ASEAN-Japan Young Experts Fellowship Program 2025–2026

Omran Aburayya
May 29
2 min read

If you're a young researcher or professional from ASEAN or Japan with a passion for shaping a sustainable and inclusive future, the ASEAN-Japan Young Experts Fellowship Program 2025–2026 is now accepting applications. This inaugural initiative by the ASEAN-Japan Centre (AJC) aims to empower emerging leaders to conduct policy-relevant research that fosters deeper cooperation between ASEAN member states and Japan. Successful applicants will receive research funding, engage in cross-border collaboration, and contribute to regional dialogue on pressing socio-economic and environmental challenges.

🎓ASEAN-Japan Fellowship Summary

Location: ASEAN Member States and Japan
Host Institution: ASEAN-Japan Centre (AJC)
Level: Postdoctoral researchers and professionals
Target Group: Early-career researchers and professionals from ASEAN and Japan
Fields of Focus:
- Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA)/Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Utilization
- Decarbonization
- AI Governance and Workforce Development
- Green Supply Chain
- Circular Economy
- Sustainable Tourism
- Renewable Energy
- Carbon Trading
- Digital Empowerment of Women Entrepreneurs
Value & Coverage: ¥150,000 per research project
Duration: June 2025 – March 2026
Application Deadline: June 15, 2025
Start Date: June 2025
Eligible To: Researchers with ASEAN or Japanese nationality

📘ASEAN-Japan Fellowship Overview

The ASEAN-Japan Young Experts Fellowship Program is designed to support individual or collaborative research projects that address key issues impacting the ASEAN-Japan region. Fellows will conduct interdisciplinary research, participate in knowledge exchange, and contribute to policy development.

🧩 Structure and Activities:

Research Grants: Each selected project will receive a grant of ¥150,000.
Research Period: Projects must be completed by March 31, 2026.
Outputs: Fellows are expected to produce a working research paper or policy brief (3,000–5,000 words in English) and present their findings through AJC-hosted webinars

🎁 Fellowship Benefits

Financial Support: ¥150,000 grant per research project.
Professional Development: Opportunities for cross-border collaboration and interdisciplinary exchange.
Publication and Dissemination: Research findings will be published online with full author attribution and presented in webinars.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

Nationality: Must be a national of an ASEAN member state or Japan.
Experience: Researchers within 5 years of obtaining a PhD, or non-PhD holders with significant work experience (5–10 years) in the region.
Research Scope: Projects must involve ASEAN-Japan collaboration and focus on the specified research areas.
Project Completion: Research must be completed by March 31, 2026.

📝 Application Procedure

Application Timeline:

Application Opens: May 26, 2025
Application Deadline: June 15, 2025
Interviews: July 10–15, 2025 (Online, English)
Announcement of Fellows: July 31, 2025
Grant Disbursement: August 1, 2025

📝 How to Apply:

Application Form: Complete the application form available at https://forms.gle/wnTJT6t6ArUynnhT8.
Guidelines: Follow the detailed application guidelines available on this document.