Canon Foundation Research Fellowships 2026 in Europe (Funded)

Applications are invited to apply for the Canon Foundation Research Fellowships 2026 in Europe. All International applicants can apply for this research fellowship in Europe. There are no disciplinary restrictions and no necessity to be formally enrolled or employed when applying; thus, postdocs, industrial scientists, NGO analysts, and independent scholars are all welcome. The fellowships are for a minimum of three months and a maximum of one year and cover all areas of research.

The European Commission and Japan’s METI highly expect the Centre to contribute to the continued growth of the EU-Japan economic partnership following the entry into force of the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) in February 2019. At the start of a new phase in the EU-Japan relationship, the Centre began operating as a new independent General Incorporated Foundation in Japan. The Canon Foundation in Europe provides up to 15 fellowships to highly qualified European and Japanese researchers. European Fellows are supposed to do research in Japan, whereas Japanese Fellows are expected to do the same in Europe.

Every year, the Canon Foundation in Europe finances up to fifteen exceptional minds—European researchers traveling to Japan and Japanese scholars traveling to Europe—for immersive projects ranging from three months to a year. Following the 1986 EU-Japan ministerial meeting, the European Commission and the Japanese METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry) agreed on the significance of deepening industrial cooperation in order to develop a stronger tie between the EU and Japan economies. Based on this agreement, the EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation was founded in 1987 as an affiliate of the Institute for International Studies and Training, later renamed the Center for International Economic Collaboration.

Canon Foundation Research Fellowships 2026 Details:

Financial Benefits:

The Canon Foundation Research Fellowships 2026 in Europe is a partially funded program that covers:

Successful Fellows choose their own budget and can receive up to €30,000 for a 12-month stay.
Because the funding is completely discretionary, you can choose how much to spend on
- flights,
- accommodations,
- family expenditures,
- insurance,
- bench fees,
- archival access,
- books, or even
- language classes.
Accommodation and host-institution arrangements are fully arranged between you and your selected host—there is no predetermined list of universities, and there are no additional charges.

Program Tracks on Offer:

Core Research Fellowships (Europe to Japan or Japan to Europe).
Co-sponsored Research Fellowships (financed postings with partner institutions).
Japan-Africa Programme (programs with a tri-continental dimension that improve collaboration between Europe, Japan, and Africa).
All tracks use the same application platform and grant envelope; simply identify your preferred host lab or department and upload the agreed-upon research proposal.

Eligibility Criteria:

To be considered for the Canon Foundation Research Fellowships 2026 in Europe, international students must meet the following eligibility criteria:

Anyone with European citizenship (including the United Kingdom, Turkey, the Balkans, and the Baltics) can apply to undertake research in Japan, whereas Japanese citizens can apply to travel to Europe.
You must have completed at least a master’s or PhD within the last decade.
If you graduated earlier, you can still be considered; simply submit a brief message outlining your career path.
First-time movers are given priority: the Foundation notably supports scholars undertaking their first professional travel to Europe or Japan.
There are no disciplinary restrictions and no requirement to be formally enrolled or employed while applying, thus postdoctoral researchers, industry scientists, NGO analysts, and independent scholars are all eligible.

Application Deadline: 15 September, 2025

The last date to apply for the Canon Foundation Research Fellowships 2026 in Europe for international students is 15th September 2025.

How to Apply for the Canon Foundation Research Fellowships?

Applications for Canon Foundation Research Fellowships are likewise due by September 15, 2025 (money is included in each award, so no separate form is required).

Organization:	Canon Foundation
Scholarship Coverage:	Funded
Eligible nationality:	All Nationalities
Award Country:	Europe
Last Date:	15 September 2025