Outline

1. OUTLINE OF THE FELLOWSHIP

   The JSPS Invitation Fellowship for Research in Japan (Short Term) is offered to promote international scientific cooperation and exchange. It allows researchers employed at designated Japanese research institutions and laboratories to invite fellow researchers from other countries to Japan for short periods of time to participate in discussions, attend seminars, give lectures, or perform similar duties at their institutions.

   Applications for this program must be submitted to JSPS by a host researcher in Japan through the head of his/her university or institution.

2. FIELDS OF RESEARCH

   All fields of the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences are included under this program.

3. HOST RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS

   The applicant (host researcher) must be a researcher who is employed full-time or classified as being employed full-time at a university or research institution of the types listed in Table I. Fellows must conduct their research at the host’s affiliated institution.

   * Full-time employment classification is determined by the regulations of the host institution.

4. ELIGIBILITY
   The candidate must be a researcher with an excellent record of research achievements who, in principle, is employed full-time at an overseas research institution, and meets the following requirements:
   

   1)	Senior scientists, university professors, and other persons with substantial professional experience
   2)	Citizen of a country that has diplomatic relations with Japan (JSPS treats Taiwanese and Palestinian researchers in this manner.)
   3)	To be eligible, researchers of Japanese nationality must have lived abroad and been activity engaged in research for over 10 years.

5. NUMBER OF FELLOWSHIPS AWARDED

   For the 1^st Recruitment: Approximately 110 Fellowships will be granted.
   For the 2^nd Recruitment: Approximately 100 Fellowships will be granted.

6. DURATION AND COMMENCEMENT OF FELLOWSHIPS

   1)	Fellowships are awarded for a period of 14 to 60 days.
   2)	Successful candidates must start the Fellowship in Japan during the following periods: For the 1st Recruitment: April 1, 2012 – March 31, 2013 For the 2nd Recruitment: October 1, 2012 – March 31, 2013

7. TERMS OF AWARD
   
   
   The terms of the Awards indicated below are subject to change.
   • For fellows
     1) A round-trip air ticket
     2) A daily maintenance allowance of ¥18,000
     3) Domestic research travel allowance of ¥150,000
     4) Overseas travel accident and sickness insurance coverage
   • For hosts:
     Host's cooperation allowance of ¥50,000
8. APPLICATION PROCEDURE FOR THE PROGRAM  Applicants (host researchers) are required to use JSPS’s electronic application system to apply for fellowships.
    Applications for this program must be submitted to JSPS by a host researcher in Japan through the head of his/her university or institution. Foreign researchers wishing to participate in this program are advised to establish contact with a Japanese or foreign-resident researcher in their field and to ask him/her to submit an application. They should make this contact well in advance of the host institution’s application deadline indicated below.

   Application process is as follows:
   1) Contact made between candidate and applicant (host researcher)
   2) Applicant (host researcher) submits application to institution’s head office
   3) Office submits application to JSPS
   *JSPS does not find or introduce host researchers.
   *JSPS does not accept applications submitted directly by foreign researchers or through diplomatic channels.
   *There is another application channel:  JSPS also receives applications for the program through its overseas nominating authorities (Table II).  Regarding this procedure, please contact the nominating authority in your country.

   1. Materials to be submitted

      ①	Materials to be prepared by a host researcher Application form to be filled in by the host researcher
      ②	Materials to be prepared by the administrative office of the host institution i) Form A (indicating the number of applications) ii) Form B (list of applications)

    
   2. Application deadline (for host institution):

      ①	1st Recruitment: September 2, 2011
      ②	2nd Recruitment: May 11, 2012

      Note (1):	Application guidelines will be distributed only once this fiscal year.
      Note (2):	These deadlines are for the head of the host institution to submit the application to JSPS; the time frames for applicants (host researchers) to submit their applications are normally earlier.

 
9. SELECTION PROCESS AND NOTIFICATION
   
   (1) Selection process

   ①

   Screening is conducted by JSPS’s selection committee based on the five criteria listed below. i) That the collaboration will contribute to advancing science in Japan and counterpart country. ii) That the collaboration can be expected to advance research in the subject field. iii) That the applicant (host researcher) and candidate have established contact in advance and created a concrete activity plan. iv) That the plan has as its objective lectures, discussions or other exchange activities with not only the host institution but also through visits to other institutions as well. That the plan also provides for fostering young researchers through exchanges and other activities. v) That, as much as possible, preference is not given to the candidate’s nationality, host institution, or field of specialization.

   (2) Notification of selection results

   ①	Notification of the selection results will be made in writing through the head of the applying institution around the following periods: First recruitment: end of December 2011 late January 2012 Second recruitment: middle of August 2012
   ②	Award letter and accompanying documents will be sent to the successful candidates.
   ③	Individual requests for selection results are not accepted.

10. OBLIGATIONS

    1)	The host researcher will, in cooperation with the administration of the host institution, prepare a space and arrange facilities needed for the fellow to conduct research activities during his/her tenure. When needed, the host will also assist with immigration processing, securing domicile and other matters related to the fellow’s stay in Japan.
    2)	The fellow and his/her host researcher must submit a research report (using the prescribed forms) within one month of the completion of the fellowship tenure.
    3)	When presenting or publishing the content or results of research conducted under the fellowship, the JSPS fellowship should be acknowledged.
    4)	Fellows are expected to devote themselves full time to their research during the term of the fellowship, and may not accept employment in Japan with or without remuneration.

11. ABOUT THE PROPER USE OF COMPETITIVE AND OTHER FUNDS

    Appropriate action will be taken in the case of improper conduct, including the misuse of competitive and other research funds, misconduct in education or research activities (including fabrication, falsification or plagiarization of papers), using one’s position as a leader to commit sexual harassment or other improper actions, violating laws or regulations. In such cases, the fellowship may be terminated and the fellow made to reimburse JSPS for all or part his/her already-paid research funds and allowances. For instructions on the proper use of competitive funds, see the separate document “About the Proper Use of Competitive and Other Funds.”

12. HANDLING OF PERSONAL INFORMATION

    With regard to personal information contained in application materials, it shall be strictly controlled in accordance with the Law to Protect Personal Information Held by Independent Administration Institutions. When using personal information in implementing the JSPS Invitation Fellowship for Research in Japan, including the provision of such information to private companies commissioned to conduct data processing and management, JSPS shall observe these laws and regulations.

    If selected for a fellowship, fellows should note that their name, research theme, host institution, name and title of their host researcher, and their research reports will be given public access. Fellows will also be asked to participate in surveys aimed at improving the fellowship program.

13. NOTES

    1)	Application for this program is limited to one for each recruitment.
    2)	As only one application is allowed per candidate, applicants (host researchers) should verify in advance that no other applications have been submitted for the candidate.
    3)	The same person may not simultaneously be a candidate for both this invitational fellowship and a JSPS Postdoctral Fellowship Program for Foreign Researchers.
    4)	Incomplete or otherwise flawed applications will be rejected.
    5)	JSPS does not support any research project related to military affairs.
    6)	For more application-related details, please see “Points to Observe in Preparing the Application Form.” (Japanese only)

 
14. CONTACT

    ADDRESS:

    Overseas Fellowship Division, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science 8, Ichiban-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-8472 TEL: 03-3263-2480/3443 Email: invitation@jsps.go.jp