Pharmaceutical Industrial Policy Committee FY2026 Guidelines for Researcher Support and Grants

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[Purpose]

It goes without saying that living a long and healthy life is the wish of many people. People also hope for stable economic growth across the nation, a sustainable social security system, and the elimination of anxieties regarding illness and old age.
Our mission as research-and-development-oriented pharmaceutical companies is to contribute to “extending healthy life expectancy” and “driving economic growth” for the public through the continuous research and development and stable supply of innovative pharmaceuticals.
However, issues related to “health” and “socioeconomic matters” remain numerous. In the healthcare sector in particular, there are various challenges, including increasing demand for medical care due to an aging population, maintaining healthcare delivery systems amid a declining population, and future fiscal concerns.
The Japan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (hereinafter referred to as the JPMA), without limiting itself to the field of pharmaceuticals,with the aim of contributing to the advancement of research and the accumulation of evidence that will help resolve future challenges facing healthcare, public health, and the pharmaceutical industry in Japan, the Japan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (hereinafter referred to as the Association) will provide grants to support researchers.In particular, we expect research that demonstrates potential for integration into policies and measures, offers insights for societal implementation, and highlights economic and social impacts.

【Research Topics】

This call for proposals consists of two categories: “Designated Research Topics,” which focuses on two specific themes, and “Open Research Topics,” which invites a broad range of research proposals, particularly from early-career researchers.

(1) Designated Research Topics

Theme 1: “Strengthening the Competitiveness and Drug Discovery Capabilities of the Domestic Pharmaceutical Industry and Their Economic and Social Impact”

日本はアメリカ、スイス、イギリス、ドイツ、デンマーク等と並ぶ世界でも有数の新薬創出国であり、2026年7月に閣議決定された日本成長戦略においても医薬品産業は成長・基幹産業と位置づけられ、官民が一体となって取り組みを進めるものとされています。
一方、The Office of Pharmaceutical Industry Researchの報告によると、世界売上高上位100 品目における日本企業による創出品目数は2017年をピークに年々減り続け、新薬創出において欧米にキャッチアップできていない状況が顕在化しています。
こうした状況に対しては、基礎研究力の強化や治験体制の整備、アカデミアとの橋渡し・実用化推進等の施策や創薬エコシステムの構築等の取り組みと、その取り組みを支えボトルネックを解消する政策や施策が求められます。
喫緊の課題である国内医薬品産業の競争力・創薬力の強化、創薬エコシステムの構築やシーズの社会実装等を推進するためには何が必要か、またその経済的・社会的影響やそれを達成するための政策や施策を明らかにする研究を募集します。

Theme 2: “Factors Affecting Health and Their Economic and Social Impacts”

Factors affecting health are diverse and extend beyond the life sciences, ranging from medical aspects—such as medical technologies, procedures, and access to healthcare—to individual lifestyle habits and health behaviors related to health promotion measures, as well as social and environmental factors classified as social determinants of health.
Furthermore, health has diverse economic and social impacts, such as on individuals’ employment, social participation, and consumption activities. For example, regarding the relationship between health and productivity, a growing body of research has been accumulated on the links between health status and labor productivity, employment rates, and wages; health also contributes to individuals’ quality of life (QOL) and social participation.Furthermore, improving people’s health requires interventions not only in clinical settings but also at the policy level.
Under this theme, we are seeking research that clarifies the factors contributing to people’s health and their economic and social impacts, as well as research that leads to policies and measures aimed at achieving better health for the population.

(2) Open-Topic Research

We are particularly seeking a wide range of research topics in the social sciences—such as economics, law, regulatory science, health economic evaluation, and political science—that contribute to the promotion and development of healthcare, health, social security systems, and the pharmaceutical industry, with a special focus on young researchers.
We are seeking research that presents generalized arguments based on surveys, analyses, empirical studies, case studies, and similar methods. We also welcome themes based on innovative ideas that are not bound by established concepts.

Example Topics:

[Eligibility]

Eligibility is limited to individuals or groups aiming to conduct outstanding pioneering or original research in the fields of health economics, healthcare systems, healthcare policy, social security policy, healthcare-related industrial policy, and other broad areas related to healthcare and health.Note that the principal investigators for designated research topics must be researchers employed by domestic research institutions, while the principal investigators for open-topic research must be early-career researchers, including graduate students (master’s and doctoral programs) affiliated with domestic research institutions.

[Research Period]

[Application Process]

Open Call

[Number of Grants and Grant Amounts]

Total amount: Up to 10 million yen

【Deadline】

Monday, November 16, 2026 *Must be received by this date

[Application Procedures]

（１）必要事項を記入し、記入済の「研究助成申請書」、「研究計画書」等必要書式一式をPDF形式とし事務局まで電子メールでご提出ください。

（２）研究助成に必要な申請様式は、以下よりダウンロードしてご入力ください。

[Selection Process]

Selection will be determined based on a review of the application documents and the decision of the selection committee.

(Titles omitted; listed in alphabetical order)

[Notification of Acceptance/Rejection]

All applicants will be notified of the selection results by the end of December 2026.
The names, affiliations, and research topics of grant recipients are scheduled to be published on the JPMA website.

【Contract】

When entering into a contract, we kindly ask that you use the contract form provided in the attachment, which is prescribed by our association. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or concerns regarding the content. Please also note that the contract will be with your affiliated institution, not with the individual research grant recipient.

Research Grant Contract Template (PDF Version)

[Grant Disbursement]

Grants will be disbursed by the end of March 2027.
Funds will be transferred exclusively to bank or credit union accounts located in Japan.

【Use of Grant Funds】

You must conduct the research and use the grant funds exactly as outlined in the research plan. However, the following types of expenditures are not eligible for the grant:

In addition, travel expenses must not exceed 60% of the total requested amount, and outsourcing costs (including expenses for obtaining patents, etc.) must not exceed 50% of the total requested amount; if these limits are exceeded, a written justification must be submitted.

【Handling of Research Outputs】

You must submit the research results report and financial report to the JPMA by the specified deadline.Although the copyright to the reports you submit belongs to the JPMA, this does not prevent you from presenting research findings or submitting papers related to the content of the reports during or after the research period. Furthermore, this does not prevent you from transferring the copyright to the relevant sections of the report to academic societies or publishers if necessary.We encourage active research presentations and journal submissions.

[Reporting and Publication of Research Results]

You are required to present your research findings at a results briefing session hosted by the JPMA (if possible, prior to submitting a paper).
Research findings must be submitted to academic journals, society journals, or similar publications, or presented at equivalent research conferences, within the research period. Additionally, for designated research topics, you are required to report papers, articles, etc., to the JPMA prior to submission or publication, if possible.　
(There are no specific requirements regarding where to submit. Furthermore, submissions and conference presentations may be conducted in languages other than Japanese.)
Please note that upon publication, you must state that the research was “supported by a grant from the Japan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association” and submit reprints of the paper, abstract, or similar materials at a later date.

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