Canon Foundation - Canon Foundation Fellowships

Canon Foundation Research Fellowship

A scholarship is a grant to fund a research stay abroad. You will receive up to 30,000 EUR for a stay of 3 months to 1 year. For shorter stays, the amount will be reduced accordingly. You decide for yourself what to spend the money on: living costs, travel expenses, insurance, research costs or books – entirely in line with the requirements of your project. If you are from Europe, you will carry out your research in Japan. If you are Japanese, you will carry out your research in Europe. You choose your host institution and your supervisor abroad yourself. The Canon Foundation in Europe awards up to 15 of these scholarships each year to foster research links between Europe and Japan.

Who can apply

• Degree: You must hold at least a Master’s or PhD degree, which you must have obtained within the last 10 years. You may also apply if your degree is older, provided you include additional information.
• Where you go: Europeans are conducting research in Japan, and Japanese researchers are conducting research in Europe.
• Nationality: Open to all Europeans (including the UK, Israel, Switzerland, Turkey, the Balkan states and the Baltic states) and to Japanese nationals.
• Field of study: Open to all fields of research, from molecular biology and landscape architecture to automotive science and genealogy.
• Host arrangement: Before you apply, you must have drawn up a research plan and agreed a collaboration with a host institution abroad.
• Current status: You do not need to be enrolled at university or in employment at the time of application. Employees of companies, public authorities or professional associations may also apply.
• First-time priority: Priority is given to applicants travelling to the other region for the first time, rather than those wishing to extend a stay that has already begun.

How to apply

Registration and applications are made via the online form on the Foundation’s website. The application deadline is 15 September 2026 for stays between January and December 2027. A selection panel will assess your research proposal, your letters of recommendation and the confirmation from your host institution. You will be notified of the decision by email by mid-December 2026.

How realistic are your chances?

The foundation reports an average success rate of around 10%, so this is a highly sought-after award, even though it is limited to research exchanges between Europe and Japan. The key factors in the selection process are the quality of your research project, compelling letters of recommendation and a binding confirmation from the host institution – not age, gender or nationality. A well-prepared project with a committed host institution abroad offers you genuine opportunities, particularly if this is your first stay in the other region.