To celebrate its 50-year anniversary, the Toyota Foundation has launched the 50th Anniversary Grant Programme, for research project proposals on the theme of ‘Envisioning Human Society 50 Years Ahead.’

Human society is going through major upheavals and changes due to a variety of factors including technological innovation, demographic shift, global environmental change, and a changing international situation. Given scientific and technological progress in domains such as artificial intelligence (AI) and genetic engineering, it may be worth considering whether we can assume human society as we know it will remain in existence in 50 years’ time. What human society should look like 50 years from now? The Toyota Foundation seeks project proposals that are ambitious, innovative, and unconventional in approach.

The grant programme is open to applicants (the project representative and all project members), irrespective of their nationality, place of residence, affiliation, academic or professional records.

The Foundation will accept proposals for research projects that are to be carried out by academic methods, regardless of research field or research subject. 

There are two categories: 

Joint Research Project

• It must be conducted by at least two project members, and the representative must be aged 45 or younger at the start of the grant provision.
• Two years from May 2025 to April 2027.
• Up to 10 million yen per project (grants will likely be given to three to four projects).

Individual Research Project

• The applicant must be aged 40 or younger at the start of the grant provision.
• One or two years from May 2025 to April 2026 or to April 2027.
• Up to 2 million yen per project (grants will likely be given to 15 to 20 projects).

Toyota Foundation 50th Anniversary Grant Programme application guidelines

Deadline: 6 November 2024