SAKURA SCIENCE Exchange Program
Welcoming the world’s talented youth
for a new era of cooperation

Eligibility
Invited countries and regions: Generally, all countries and regions are eligible for invitation.
Eligible persons: Students, researchers and others engaged in science and technology who
are 40 years old and under
Eligible fields: Exchanges in the fields of science and technology, including the humanities andsocial sciences
Receiving organizations: Educational and research institutes throughout Japan, companies,
local governments, various organizations, and others
Expenses: JST will provide the required expenses* (expenses of travel, stay, and others).
If a company is implementing as a receiving organization, only travel expenses will be provided.

01JST International Youth Exchange

Background and Purposes
Countries share the future challenge ofpromoting research and development andtransforming results into innovations. In
2014, the Japan Science and Technology
Agency (JST) started the “Sakura ScienceProgram.” Since then, the program has
invited talented young foreign humanresources for short-term visits to Japan,
giving them the opportunity to experience
both Japan’s cutting-edge science andtechnology and culture.
As of the end of FY2023, we have invited
approximately 40,000 outstanding young
individuals.

The Sakura Science Program’s objectives include:
To support the development of talented human resources from overseas who have the potential
to contribute to innovation in science and technology
To accelerate the international brain cycle
To promote continuous collaboration, cooperation and interaction between Japanese andoverseas educational and research institutes
To strengthen good relationships between Japan and other countries and regions that canencourage diplomacy in science and technology

Breakdown of Invitees
by Region

OceaniaCentral Asia
Latin America
SouthwestAsia

Budget and Number of Invitees
Toward recovery to pre-COVID levels

AfricaEuropeNorth America
MiddleEast

12.9%

SoutheastAsia
East Asia

42.7%

39.4%

■ FY2014 to FY2023: 39,635 persons in total■ Invited from 83 countries/regions

The number of invitees decreased in FY2019 due to the
COVID pandemic. From FY2020 to FY2021, no invitations
were issued.

JST International Youth Exchange

02

Contents of the Sakura Science Program
Open Application
Invitation

Exchange plans prepared by Japanese receiving organizations andoverseas sending organizations are publicly offered and adopted.
As of 2023, we have implemented 3,368 exchange programs andinvited 32,210 people. ( *1,852 organizations have sent young people, and 381 organizations inJapan have accepted them, which supports the expansion of grass-roots exchanges.)

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Process to Implement aProgram

Program preparation and application to JST
by Foreign and Japanese organizations

Types of Open Application
Invitation

Science and Technology Experience Course

Experiences involving Japan’s advanced science and technology (In principle, participants stay in Japan for up to 7 days.)

Collaborative Research Activity Course

Program selection by JST through theSSP selection committee
Provision of expenses by JST

The program begins!

303

Science and Technology Training Course

Acquisition of cutting-edge technologies and capabilities
in Japan (Participants stay in Japan for up to 10 days.)

Annual Mutual Exchange Course(Starting from FY2024) Please refer to Page 7.

Applications can be submitted by Japanese organizations at any time during theopen application period. There are several deadlines within each fiscal year.
Applications submitted by each deadline will be reviewed for selection ineach application period.
Please refer to the website for the latest information.
https://ssp.jst.go.jp/en/program/

Application
PeriodSakura Online
ProgramCollaborative research topics, conducting preliminary experiments, and others (Participants stay in Japan for up to 21 days.)

University students fromUzbekistan learn how research and development
for the cultivation of horticultural crops on arid landis carried out in Japan(Arid Land Research Center, Tottori University, December 2023)

Senegalese graduate students learn drone autonomous flight program development (Faculty ofInformation Science andTechnology, Osaka Institute of Technology, September 2023)

Joint training program enables Finnish university
students and students from
National Institute of Technology (KOSEN), Suzuka
College to learn how todevelop talent for startups(Suzuka College, August2023)

Japan-Korea joint research
program studies on the social implementation ofcommunication expansion
technology using brainto-brain communication(School of Science andTechnology, Meiji University, August 2023)

The online program promotes exchanges that take advantage of the benefits of onlinecommunication. Online meetings enable participants to interact in new ways, such as
participating in regular gatherings and following up face-to-face exchanges.

JST International Youth ExchangeDirect Invitation

JST, acting as a receiving organization, plans and implementsinvitation programs with distinctive features. 7,425 people havebeen invited as of the end of FY2023.

High School Program
The program invites excellent high school
students from various countries and regions to provide them with an opportunity
to learn about Japan’s most advanced
science and technology. The program offers a range of program contents.

Lecture by Nobel laureate KAJITA Takaaki
at Meikei High School (December 2023)

First-hand experience at the cutting-edge research and development facility at Kyoto
University (July 2023)

Visiting Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) (December 2023)

Conducting a science experiment with Japanese students at Ryugasaki Daiichi SeniorHigh School, Ibaraki Prefecture (May 2023)

Laboratory at The University of Tokyo (September 2023)

Participating in the Japan-India research program at Keio University (September 2023)

National Institute for Materials Science(NIMS) (September 2023)

University and company information session(September 2023)▶ Participate in special lectures given byNobel laureates and other respected scientists▶ Visit renowned universities and research
institutions in Japan▶ Exchange with Japanese high school
students▶ Visit own country’s embassy in Japan• Activity report on website
https://ssp.jst.go.jp/en/report/2023/index.html#section3

Indian University Program
JST invites talented and promising university students from India to experience actual research sites and offers university
and company information sessions withthe aim of encouraging the students totake up careers at Japanese companies
and universities.
▶ Visits to leading universities and re-spected research institutes (experienceand observe research activities)▶ Participation in university and company
information sessions• Activity report on website
https://ssp.jst.go.jp/en/report/2023/index.html#section2

Supporters Program
The program aims to invite stakeholders in science and technology fields
from overseas to provide a deeper understanding of Japanese administration in science, technology, and education. It also implements academic
exchanges between administrators of overseas and Japanese universities.

Invitational program for science and technology professionals from Africa at Tokyo Institute of Technology (May 2023)

JST International Youth Exchange

04

Bilateral andMultilateral Exchanges

India

JST strategically promotes exchanges between
organizations in India/Africa/Asia and Japan tocontribute to brain circulation.

“The 2nd Japan-India University Forum” by the leaders oftop universities in Japan and India—Promotion of brain cycle between Japan and India—

Date: September 30, 2023
Participating organizations: 10 universities from India, 20 universities/3 organizations/3 privatecompanies from Japan

Roundtable discussion to exchange opinions on
creating an environment to increase the numberof students and researchers from India and promoting industry-academic collaboration for theflow of human resources.

This event brought together companies eager toexpand to India or to employ human resourcesfrom India for discussion on promoting collaboration between industry, academia, and government in Japan and India.

Universities participating from India
Anna University / Indian Institute of Technology Bombay / Indian Institute of Technology Delhi / Indian Institute of Technology
Guwahati / Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad / Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur *online / Indian Institute of Technology
Kharagpur / Indian Institute of Technology Madras / Jawaharlal Nehru University / University of Delhi

Universities / Organizations participating from Japan
Hokkaido University / Tohoku University / University of Tsukuba / The University of Tokyo / Tokyo Institute of Technology / Nagoya
University / Kyoto University / Osaka University / Kyushu University / Waseda University / Yokohama National University / Niigata
University / Nagaoka University of Technology / Gifu University / Shizuoka University / Kobe University / Hiroshima University /Shibaura Institute of Technology / Ritsumeikan University / Doshisha University
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) / National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) / Japan Society for the Promotion ofScience (JSPS)SUZUKI MOTOR Corporation / FUJITSU Limited / NEC Corporation

H.E. Sibi George, Ambassador of H.E. SUZUKI Hiroshi, AmbassaIndia to Japan
dor of Japan to India

05

JST International Youth ExchangeAfricaJapan-Africa University Exchange Meeting 2023
Date: May 31, 2023
Participants: 9 universities from Africa, 18 universities/2 organizations from Japan

Meeting participants included presidents, vicepresidents and administrators from 9 universities in Africa, and vice presidents and othersfrom 20 universities/organizations in Japan.
Through the exchange of opinions, the charac-teristics and strengths of each organization, thestatus of international exchange between Africa
and Japan, and expectations and prospects forthe future were shared.

Universities participating from Africa
Cairo University (Egypt) / Egypt−Japan University of Science and Technology (Egypt) / University of Ghana (Ghana) / Jomo Kenyatta
University of Agriculture and Technology (Kenya) / University of Nairobi (Kenya) / University of Nigeria (Nigeria) / University ofPretoria (South Africa) / Stellenbosch University (South Africa) / University of Zambia (Zambia)

Universities / Organizations participating from Japan
Hokkaido University / Akita University / Tohoku University / University of Tsukuba / The University of Tokyo / Tokyo Institute ofTechnology / Tokyo Medical and Dental University / Tokyo University of Foreign Studies / Sophia University / Shizuoka University /Nagoya University / Kyoto University / Kobe University / Kobe Institute of Computing / Hiroshima University / Yamaguchi University /Kyushu University / Nagasaki University / Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) / Ashinaga Foundation

Inter-university exchange, human resource development, and theAsiancreation of an environment for human resource development in Asia
Universities Date and venue: January 27, 2024, Hong Kong, China
Forum
Participants: 8 universities from 7 countries in the ASEAN region, 9 universities from China
including Hong Kong and Macau, 10 universities from Japan

University presidents and vice-presidents fromJapan, China and the ASEAN region attended
the event to discuss how to enhance internationalization platforms, increase the attractivenessof Asian universities, develop and secure humanresources, leverage science and technology,
and facilitate innovation.

Universities participating from ASEAN
Institute of Technology of Cambodia (Cambodia) / Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB) (Indonesia) / Gadjah Mada University (Indonesia) /Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (Malaysia) / University of the Philippines Diliman (Philippines) / Nanyang Technological University(Singapore) / Chulalongkorn University (Thailand) / Hanoi University of Science and Technology (Vietnam)

Universities participating from China
The University of Hong Kong / The Hong Kong Polytechnic University /University of Macau / Macau University of Science and Technology /Dalian University of Technology / Southern University of Scienceand Technology / Shandong University / Tongji University / Universityof Science and Technology of China

Universities participating from Japan
Iwate University / Osaka University / Ochanomizu University / Kyoto
University / University of Tsukuba / Tokyo Institute of Technology /Tohoku University / Hokkaido University / Yokohama National
University / Waseda University

JST International Youth Exchange

06

Program beginning FY2024

Open Application Invitation

Mutual Exchange Course
D Annual
A year-round exchange program that enables dispatch and invitation
The course supports deepening exchanges ofJapanese and foreign youth by inviting, dispatching,and conducting online exchanges.
It also aims to develop human resources andinternational brain circulation.

Openapplication
started inFY2024

INDIAJAPANAFRICA

TargetIndia and African countries

Eligible persons

In general, university students, graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, technical college students and faculty members from Japanand applicable countries who are 40 years old and younger.

Eligible fields

Science and technology (Natural science, humanities and social sciences)

Exchange period

Maximum one year
Dispatch or invitational on-site program to last up to three months perperson. Hybrid exchange program combines on-site and online training.
(For FY2024, the exchange period is from the date selected to the end of FY2024.)

07

JST International Youth Exchange

Results of Sakura Science Program
Understanding andpositive impressionof Japan wereheightened

99% of the invitees answered thatthey became more favorable toward Japan (questionnaire results).

Promotion of revisit
to Japan byinnovative humanresources

A total of 2,761 excellent young
people returned to Japan for study,
research and so on.

Contribution to theglobalization of thereceivingorganization

The receiving organizations answered in the questionnaire thatinternationalization of the organization has been promoted andthe organization became better
known worldwide.

Young researchers from Peru were given an explanation
about robotic surgery (University of Miyazaki Hospital, January 2024)

High-school students from Japan and Thailand take up thechallenge of conducting a joint international research project(Ritsumeikan Senior High School, July 2023)

Effects in science andtechnology diplomacy
Sakura Science Program gained a high reputation andsupport from key persons in other countries, including Xi
Jinping (President of China), Narendra Modi (Prime Minister of India), and Ranil Wickremesinghe (Prime Ministerof Sri Lanka).
In July 2023, the ASEAN-Japan Foreign Ministers’Meeting commended the human interaction, science andtechnology diplomacy and initiatives to increase cooperative research facilitated by the Sakura Science Programin the chairman’s statement.
In March 2023, high expectations for the Sakura Science Program, which fosters interactions between faculty and students by inviting young foreign human resources to Japan, were expressed at the Japan-India
Summit Meeting.

ASEAN-Japan Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (Jakarta, Indonesia, July 2023)
Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan

Japan-India Summit Meeting(Delhi, India, March 2023)
Photo courtesy of Cabinet Public
Affairs Office

Building a Network in
Sakura Science ClubWe are promoting information exchanges, such as information on studying in Japan, through the Sakura Science Club (about 40,000 members as of March 2024), an
alumni organization of the Sakura Science Program.
Please refer to our website for further details onactivities.
https://ssp.jst.go.jp/sns/top.html

The 5th reunion in India (New Delhi, India, February 2023)

JST International Youth Exchange

08

Results of Survey on Return Visit to Japan
Rate of Return Visit to Japan(excl. sightseeing purpose)

Purpose of Return Visit to Japan(excl. sightseeing purpose)

Others 16%

Total Number ofReturn Visitors to Japan

2,761Persons

Employmentand others
9%

Accumulated
Number of Invitees

Study abroad
36%

Research40%

39,635 Persons
Survey was conducted from February to March 2024,
addressed to all alumni of the Sakura Science Program.

Of 2,761 return visits to Japan by SSP alumni, 2,077 persons(76%) returned to study at research /educational institutes.
(Segment covered by red dotted line)

Results of Participant Survey
What was your impression of Japan after arrival?

Good312 Persons
7.6%

Not very good
10 Persons 0.2%
Poor
1 Person 0.1%
Very good
3,761 Persons
92.1%

Do you wish to study, work or carry out
research in Japan in the future?
Do not wish to do so120 Persons 2.9%
Hope to do so
1,227 Persons
30.0%
Strongly hope
to do so
2,737 Persons
67.0%

Survey targets: FY2023 Open Application Program, Indian University Program and High School Program (including supervisors)
Implementation method: Questionnaire form completed at end of program Number of respondents: 4,084* The total may not add up to 100% due to rounding up or down.

The supporters’ network for Sakura Science Program is expanding(Sakura Science Program Supporters)

Nobel laureates have been strong and influential supporters of SSP, sharing that they expect SSP tocontinue for the future development of science and technology in Japan and other countries.
ESAKI Leo

Nobel Prize in Physics in 1973

AMANO Hiroshi

Nobel Prize in Physics in 2014

TONEGAWA Susumu Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1987

NAKAMURA Shuji Nobel Prize in Physics in 2014

SHIRAKAWA Hideki Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2000

OMURA Satoshi

Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2015

NOYORI Ryoji

Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2001

KAJITA Takaaki

Nobel Prize in Physics in 2015

TANAKA Koichi

Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2002

OSUMI Yoshinori Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2016

KOBAYASHI Makoto Nobel Prize in Physics in 2008

HONJO Tasuku

SUZUKI Akira

Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2010

MANABE Syukuro Nobel Prize in Physics in 2021

YAMANAKA Shinya

Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2012Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2018

In addition, academia, industries, ambassadors in Japan from the eligible countries/regions and parliamentary associations for thefriendship between Japan and the countries/regions.

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JST International Youth ExchangeStarted in
FY2024Program Directedto ASEAN(5 years)

NEXUS
Networked Exchange, United Strength for Stronger Partnerships between Japan and ASEAN

Young Talents Exchange and Capacity
Development Program (Y-tec)
By utilizing theexchange platform established bySakura Science Program,ASEAN

JAPANNEXUS aims to build a mutual,sustainable researchecosystem between Japanand ASEAN.

Taking the opportunity of the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation,
NEXUS (Networked Exchange, United Strength for Stronger Partnerships between Japanand ASEAN) promotes a flexible and multi-layered science and technology partnership,
leveraged by the strength of Japan and ASEAN. It utilizes a network platform, establishedthrough various cooperative exchanges of activities between Japan and ASEAN, such as
SAKURA SCIENCE Exchange Program, AUN/SEED-Net Program, and others. Specifically,
we will proceed with the following three initiatives.
Researchers Exchange/ NEXUS promotes the development of young international researchers
through supporting personnel exchange. It aims to initiate international joint
Development
research and formulate a pool of research talent resources.
International Joint
Research

NEXUS supports international joint research in common priority challenges.

Program Base

NEXUS establishes a “base” (program office) to promote cooperation inscience, technology, and innovation, including strengthening the systems
and functions of existing research platforms.

The Young Talents Exchange and Capacity Development Program (Y-tec) is part of NEXUS, which
supports mutual exchanges by inviting and dispatching youth in the fields of science and technology
between ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and Japan. It is meant to further strengthen thesustainable cooperative research relationship between Japan and ASEAN by growing together as partners
in co-creating innovations in science and technology.

Young Talents Exchange Course

Leadership Exchange Course

Eligible
persons

Individuals who are 40 years and younger
School faculty/staff, researchers, etc.
including high school students

Exchange
periodOne year at the maximum. Dispatching and invitation is a maximum of 90 days perperson. The one-year term assumes the combination of on-site and online exchanges.

• Website
https://www.jst.go.jp/aspire/nexus/y-tec/en/

JST International Youth Exchange

10Sakura Science Program Headquarters
Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)Science Plaza, 5-3 Yonbancho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-8666 Japan
Tel: +81-3-5214-8288
E mail: ssp.press@jst.go.jp
URL: https://ssp.jst.go.jp/en/: https://www.jst.go.jp/aspire/nexus/y-tec/en/

Sakura Science Programwebsite

���NEXUS Young Talents Exchange andCapacity Development Program website