The Department of Science and Technology (DST), under the Ministry of Science and Technology, has opened applications for the India-Japan Cooperative Science Programme (IJCSP) 2026. Conducted jointly with the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), the programme aims to strengthen scientific collaboration between researchers in India and Japan. The deadline for proposal submissions is September 3, 2026.
Eligible Activities and Disciplines
Indian researchers and scientists can apply for Joint Research Projects or Joint Workshops and Seminars under the programme. Applications are invited across six scientific disciplines: Physical Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Life Science and Agriculture, Mathematics and Computational Science, Astronomy and Earth Science, and Materials and Engineering.
Eligibility Criteria
Each proposal must be jointly submitted by one Indian and one Japanese Principal Investigator (PI), who will coordinate scientific, technical, and administrative aspects. Indian applicants must hold a regular position at universities, deemed universities, academic institutions, national R&D laboratories, or private non-profit organisations engaged in research. The Indian PI must remain affiliated with the parent institution throughout the project period. Japanese PIs must be full-time researchers at universities or research institutions recognised by JSPS. Researchers involved in two or more ongoing DST-supported international projects that will not conclude by March 31, 2027, are ineligible.
Project Duration and Financial Support
Approved projects can run up to two years, with visits completed within one year and ten months. According to DST, the sending side bears international travel costs, while the receiving side provides local hospitality, accommodation, and domestic travel support. For Indian researchers, support covers international airfare, visa fees, airport taxes, overseas medical insurance, and related travel expenses. Japanese researchers visiting India receive accommodation, per diem, and domestic travel support per DST norms. A contingency grant of Rs 25,000 per year is available. No funding is provided for equipment, manpower, or consumables.
Submission and Evaluation Process
Applications must be submitted through the DST e-application system in the prescribed format by 5 pm on September 3, 2026. Identical proposals must also be submitted simultaneously by the Japanese counterpart to JSPS. Proposals will be evaluated on scientific relevance, methodology, applicant qualifications, value of staff exchanges, contribution to bilateral cooperation, societal impact, and dissemination of results. Evaluation is conducted independently by DST and JSPS. Coordinators can expect outcomes in April or May 2027, with approved projects likely starting in June 2027.
