Canon Foundation Research Fellowships 2027: Up to €30,000 for Researchers in Europe, Japan & Africa
Published: May 2026 | Research & Fellowships
The Canon Foundation is accepting applications for three research fellowship programmes for the 2027 research period. The programmes support researchers who wish to conduct research abroad in Europe, Japan, or Africa.
The application deadline is September 15, 2026.
Three Fellowship Programmes
The Canon Foundation offers three distinct programmes for researchers at different career stages and with different geographic focuses.
Research Fellowship Programme: For European researchers who want to conduct research in Japan and Japanese researchers who want to conduct research in Europe.
Japan–Africa Programme: For postgraduate scholars from Japan and Africa who want to conduct research in African Studies in Africa or Japan respectively.
Co-sponsored Research Fellowship Programme: Offered in partnership with the European University Institute in Italy. Applications for this programme must be submitted directly through the EUI website.
Research Fellowship Programme
Who is it for?
This programme is for European researchers who want to conduct research in Japan and Japanese researchers who want to conduct research in Europe.
Applicants with European nationality are expected to carry out their research in Japan. This includes researchers from the Balkans, Baltic states, Israel, Switzerland, Turkey, and the United Kingdom.
Japanese applicants are expected to carry out their research in Europe.
Research Fields
All research fields are supported. There are no restrictions on discipline.
Duration
The minimum fellowship period is three months. The maximum is twelve months.
Funding
Successful applicants receive up to €30,000 per year, pro-rated for shorter periods.
Japan–Africa Programme
Who is it for?
This programme is for postgraduate scholars from Japan and Africa who want to conduct research in African Studies. Japanese researchers are expected to conduct their research in Africa. African researchers are expected to conduct their research in Japan.
Applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of Japan or an African country.
The foundation prioritises people-to-people projects that support development in Africa through scientific research and bilateral knowledge exchange.
Duration
The minimum fellowship period is six to eight weeks. The maximum is one year. It is also possible to split the time spent abroad into multiple shorter stays.
Funding
Successful applicants receive between €22,500 and €27,500 per year, pro-rated for shorter periods.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must have completed at least a Master’s degree within the ten years preceding their application. The degree must be held at the time of submission.
Extensions to the ten-year limit may be considered for justified reasons such as maternity or paternity leave, medical exemptions, or military service.
Applicants do not need to be enrolled or employed at the time of applying.
African and Japanese researchers currently residing or working in Europe are eligible to apply for the Japan–Africa Programme.
Preference is given to applicants who plan to travel to Japan, Europe, or Africa rather than those seeking to extend current stays already underway.
Host Institution Requirements
Applicants are free to choose their host institution in Japan, Europe, or Africa. However, applicants must arrange the host institution themselves.
The Canon Foundation does not have formal partnerships or affiliations with Japanese, African, or European universities. The foundation is therefore unable to assist applicants in finding a host institution, professor, or placement.
Applicants must obtain a host institution confirmation letter stating that research or work facilities will be available. The letter must explain how the host or supervisor will support the project, including resources and supervision. This helps the Selection Committee assess the feasibility of the research.
Required Application Documents
Applicants must upload the following documents with their application:
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Research plan of maximum two pages on A4 paper, including an estimate of total costs
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Curriculum vitae
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Highest academic degree obtained to date
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One passport-size photograph
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Publications and professional achievements list in chronological order, including all authors, place and year of publication, and page references
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Two reference letters from people able to comment on the applicant’s academic or professional qualifications and previous work
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Host institution confirmation letter
Late Reference Letters and Host Letters
If reference letters or the host letter are not ready by the deadline, applicants should submit their application anyway by September 15, 2026, at 23:59 CET.
Applicants can then log back in and upload missing letters until September 30, 2026, at 23:59 CET. After this time, the upload function closes. After uploading the letters, applicants must remember to re-submit their application.
As an alternative, referees and host supervisors may email letters directly to the Canon Foundation at canon.foundation@canon-europe.com. The foundation will match the documents to the application and upload them after the portal has closed.
An application is considered complete only after the foundation has received two reference letters and the host institution confirmation letter.
Important Policies
Grants are awarded at the discretion of the foundation and depend on the nature of the research project. The application form is designed for applicants from commercial, governmental, and academic sectors, so some sections may be more or less relevant depending on the applicant’s background.
It is the foundation’s policy not to award fellowships to applicants who already hold a concurrent research grant from another authority.
The foundation does not enter into correspondence regarding decisions taken on any individual application, and no negative inference should be taken from the absence of communication.
Application Deadline and Research Period
The application deadline is September 15, 2026, at 23:59 CET.
The research period is from January 1, 2027, to December 31, 2027. The fellowship period can continue into 2028.
How to Apply
Applicants must first complete the registration form on the Canon Foundation website. The registration form asks applicants to select which programme they wish to apply for: the Research Fellowship Programme or the Japan–Africa Programme.
After registering, applicants are directed to the application form.
Applications for the Co-sponsored Research Fellowship Programme with the European University Institute must be made directly through the EUI website.
Questions
Applicants with questions concerning the application process should email Suzy Cohen at canon.foundation@canon-europe.com.
Who Should Apply
The Canon Foundation Research Fellowships are ideal for early to mid-career researchers who have completed a Master’s degree within the last ten years. Postdoctoral researchers, university lecturers, and independent scholars are all eligible.
The Japan–Africa Programme is particularly suited for researchers working on African Studies who wish to conduct fieldwork or collaborative research across continents.
Researchers who have not yet secured a host institution should begin contacting potential hosts well before the September deadline. The quality of the host letter and the feasibility of the proposed research are important factors in the selection process.
Visit the Official Webpage of the Canon Foundation Japan-Africa Research Fellowship
