Japan-Singapore Joint Call for Proposals on Quantum 2025

Japan and Singapore have a strong and longstanding partnership in bilateral research collaborations. This joint grant call by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research of Singapore (A*STAR) aims to promote and strengthen bilateral collaborations and exchanges between researchers from Japan and Singapore through joint research projects of mutual interest. 

On the Japan side, this funding measure is carried out under the program called NEXUS (Networked Exchange, United Strength for Stronger Partnerships between Japan and ASEAN) which aims to build a "Complementary and Sustainable Research Ecosystem”, facilitating mutual growth as co-creating partners by enhancing sustainable research cooperation grounded in longstanding initiatives such as international collaborative research and the exchange of research personnel.

For Singapore, this funding measure is carried out under the Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2025 (RIE2025) plan. Teams from Singapore are encouraged to include collaborators from other ASEAN Member States. Possible collaborators from institutions in other ASEAN countries should seek their own funding or provide in-kind contributions.  

The research field for this joint call focuses on 'Quantum', for research into fundamental quantum sciences and/or cutting-edge quantum technologies with tangible industry applications in the following subtopics:

• Quantum computers and quantum simulations (incl. quantum-classical hybrid solutions, quantum software, and quantum computing)
• Quantum info-communications (incl. quantum internet, quantum memory, encrypted communication, and quantum information theory)
• Quantum sensing (incl. solid-state quantum sensors and quantum optical sensors)

*Proposed research is recommended to follow the subtopics above. 

The research duration must be 36 months, and PIs are expected to lead the proposed research throughout this period.

Please refer to the Grant Call Guidelines document for more information. 

Eligible Researchers for A*STAR Support: 

• Singapore-based Principal Investigators (PIs) are eligible to apply if their primary appointment is 75% or more in a local publicly funded funded research institution. 
• Applications must be endorsed by the applicants' Host Institution(s), prior to submission.
• Applicants must deliver their project in accordance to the A*STAR Grants Terms & Conditions (T&Cs) and Guidelines.

Eligible Researchers for JST Support: 

• Any independent researcher personally affiliated with (and actively conducting research at) a ‘Domestic Japanese research institution,’ where they will organize and pursue the proposed research, is eligible to apply (The nationalities of research project applicants are not considered). Detailed information on 'Domestic Japanese research institution' can be found in the Grant Call Guidelines.
• The Japanese applicants must also complete a research ethics training program conducted by the research institute with which the Principal Investigator (PI) is affiliated and then declare the completion of the program to JST. If it is very difficult for the Japanese PI to undertake a program provided by his or her affiliated institute, they should contact JST. Please note that unless applicants complete a research ethics program, his / her application will be deemed ineligible. For more details, please refer to the call announcement page linked from the JST homepage.
• The Japan-side researchers are not allowed to propose more than one proposal as a PI in this joint call; the Co-PI is not restricted in this respect, and is not prevented from proposing one proposal as a PI and participating in other proposals as a Co-PI. In such cases, measures might be taken to avoid excessive concentration. For details, please refer to Application Guidelines Appendix (for Japan-side PIs).
• Japanese applicants will have to register their applications on the Cross-Ministerial R&D Management System e-Rad.

(For Japan-side PIs) If a research proposal is selected, the research project must maintain its qualified status as per the submission requirements for the entire duration of the period of research. If the research project fails to meet the requirements during the research period, the research project will in principle be completely or partially suspended (i.e. be terminated early). Please also refer to the Application Guidelines Appendix (for Japan-side PIs). 

The PI from Singapore must submit the joint proposal to A*STAR and the PI from Japan must submit the collaborative proposal to JST. Identical copies of the proposal must be submitted to A*STAR and JST, respectively. 

Submission Procedure for JST:
Application documents from the Japan-based researcher should be submitted through the online e-Rad platform.

Please note that proposals received by A*STAR and not submitted to JST (and vice versa) will automatically be considered ineligible.

Applications that are submitted after the deadline will not be taken into consideration for review and assessment. 

• Grant Call Guidelines for the Japan-Singapore Joint Call 2025
• Application Form for the Japan-Singapore Joint Call 2025
• Budget, Milestones and KPIs Template (for Singapore-based applicants only)
• A*STAR Terms and Conditions 2020
• A*STAR Guidelines 2020
• Milestone & Benchmark Setting Guidelines