Program Summary
-BRIDGE Fellowship Launched for JSPS Alumni Members-

To date, JSPS alumni associations have been established in 11 countries and regions: Germany, France, the UK, the US, Sweden, India, Egypt, East Africa (Kenya), Korea, Bangladesh, and Finland. Each of these associations works to maintain and strengthen scientific exchange between its host country or region and Japan.

This new fellowship will be carried out as a component of the Japanese government’s initiative to strengthen S&T diplomacy. Under it, researchers from other countries who have experienced research in Japan through one of JSPS’s program are given the opportunity to “revisit” Japan. The program targets researchers who are members of the alumni associations listed above. As BRIDGE Fellows, they come to Japan to create, sustain or strengthen collaborative ties and networks with Japanese colleagues. Concrete forms that these visits may take include Fellows revisiting their past host institutions, holding meetings to plan or arrange joint research projects or seminars, training young researchers, giving lectures, or preparing or attending academic or research meetings. The results of each BRIDGE visit are recorded in reports prepared by both the visiting researcher and his/her alumni association. These reports are used to evaluate the visit along with the number of new applications submitted/selected for various categories of JSPS programs, based on the collaborative relations created, sustained or strengthened by way of the Fellow’s visit.

Nonimation by Eastern Africa JSPS alumni association

The Executive Committee of Eastern Africa JSPS resolved the Recruitment Policy, Rules for Nominating Committee Members and Screening Criteria at the 9th meeting held on 23rd October 2009.

• Recruitment Policy <PDF 28KB>
• Rules for Nominating Committee Members <PDF 27.2KB>
• Screening Criteria <PDF 28KB>

Former sub-Saharan African JSPS fellows who wish to receive BRIDGE fellowship should apply to East African JSPS alumni association. Application must contain duly filled forms. Forms can be downloaded from below or the website of the JSPS Head Office; http://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-plaza/21_invitation.html.

• Form 1 (filled by applicant) <Word 60KB>
• Form 2 (filled by host researcher in Japanese) <Word 44KB>

Awarded members in the fiscal year 2009

• Prof. Alexander Kigunzu Kahi (Egerton University, Kenya)
• Dr. Willis Omondi Owino (Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture & Technoloty)

New!!
Call for BRIDGE Fellows from sub-Saharan Africa for FY 2010

  → Application Guidelines FY 2010 <PDF 83KB>

Applicants should submit Form 1 and Form 2 to JSPS Nairobi Research Station (email address: jsps1@africaonline.co.ke) as an email attached with PDF or MS Word files, not later than
17:00 hrs (UTC+03:00) 17th April 2010.
17:00 hrs (UTC+03.00) 22nd June 2010. (The deadline has been extended.)
The EA JSPS alumni association is assigned two BRIDGE fellows for the fiscal year 2010. BRIDGE fellow will be selected at the Nominating Committee which will be held late in April 2010. Each applicant will be informed of the result of screening after the committee.