There are three types of programs run by Tohoku Forum for Creativity (TFC). You may choose one of the followings:
Thematic Program (TP) for AY2027 with support between 5 and 10 million yen (between 5 and 15 million yen *)
Junior Research Program (FRP) for AY2027 with support up to 3 million yen (up to 5 million yen *)
Future Society Design Program (FSDP) for AY2026 with support up to 3 million yen (up to 5 million yen *)
(* if budget increases are approved)
TFC invites proposals of these programs in all fields of research, including social sciences, humanities, physical sciences, engineering, and life sciences. The AY2027 means the period April 2027 – March 2028, and the AY2026 means the period April 2026 – March 2027. The support can only be used under the regulation of Tohoku University. The explanation on difference of the three types is given later.
The necessary initial step for the proposal is to submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) to the contact address tfc_pg*grp.tohoku.ac.jp (change * to @) by August 31, 2025. An LOI should contain the desired type of program, a preliminary title and main ideas of the program with the names of possible co–organizers. It may be written in English as well as in Japanese. Then the coordinators of TFC will contact you to support your preparation. For assistance, advice, and suggestions at any stage of the preparation of a proposal, even before the submission of LOI, you are welcome to contact the TFC. We are happy to consult about preliminary ideas or draft proposals at an early stage.
Please e–mail to tfc_pg*grp.tohoku.ac.jp (change * to @).
The second step is of course the submission of the proposal. The proposal should be written in one of the following forms and converted to pdf prior to submission. The deadline for the submission is September 30, 2025. After the consultation with TFC coordinators, the submission form should be ready before the deadline. Proposals should be submitted online to the e–mail address submission_tfc*grp.tohoku.ac.jp (change * to @).
The third step is the presentation at International Advisory Board or the Local Committee. The application documents are examined and screened by the local committee (International Brain Circulation Specialist Committee) of Tohoku University. The successful proposers of TP and JRP are asked to prepare for the interview at the International Advisory Board in December 2025. The successful proposers of FSDP are asked to prepare for the interview at the local committee of Tohoku University. The coordinators of TFC will again contact you to support your preparation of presentation.
In the local committee and the International Advisory Board, the evaluation of proposal will be done by the following criteria.
Evaluation Criterion 1 (Challenge, Communication and Outreach):
Whether the proposal is challenging and attractive, such as solving socially significant issues or developing new research fields. In FSDP, whether the proposal aims at solving important domestic and international issues related to society and industrial technology, or developing new research areas that lead to the creation of future society designs for a better society. Whether the proposal contains appropriate communication and outreach activity to public to show the importance of the research of the program.
Evaluation Criterion 2 (Internationality, Interdisciplinarity and Reasonability in implementing at Tohoku University):
Whether the implementation of the program is expected to promote international research exchanges and interdisciplinary research exchanges between different fields. Whether it is reasonable to implement the program at Tohoku University.
Evaluation Criterion 3 for TP and JRP (Visiting and Stay Program):
Whether the program includes research visits of more than three weeks or one month of organizers or key contributors as well as shorter visits for many other junior and senior participants.
Evaluation Criterion 3 for FSD (Feasibility of Financial Cooperation):
Whether financial support from corporations and other entities can be expected in a feasible manner for the implementation of the program.
Evaluation Criterion 4 (Participation of Young People and Contribution to their Leap):
Whether the plan includes projects targeting young people who will become future global leaders. For JRP, whether it can be expected to contribute to the future leap of young researchers through the formation of research networks or the continuity of research exchanges.
The results of the selection will be sent to the proposers once the final decision has been made (in the beginning of January 2026). Prior to acceptance, the TFC may make suggestions to improve the quality of the program or the TFC may approve only a part of the budget, and we expect that the proposers to be receptive to our advice or decision. For the final successful proposers will be immediately supported by the coordinators of TFC to implement the program.
Posters
- Download [PDF: in English]
- Download [PDF: in Japanese]
Program List
- Download [PDF]
Application Form
Basic requirements for the proposals: When preparing a proposal of a program, the following 5 conditions must be met:
1.Events and activities of the program
The proposal of a program should clarify what events are organized in the year with the possible dates. Events and activities are, for example, international symposia, meetings, workshops, seminars, lectures, tutorials, discussions and public communication or outreach events, etc. Events and activities can be performed using the support budget from Tohoku University together with the supports from other budget resources.
2.Organizer Requirement
The number of organizers of the program should be at most 6 and organizers should be the essential collaborators working for the success of the program. Researchers from different fields should be assigned to ensure interdisciplinarity. Diversity, Equity & Inclusion should be taken into consideration. There are additional conditions in each program on the composition of organizers.
3.Venue Requirement
All of the activities and events in the program should be held in principle at Tohoku University or in Sendai city. The long–term visitors should stay in Sendai and work with researchers at Tohoku University.
4.Language Requirement
The proposals should be written in English, and the working language in the program except in the activities and events for public communications and outreach should be English.
5.Confirmation of Invited Researchers Availability Required
For the long–term stay researchers and distinguished researchers mentioned to be invited in the proposal, we will require some form of evidence that they have agreed to participate in your program (e.g., e–mails accepting an invitation, etc.) prior to the evaluation by the International Advisory Board or the local committee.
Requirements for Thematic Programs
The Thematic Programs aim to create new research “themes” or directions that can lead us to the solution of socially and scientifically significant problems, to deepen international and interdisciplinary research collaboration and exchange with different researchers from different backgrounds, and to promote the development of young researchers through their active participation in the program.
The organizers of TP should include one researcher affiliated with Tohoku University who may not be the main organizer, and the organizers of TP should include two researchers affiliated with universities or institutions outside Japan. The TP should include research visits of more than three weeks or one month for organizers or key contributors as well as shorter visits for many other junior and senior participants.
Requirements for Junior Research Programs
The Junior Research Programs give talented young researchers the opportunity to organize workshops and to carry out collaborative research with distinguished international scientists. These programs will have ambitious, interdisciplinary, high–impact content with the potential to generate new research fields.
The proposer of JRP serves as the main organizer, and the proposer must be affiliated with Tohoku University and under the age of 45 or within 10 years of receiving the Ph.D. The organizers should include one researcher affiliated with universities or institutions outside Japan. The JRP should include research visits of more than three weeks or one month for organizers or key contributors as well as shorter visits for many other junior and senior participants.
Requirements for Future Society Design Programs
The Future Society Design Programs are programs in which researchers from industry and academia will jointly envision the design of the future society through collaborative work on social issues proposed by companies as important to the future of industrial society.
The proposer of FSDP serves as the main organizer, and the proposer must be affiliated with Tohoku University. The organizers of FSDP should include one corporate researcher and one researcher affiliated with universities, institutions or companies outside Japan. A commitment from companies to provide financial support for the program is required to apply.
To summarize the requirements, here is the table of them in addition to the 5 basic requirements.
| TP for AY2027 | JRP for AY2027 | FSDP for AY2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Two organizers from abroad One organizer from Tohoku U |
Main organizer from Tohoku U under 45 or within 10 yrs of receiving Ph.D One organizer from abroad |
Main organizer from Tohoku U One organizer from company One organizer from abroad |
| Long-term stay of key contributors | Long-term stay of key contributors | |
| Support between 5 million and 10 million yen (5 million and 15 million yen if budget increases are approved) | Support up to 3 million (up to 5 million yen if budget increases are approved) | Support up to 3 million (up to 5 million yen if budget increases are approved) from Tohoku U and financial support by companies |
| Formation of research networks or Continuity of research exchanges |
It is worth recalling the criteria of evaluation:
Evaluation Criterion 1 (Challenge and Outreach):
Evaluation Criterion 2 (Internationality, Interdisciplinarity and Reasonability in implementing at Tohoku University):
Evaluation Criterion 3 for TP and JRP (Visiting and Stay Program):
Evaluation Criterion 3 for FSD (Feasibility of Financial Cooperation):
Evaluation Criterion 4 (Participation of Young People and Contribution to their Leap).
We TFC wait your LOI to tfc_pg*grp.tohoku.ac.jp (change * to @).
Important dates are:
Deadline of submission of LOI: August 31, 2025
Deadline of submission of program proposals: September 30, 2025
Interview of FSDP by the local committee: December 2025
Interview of TP and JRP by IAB: December 2025.
Contact
The proposal is to submit a Letter of Intent (LOI)
E–mail: tfc_pg*grp.tohoku.ac.jp (change * to @)
The submission of the proposal
E–mail: submission_tfc*grp.tohoku.ac.jp (change * to @)