Expressions of Interest Due April 1, 2025

Full Proposals Due May 15, 2025

The Social Science Research Council and the Japan Foundation New York are pleased to offer Collaborative Grants of up to $20,000 USD to past recipients of the Abe Fellowship and the Abe Fellowship for Journalists (the Abe Fellows Network).  *We have opened applications this year to fellows based in Japan!

These grants may provide support for research, fact-finding, convenings, and public engagement around an issue of global concern using Japan as a lens to deepen understanding. Proposals should explicitly focus on policy-relevant and contemporary issues with a comparative or transnational perspective that draws Japanese experience into the wider public debate.

The Collaborative Grants encourage the development of expanded networks of intellectual engagement. Applicant fellows based in the US must include on the project team at least one representative from Japan, while applicant fellows from Japan must include on the project team at least one representative from the United States. All teams must also have one researcher, journalist, or practitioner within ten years of the start of their career. Additional team members may be included as appropriate to the project. Applicants are especially encouraged to include team members who would not normally engage with Japan but whose research area would benefit from such engagement.

Support will be provided for the period from July 1, 2025 through March 31, 2026. Grant funds may be used to cover travel and accommodation expenses, networking opportunities, media production and dissemination, and research, as well as the costs of public events (virtual or in person). 

Expressions of interest should be submitted by April 1, 2025. If a team is selected to submit a full proposal, the proposal will be due May 15, 2025. Applicants will be notified of results in early June.

Eligibility

Previous recipients of the Abe Fellowship or Abe Fellowship for Journalists currently employed at an institution or organization may apply. Fellows working as freelance journalists are also eligible.

Project Team Parameters

Each collaborative team must include a minimum of three team members. One team member should be from the United States, one team member from Japan, and a third team member at an early stage of their career (from the US or Japan). Each team member should play a substantive role in the project.

Team members may be academic researchers, journalists, or other professionals relevant to the research topic.Additional team members (optional) may be at any stage in their academic or professional career as long as there is a clear justification for their involvement in the project. These team members need not be based in the US or Japan.

We encourage applicants to assemble diverse teams (i.e., diverse in terms of institution, discipline, age, rank, country of origin, gender, etc.

Application Process

The Abe Fellow serving as team leader must submit all materials on behalf of the research team through the SSRC online application portal.

Due April 1, 2025, a completed expression of interest contains:

  • A short application form to be completed online
  • A one-page expression of interest that describes:
    • the project for which support is requested,
    • the intended project team and a description of their roles,
    • and expected tangible outcomes or deliverables of the project.

Teams selected to submit a full proposal will need to submit a complete application online by May 15, 2025, including:

  • Online application form
  • Project proposal (3 pages)
  • Focused bibliography of the most relevant texts (1 page).
  • Project timeline including a description of the activities to undertake during the period from July 2025 through March 2026
  • Current CV of the Abe Fellow
  • Forms completed by each team member include a current CV or resume and a description of the role each member will play in the project.
  • Proposed budget (1 page) of no more than $20,000 USD

FAQ

What is the length of time for a collaborative grant, as envisioned by the program?
Collaborative grants are intended to provide funding from July 2025 through March 2026.

Can the grant period be extended?
Projects should be designed so as to be completed within the grant period. That said, we understand that some deliverables will not be complete by the end of the grant period.  Extensions on deliverables, but not events, meetings, or workshops, may be granted on a case-by-case basis.

What topics are eligible?
Collaborative grants support interdisciplinary research into social phenomena and proposed topics should foreground social issues and analysis.

What may collaborative grant funds be used for?
Collaborative grants are intended to fund activities directly related to the planning or execution of collaborative research/fact-finding initiatives and dissemination, such as (but not limited to) research, networking, virtual or in person public events, project completion, podcast production, media products, reporting projects, etc. 

Eligible expenses for these activities may include travel, accommodation, and convening costs. Significant allowances for research-related costs are not appropriate for this grant. However, modest funds for some background or pilot research, which may include research assistance, may be eligible if those activities clearly support the project. Collaborative grants may not be used as a substitute or supplement for salaries and may not be used for the purchase of equipment. However, funds may be allocated for honoraria, consultant fees, and interview or focus group costs. The grant cannot provide administrative support or cover indirect costs or overhead.

May a collaborative grant project be part of a larger or longer-term project?
Yes. If the project for which support is being requested is part of a larger or longer-term project, please include the full budget for the project and indicate which expenses would be allocated to the collaborative grant.

How many members may join a project team?
The project team must be a minimum of three people. Additional team members may be included as appropriate to the project. In general, the size of your research team should correspond with your proposed project and the tasks required to accomplish your project goals.

Do I need to complete the application in one sitting?
No. You may return to the application as many times as needed until the application deadline. Please remember to save your work as you complete each section of the application and note that once applications are submitted, they cannot be altered.

May I submit my application by fax or email?
No. Applications should be submitted via the online application portal only.

How can I find out whether the program has received my application?
You will receive an automated email from the SSRC confirming submission of your application.

What is the review procedure?
Applications will be reviewed through a peer review process.

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