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Canon Foundation Research Fellowship

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The Canon Foundation in Europe grants up to 15 Fellowships to highly qualified European and Japanese (PhD or Postdoc) researchers. Fellowships are awarded for periods of minimum three months and maximum one year, regardless of discipline or existing employment positions.

Annually, the Canon Foundation in Europe grants up to 15 Fellowships to highly qualified European and Japanese researchers. European Fellows are expected to pursue a period of research in Japan whereas Japanese Fellows are expected to do their research in Europe. Canon Foundation Fellowships are for a minimum period of three months up to maximum of one year and are free to choose their host institutes and hosts in Japan. The same freedom is given to Japanese Canon Fellows coming to Europe. Canon Foundation Research Fellowships may be applied for when an agreement on co-operation and on a research plan has been reached between the guest researcher and the proposed host institution.

Applications can also be submitted by members of commercial, industrial, governmental or professional organisations. Canon Foundation Research Fellowships are open to Europeans and Japanese nationals. Europeans must want to do their research in Japan and Japanese must want to do their research in Europe. All Europeans are eligible to apply (including Israel, Turkey, Balkan and Baltic countries). Applicants should have obtained at least a Master's or PhD degree within the last ten years of applying to the Canon Foundation. We will also consider candidates who obtained their qualification more than ten years ago as long as they provide further supporting information in their application. Please note that priority is given to applicants going to Europe and Japan for the first time. The Canon Foundation support all fields of research. There are no limitations or restrictions. Applicants do not have to be currently enrolled or employed at the time of applying.

Scholarship value

The financial support for Research Fellows can reach up to EUR 30,000 per year and pro-rata for different periods. The Canon  Foundation gives priority to those who plan to travel to Europe or Japan rather than prolong a current stay. The research fellow can decide what costs the grant can be used for. Examples are: living costs, travel, insurance, research costs, books, etc. There are no restrictions.

Eligible level and Eligible Countries

Master's programmes
Applied Mathematics

In this Master’s, you will apply mathematics to challenging issues in diverse sectors. You will learn how to discover new patterns and how to predict them through mathematical models.

Applied Physics

Deepen your understanding of the laws of physics to find technical solutions in a wide range of areas such as IT, sustainability, healthcare, chip design, digitalisation, finance, space and more.

Biomedical Engineering

Contribute to better healthcare by designing and developing medical innovations for improved diagnostics, treatment, rehabilitation, prevention and a better quality of life.

Business Administration

In today’s evolving world it makes no sense to do business as usual. This Master’s turns you into an innovative, entrepreneurial business leader who prepares businesses for the challenges of tomorrow.

Business Information Technology

Become an expert in IT-based business innovation, able to devise new services and radically improve the way businesses work with the use of IT.

Cartography (joint degree)

The joint degree Master Cartography is an Erasmus Mundus Master of four European universities. It focuses on a broad education in cartography and geoinformatics.

Chemical Science & Engineering

This Master’s will help you to develop novel chemical processes, materials and molecules and contribute to innovations that benefit our society in areas such as health, water, food and sustainability.

Civil Engineering & Management

If you are eager to focus on both the technical and non-technical aspects of civil engineering projects and systems, then the Master’s in Civil Engineering & Management is the programme for you.

Communication Science

Become an expert in how people and organisations interact with and through the latest innovations, in the context of major societal challenges, such as polarisation, sustainability and security.

Computer Science

In this Master’s, you will learn to solve the biggest challenges of tomorrow’s digital society by designing and developing more secure, scalable, and efficient ICT systems.

Construction Management & Engineering

This Master’s helps you to become an expert in managing large-scale, complex construction projects in an increasingly digitised industry, using an innovative, holistic approach.

Educational Science & Technology

Are you fascinated by learning, but not necessarily dreaming of becoming a teacher? Engage in educational breakthroughs in schools and/or organisations as a researcher, designer or consultant.

Electrical Engineering

This Master's challenges you to develop new methods and technologies for high-tech electronics-based systems in nanotechnology, robotics, electronics, telecommunication or biomedical systems.

Embedded Systems

This Master’s program equips you with expertise in designing the software and hardware of complex embedded systems in vehicles, pacemakers and chipsets amongst others.

Environmental & Energy Management

The one-year, English-taught Master's in Environmental & Energy Management will equip you to lead, manage and govern socio-technological change processes related to energy, water and the environment.

European Studies

Managing Europe is a complex challenge. The Master’s in European Studies gives you the expertise to operate in this fascinating environment where various levels of government come together.

Geo-information Science and Earth Observation

Are you interested in a career in GIS/spatial data science and becoming a geospatial professional?

Geo-information Science and Earth Observation for Environmental Modelling and Management

A joint programme from four European universities. Obtain a master's degree in Geo-information Science and Earth Observation alongside a degree from one of the other universities!

Geographical Information Management and Applications (joint degree)

This Master’s aims to educate students and professionals to become all-round managers and/or researchers in the field of geo-information.

Geographical Information Management and Applications – Parttime

This Master’s programme aims to educate students and professionals to become all-round managers and/or researchers in the field of geo-information.

Health Sciences

This Master’s focuses on healthcare policy and organisation, with specific attention to the role of technology in healthcare.

Industrial Design Engineering

Combine design and engineering in creating innovative products that enrich people’s lives. During this two-year Master’s, you learn to optimise both products and the development processes involved.

Industrial Engineering & Management

Become a creative, multidisciplinary manager with both technological know-how and engineering and management skills and optimise processes and solve problems in complex, globally active organisations.

Interaction Technology

Delve into the field of human-computer interaction and design and develop interactive technologies that are meaningful to people and society.

Mechanical Engineering

Become an expert mechanical engineer that focuses on the futureproof design, analysis and maintenance of machinery, structures, products and production processes.

Nanotechnology

Tackle big, societal issues at the smallest level: become an expert in the upcoming field of nanotechnology and invent, design, and develop innovative solutions on the extremely small nanoscale.

Philosophy of Science, Technology & Society

Philosophy of Science, Technology & Society is the premier Master's programme for learning how to critically analyse and assess the impact of scientific and technological developments on society.

Psychology

Psychology plays a role wherever people are in contact with other people or organisations or when they interact with technology. Core: behaviour (doing), emotions (feeling) and cognitions (thinking).

Public Administration

Learn to tackle the grand challenges our complex society faces from a political-administrative point of view and develop your own profile within a domain of your choice.

Robotics

In this Master’s, you will learn to create robots that fit seamlessly in society, industry, and healthcare, revolutionising quality of life, safety, and efficiency.

Science Education

Share your knowledge of science subjects in school! This teacher education programme will equip you to become a teacher in secondary (Dutch) education.

Spatial Engineering

Natural disasters, poverty, food shortage, epidemics, climate change: learn to tackle society’s greatest and most complex challenges with the use of spatial data.

Sustainable Energy Technology

Do you feel called upon to make a valuable contribution to the sustainable energy transition? Become an expert in the development, implementation and integration of sustainable energy technologies.

Technical Medicine

This Master’s will equip you to become a technical doctor who can use medical technologies to their full potential.

Water Technology

Solving global water problems requires a multidisciplinary approach of knowledge and skills. That is why Wetsus and three Dutch universities offer a joint degree in Water Technology.

Countries eligible for this scholarship
  • Albania
  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Bosnia & Herzegovina
  • Bulgaria
  • Croatia
  • Cyprus
  • Czechia
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Hungary
  • Iceland
  • Ireland
  • Italy
  • Japan
  • Kosovo
  • Latvia
  • Liechtenstein
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Malta
  • Montenegro
  • Netherlands
  • North Macedonia
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Romania
  • Serbia
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • Turkey

Application deadline

Application requirements

To qualify for this scholarship, applicants must fulfill the following requirements:

Selection 

The Selection Committee's final decisions will be emailed to applicants before the middle of December of that year.

How to apply

Applications should be made through our online application form. After registering, you will be directed to the application form. As part of the application procedure, you will be asked to upload the following:

*These documents MUST be uploaded at least before you can submit your application (1) your research plan (2) your Curriculum Vitae (3) your Doctoral/Degree or highest qualification/certificate (4) Passport-sized photograph. Read more about how to apply.

Success rate

The average success rate is around 10%. Funding decisions are based on the quality of the research plan, the reference letters and the host confirmation. The success rate is not influenced by gender, age and nationality. Between 1990 - 2016, a total of 363 Canon Research Fellowships were granted. 221 European Fellows and 142 Japanese Fellows were sponsored. European Fellows come from some 27 countries.

Canon Foundation Research Fellowship
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