Hiroshima University, Yamaguchi University, Tokushima University and Ehime University formed the Consortium, “World-Class Researcher Development Through Regional Collaboration” (hereafter referred to as HIRAKU-Global), focusing on the Chugoku and Shikoku regions, with the aim of developing innovative, influential and impactful researchers in the global community. The HIRAKU-Global Program (the Program) provides various types of support to early career researchers who are proactively advancing international collaborative research, such as start-up research funding, travel and accommodation expenses for medium- to long-term research visits overseas, advice from mentors, and opportunities for career and skill development, to name a few.

• Hiroshima University:　　　 3 (Any field)
• Yamaguchi University: 　　  1 (Any field)
• Tokushima University:　　　1 (Any field)
• Ehime University:　　　　　 1 (Any field)
• Collaborating Institutions:　several (Any field)
   

[1] Possess less than ~10 years  of research experience after obtaining their doctoral degree (under ~40 years of age in principle).  However, if you do not satisfy these criteria due to a career break or long-term leave for any reason (such as childbirth, childcare, or nursing care), please contact the office to discuss your eligibility and we will respond to individual circumstances accordingly.
[2] Hold a recently acquired faculty position (attained within the past ~two years , including those who will start such a position beginning in April, 2026).
[3] Must be a tenure-track faculty member. However, non-term limited faculty members (i.e., tenured) from Collaborating Institutions are also eligible to apply. *

* Applications from Collaborating Institutions are accepted in the case that the institution can devise financial support for Start-up Research and Support for International Research Exchange funding (to be further described later). Please contact us at the HIRAKU-Global Office to discuss your eligibility.

• We are particularly seeking researchers who, as HIRAKU-Global Researchers, are motivated to strengthen the collaboration between the domestic universities within the Program and international partner institutions, as well as to improve their competencies as researchers and increase their visibility in the global community through conducting international collaborative research, while playing leading roles in developing the Program.

Friday, April 10, 2026 at 11:59 a.m. (Japan Standard Time) 

*If you do not receive an e-mail acknowledging that your application has been received from the HIRAKU-Global Office by Monday, April 13, please contact the Office via the information supplied below.

The application guideline and documents can be downloaded from the below links. Please carefully read through the guideline before preparing the required application documents.
Thereafter, please submit the completed set of required application documents to the HIRAKU-Global Office via the e-mail address supplied below.

*Please prepare the Application Form documents in English.
*Please submit all of the required application documents in PDF format.