how the
exchange proposal fully utilizes and develops the results obtained from the previous exchanges.
4. Other
(1) Safety Management Responsibilities
All organizations involved with the exchange program are requested to implement thorough safety
measures for the participants.
Exchange organizations are solely responsible for managing the procedures and arrangements for
verifying visa requirements for travel and stay, determining the appropriate visa type, and confirming all the
necessary conditions for invited and dispatched participants.
(2) Joining Sakura Science Club
All participants in the exchange program will be certified as members of the alumni organization at the
conclusion of the exchange (member ID will be issued).
Members will be able to access and receive useful information from the Sakura Science website, get
information on upcoming alumni association meetings in various regions, and help continue to foster
connections between Japan and India/African countries. We also kindly ask all members to cooperate by
filling out questionnaires and other forms to help us improve our activities.
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5. Expenses covered by JST
JST covers direct costs required for the execution of the exchange program within budget limits (7 million
yen), the items listed below, and for the compilation of results.
I. Travel expenses: Travel expenses (airfare, accommodation, meal fee, etc.) for participants
II. Cost of goods: Consumables
III. Gratuities: Lecturers, speakers, etc., part-time students, etc.
IV. Others: Outsourcing expenses (miscellaneous service expenses), printing and bookbinding expenses,
conference expenses, other (miscellaneous expenses), and consumption tax equivalent
