2024/07/24

The Japanese version is the authoritative version, and this English translation is intended for reference purposes only. Should any discrepancies
or doubt arise between the two versions, the Japanese version will prevail.

Program for Developing and Supporting the Next-Generation of
Innovative Researchers at Hiroshima University Application Guideline(Support Starting from October 2024 and from April 2025)
Hiroshima University has been selected as an implementing institution for "Challenging Research Program for NextGeneration Researchers" proceeded by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST). Hiroshima University has
established the Program for Developing and Supporting the Next-Generation of Innovative Researchers at Hiroshima
University with the aim of creating an environment where doctoral students can concentrate on their research withpeace of mind, and making them leap forward by support and foster so that they can contribute to the future of science,technology and innovation in Japan and who will be future leaders of the world. Therefore, we are calling for students
who are eligible for support (hereinafter referred to as "Next-Generation Fellows").
This program seeks individuals who can contribute to Japan's future science, technology, and innovation and whocan promote initiatives to make the world a better place through their comprehensive ability to have a broad
perspective and knowledge, excellent judgment, and the acting power. In particular, we are looking for applicants
who have the intention to be directly involved in the creation of science, technology and innovation in Japanafter obtaining their doctoral degrees at Hiroshima University, and we will emphasize this point in our
screening process.
The program will provide to adopted fellows the support grant which is an amount equivalent to living expense to
devote their research as well as research funds and will refer the opportunity of study abroad for research to overseas
institutes and the acquisition of transferable skills. Besides it will implement the various initiatives related to theircareer development and raising.
In addition, HU SPRING, an emergent scene for Next-Generation Fellows to interact and collaborate beyond theirown areas of expertise, will be established to provide a forum for discussion on how to approach solving social
problems and achieving world peace.
The call for applications for support starting from October 2024 and from April 2025, has been shown below.

1. Number of Positions
Graduate School

All the Graduate
Schools ofHiroshima
University*Course

Doctoral Courses
or4-Year PhD
Programs

Major
SubjectAll
Major
Subjects

ProgramAll
Programs

Eligible Students

The approximate number ofFellows to be selected【Support starting fromOct. 2024】
Apr.2024 enrollment orscheduled enrollment Oct.
2024
【Support starting fromApr.2025】
Schedule enrollment Apr.
2025

【Support starting fromOct.2024】
15【Support Starting fromApr.2025】
80*Current and prospective students of the Graduate School of Innovation and Practice for Smart Society arealso eligible to apply.

2. Eligibility
The following (1) to(4) are the descriptions of the eligibility requirements applicable to this program.
(1) Applicants must be those who are enrolled in a doctoral course in April 2024, or be scheduled to enroll in Hiroshima
University in October 2024 or April 2025 as 1st year doctoral course students (including those who plan to complete themaster's course early*A student taking a leave of absence due to childbirth, childcare, illness, study abroad, etc. will be determined separately
in consideration of individual circumstances.
(2) Applicants must NOT receive an income that exceeds 2.4 million JPY for the period from January to December of theyear in which the support starts. (However, receiving a salary of working part-time job such as a TA or RA does notpreclude the eligibility requirements.)(3) At the start of the support, applicants must NOT be supported by the following fellowships or scholarships:

‒‒‒

Research Fellowship for Young Scientists from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (including those
JSPS has unofficially selected).
Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarships for international students.
Any scholarship from the home countries of international students.

(4) At the start of the support, applicants must NOT be supported by any fellowship or scholarship offered by local publicagencies/private organizations do not allow concurrent pay between scholarship from them and this program (Programfor Developing and Supporting the Next-Generation of Innovative Researchers at Hiroshima University).
➢ [Note]: Concurrent applications for the "Project for Developing and Supporting the Next-Generation AI
Researchers at Hiroshima University" which is separately accepting applications are acceptable. If selected forboth programs, priority will be given to the "Program for Developing and Supporting the Next-Generation AI
Researchers at Hiroshima University". Applicants will not be selected for both programs at the same time.

3. Application Method
Please access the online application form (Google Forms) from the following URL, enter the required items, andsubmit it. The applicant’s Google account details and password authentication are required for access.
<Online Application Form >https://forms.gle/kMureNK9gZfFtzcS6*Please be sure to upload your application documents file saved in PDF format.
*The application documents may be either in color or black-and-white.
*The application documents must be filled-out and submitted according to the program's specified format withoutmodification. If you apply using documents which are different from the specified format, your application may not
be screened.
*The “Check Sheet” for the application form must also be completed and submitted. Incomplete check sheets may
result in the application not being considered.
*In principle, no replacement of application documents is allowed. Please make sure that there are no errors in thedocuments you submit before submitting them.

*If you have difficulty applying through the online application form, please attach and send the application
documents below 1) and 2) (with your name appended to the file name) to the e-mail address detailed within "7.
Contact Information".
The subject of the e-mail should be “Next Generation Fellowship Application”.
Application Documents:
1) Application Form (specified format, Excel)2) Application Documents (specified format, converted from Word into PDF)

4. Application Deadline
August .19th (Monday), 2024,17:00 . ( Japan Standard Time)*Applications received after the deadline will not be accepted for any reason. Please plan ahead andanticipate the time it will take to prepare your application documents and fill out the application form.
*When the deadline approaches, inquiries are concentrated and it takes time to respond. Please prepare
your application materials systematically and contact us as soon as possible if you have any questions.
Frequently asked questions are listed below, so please check here first before contacting us.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/19DV42LmOTUMwNej0LjYVDphbvoB2oqIs/edit?usp=dri
ve_link&ouid=115665184686763050289&rtpof=true&sd=true*Please note that the university will be closed from August 10 (Sat.) to August 18 (Sun.). Please notethat we will not be able to respond to inquiries, etc.

5. Selection Process and Notification of Results
The selection process will be conducted through the First Screening (screening of the submitted applicationdocuments) and the Second Screening. In principle, the First Screening will be conducted by a single judge in a
specialized field that is close to the application content and two judges from different research fields. The Second
Screening will be conducted by the Integrated Screening Committee. However please note that depending on theresults of the First Screening, the Second Screening may not be undertaken. The system of the Second Screening indetail will be announced to applicants who should go the Second Screening if it is undertaken.
All applicants will be notified of the screening results by e-mail during October, 2024. (Please note that applicants
who were initially unsuccessful in their application may be selected at a later date, depending on the status of adoption.
In such a case, we will contact you by e-mail separately.)In addition, regarding the evaluation of each applicant, anemphasis is placed on the applicant’s capability to “contribute to bring scientific and technological innovations toJapanese society in the future and being a capable person who contributes the future of world”.
And having the following two things will be highly valued as an applicant for the program.
(1) There is a sub-supervisor who is affiliated with research institutions outside of Japan that have been notified
to the Graduate School at Hiroshima University or is scheduled to have such an overseas sub-supervisor.
(2) The applicant is planning a mid- to long-term overseas study program. (The term means more than one monthat least.)
Please note that individual inquiries regarding each decision will not be able to be responded to.
6. Outline of Support after Selection
For further details, please refer to the attached "Outline of Support by the Program for Developing and Supporting
the Next-Generation of Innovative Researchers at Hiroshima University".
Furthermore, it is highly recommended that students apply for the Research Fellowship for Young Scientists(DC1/DC2) of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) as well, even if they are selected as NextGeneration Fellows.
7. Contact Information
Next Generation Fellowship Application Office for Graduate School at Hiroshima University (Global Career DesignCenter)
E-mail: fellowship@office.hiroshima-u.ac.jp*Please send inquiries by e-mail.

ATTACHMENT<Outline of Support by the Program for Developing and Supporting the Next-Generation of
Innovative Researchers at Hiroshima University>
1. Support to Next-Generation Fellows(1) In order to support the Next-Generation Fellows and allow them to concentrate on their studies and/or research,
stipends will be provided for up to three years (or four years for doctoral students of the 4-Year Ph.D. Programs) after
their enrollment*. Based on the principle monthly amount of 190,000 JPY, two months’ worth of payments will be
provided in May, July, September, November, January, and March. The detailed schedule of payment will beannounced after adoption.
And fellows with outstanding academic performance in the initiative of New SPRING at Hiroshima University will
be provided further 120,000 JPY as HU-SPRING Award in March of the year.
* If a Next-Generation Fellow’s tenure exceeds the standard study period, the support will be discontinued.
However, if it becomes necessary for a Next-Generation Fellow to suspend or extend the period of support due
to childbirth, childcare, illness, studying abroad, etc., the individual’s particular circumstances will beconsidered before a decision is made.
(2) The stipends are taxable as a miscellaneous income. Therefore, every Next-Generation Fellow is required to filean income tax return.
Furthermore, if a student with dependents (parents, etc.) is provided with this Program for Next-Generation, they
may need to be excluded from their dependents. Therefore, if a student is selected as a Next-Generation Fellow, theyshould inform their dependents (parents, etc.) that the stipends they receive will be treated as a miscellaneous income
under the Japanese tax law. For the procedures required to change your health insurance or dependents, please contact
the person in charge at the workplace of your dependents (parents, etc.).
(3) For a period of up to three years (or four years for doctoral students of the 4-Year Ph.D. Programs) after a NextGeneration Fellow’s enrollment, research funds of up to 400,000 JPY per year will be funded from the academic year
in which they have been selected as a Next-Generation Fellow. And the maximum amount of research expenses fora fiscal year in which the period of support is six months or less is 200,000 JPY.
(4) For international students and others who are currently overseas and are selected for the Next-Generation Fellow,
as a general rule, the stipends and research funds will begin to be provided once the Fellow has entered Japan and isable to commute to the University campus.
2. Next-Generation Fellow Obligations
Next-Generation Fellows shall fulfill the following obligations to receive support:(1) Develop a yearly research plan for each academic year and concentrate on research activities based on the plan.
(2) Participate in programs offered by the University related to improving research capabilities.
(3) Report the progress of research activities to the University regularly.
(4) Cooperate in various surveys. In particular, it is essential to cooperate with follow-up surveys on the career for
10 years after completion of the program.
(5) Based upon the “広島大学における研究活動に係る研究倫理教育に関する細則” (only available in Japanese),make sure to undertake necessary research ethics education.
(6) To participate in the initiatives, activities, etc. which are carried out by the “HU SPRING” or are informed on the"HIRAKU-PF" for career development of the Next-Generation Fellows. In particular, to participate actively in the"HU SPRING 100 Thesis" and the "HIRAKU 3MT Competition".
(7) Register the account for the Cooperative Education through Research Internships is essential.
3. Next-Generation Fellow Cancellation
If a Next-Generation Fellow falls under any of the following cases, the Next-Generation Fellow will be withdrawn,
and the provision of stipends and research funds shall be discontinued:(1) The Fellow’s annual income, from January to December, exceeds a certain amount (2.4 million JPY or more peryear). Note that this annual income refers to stable incomes such as standard salaries/remunerations, and does notinclude income received from paid internships, RA/TA, part-time work, etc.
(2) The Fellow receives a Research Fellowship for Young Scientists from the Japan Society for the Promotion ofScience, a Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship for international students, or any other scholarship/s from theirhome country.
(3) The Fellow’s research plan progress and/or the fulfillment of the Next-Generation Fellow Obligations is deemed
insufficient.

(4) The Fellow requests to cancel their Fellowship.
(5) The Fellow takes a leave of absence from the University. However, in the case of childbirth, childcare, illness,studying abroad, etc., the individual’s particular circumstances will be considered before a decision is made on thesuspension and subsequent resumption of payments, and other such factors.
(6) The Fellow withdraws from, or is removed from the University.
(7) The Fellow does not meet the eligibility requirements. (In this case, full-repayment of stipends and research funds
is claimed.)(8) The University decides that there is a valid reason to cancel the Fellowship.
4. Repayment of Excess Stipend Payments and Research Funds
If the period of support is shortened due to early completion, cancellation of support, etc., the payment of the stipends
will be stopped at the end of the shortened support period, and any excess amount which has been paid will need tobe returned. Also, in principle, the research funds will also need to be returned in proportion to the number of months
the support period was shortened by.
5. Others(1) As long as it does not interfere with a Fellow’s research activities, it is possible to receive a salary via a RA/TAposition, etc., or work part-time.
(2) The names of those who are selected as Next-Generation Fellows will be published on the University’s website.
(3) Any personal information stated within the application documents, and any other necessary personal information
provided by the graduate school to which an applicant belongs to, will be used only for the purposes of the selectionof candidates, preparation for acceptance, education/research guidance, etc.