Grant opportunity
UNESCO/Japan Young Researchers' Fellowships Programme 2026
UNESCO and Japan will award 10 fellowships for postgraduate research stays in Japan focused on heritage conservation, sustainable development and artificial intelligence.
- Funder
- UNESCO / Government of Japan
- UNESCO candidate submission deadline: 30 September 2026, midnight Paris time
- UNESCO candidate submission deadline: 30 September 2026, midnight Paris time: Sep 30, 2026
- Award
- Up to USD 10,000 fellowship grant
- Applicant
- Young researchers from invited countries who are no more than 40, hold at least a master's degree, and have a host supervisor in Japan.
- Discipline
- Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
- Region
- Africa, SIDS, Ukraine, Türkiye and invited UNESCO member states
- Posted
- Jul 22, 2026
Call summary
Overview
The UNESCO/Keizo Obuchi Research Fellowships Programme strengthens research capacity and international knowledge exchange for young researchers from invited countries.
Who can apply
Applicants must be nationals of invited member states or associate members, be no more than 40 years old, hold at least a master's degree, demonstrate research potential and have acceptance from a Japanese academic supervisor.
What it supports
- Heritage conservation and management.
- AI for sustainable management of natural resources and climate action.
- Ethical, inclusive and human-centred AI for sustainable development.
- AI for sustainable cities, infrastructure, societal resilience and education.
Funding and duration
- UNESCO states that 10 fellowships are available for the 2026 cycle.
- Each fellowship grant is up to USD 10,000 for a research stay of three to nine months in Japan.
UNESCO candidate submission deadline: 30 September 2026, midnight Paris time
UNESCO candidate submission deadline: 30 September 2026, midnight Paris time: Sep 30, 2026
How to apply
Applicants should contact their National Commission for UNESCO, prepare the required documents and ensure nominated applications reach UNESCO by 30 September 2026.
Call details
Source-based overview
The 2026 UNESCO/Japan Young Researchers' Fellowships Programme supports postgraduate research in Japan for young researchers from invited countries. Research areas include heritage conservation, sustainable development and artificial intelligence with social, ethical, governance and contextual dimensions.
Eligibility
Applicants must be nationals of invited member states or associate members, be no more than 40 years old, hold at least a master's degree, demonstrate research potential and have acceptance from a Japanese academic supervisor.
Funding and benefits
UNESCO states that 10 fellowships are available for the 2026 cycle.
Each fellowship grant is up to USD 10,000 for a research stay of three to nine months in Japan.
Themes and supported activities
Heritage conservation and management.
AI for sustainable management of natural resources and climate action.
Ethical, inclusive and human-centred AI for sustainable development.
AI for sustainable cities, infrastructure, societal resilience and education.
Deadline and timeline
UNESCO candidate submission deadline: 30 September 2026, midnight Paris time: UNESCO candidate submission deadline: 30 September 2026, midnight Paris time: Sep 30, 2026.
Applicants should confirm the exact deadline time, time zone, required documents, portal steps and any institutional approvals on the official call page before submitting.
How to apply
Applicants should contact their National Commission for UNESCO, prepare the required documents and ensure nominated applications reach UNESCO by 30 September 2026.
Before applying, check eligibility rules, budgets, attachments, page limits, partner requirements, cost-share conditions and whether the opportunity uses an expression of interest, full proposal, registration or nomination stage.