KI collaboration awards for collaboration with the University of Tokyo and RIKEN

Karolinska Institutet supports long‑term and growing research collaboration with the University of Tokyo and RIKEN. Through calls for collaboration awards, KI offers researchers and doctoral students the opportunity to apply for funding that enables short research stays, lab visits, and exchanges designed to strengthen both new and established partnerships with leading institutions in Japan.

International collaboration plays an important role at KI. Working across borders creates opportunities to meet colleagues in new environments and contributes to personal and academic development for students and staff engaged in international contexts.

About the award

To support new and existing contacts between researchers and doctoral students—and to enhance research collaboration with the University of Tokyo and RIKEN, the Internationalisation Board is pleased to announce limited competitive funding for up to three collaboration awards. These awards may support activities such as lab visits within current collaborations or with research groups where no previous collaboration exists.

Each award provides 30,000 SEK per person (including INDI) to cover living expenses such as travel and accommodation. Activities should take place between April 2026 and 31 December 2026.

Application

Applications must include:

CV
Statement of interest (max 350 words), including a description of intended activities and relevance for the postdoctoral project or doctoral student’s ISP
Letter of support from the supervisor (if relevant)
Invitation letter from the proposed host
Documentation of admission as a doctoral student at KI, including half‑time seminar information from Ladok (if relevant)
Bibliography, with short information about manuscripts if applicable

Format

Combine all documents into a single PDF.

Deadline

30 March 2026. Funding decisions will be communicated no later than the end of March.

Submission

Email your application to Lotta Lundqvist. Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered.

Evaluation Criteria

Assessment will take into account:

Opportunity to access methods or technologies not available at KI
Relevance to the postdoctoral project or the doctoral student’s ISP
Completion of the half‑time seminar (for doctoral students)
Contribution to strengthening collaborations between KI and the University of Tokyo and/or RIKEN
Proof of registration at KI, or confirmation from the group leader that the postdoc is based at KI

Applicants who have not previously received a Tokyo collaboration award will be prioritised. The award cannot be used for returning to one’s home institution.