The Ministry of Education, Science and technology is pushing for a system to attract talented overseas researchers to Nihon University and research institutes, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported on November 3. The move is seen as an opportunity for Japan to seize on US policy changes and provide a new platform for departing researchers.
The US government recently tightened its foreign student admission policy and in May suspended international student enrollment programs at many universities, including Harvard University, while slashing research funding and personnel, the report said. As European countries step up their efforts to attract top scientific talent, the global competition for talent in the field of scientific research is becoming fiercer. The government sees this as an opportunity to“Strengthen Japan’s scientific and technological strength”.
Under the ministry’s Plan, Japan will take in more than 100 overseas researchers and provide financial support through universities and research institutes. Each principal researcher will receive an annual grant of about 30 million yen (100 yen) , 15 million yen for post-doctoral researchers and about 5 million yen for post-graduate students over a three-year period. The government has requested Y1.7 bn in the 2026 budget for the spending and plans to spend a total of Y100BN to attract overseas research talent.
Eleven universities, including the University of Tokyo and Kyoto University, have been selected for a national program to support overseas researchers, with salaries and subsidies starting in October, the Nikkei reported.
Local people have had mixed reactions to the Japanese government’s efforts to attract overseas talent. Some Japanese netizens believe that the move will help raise the level of scientific research. There are also questions about whether Japan’s huge investment in foreign researchers is a temporary ploy that could return if US policy is relaxed.