Based on Act on the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, JSPS is mandated to fund scientific research, provide financial support for fostering the researchers, promote international scientific exchange, and carry out other science-advancement programs. For such purposes, JSPS was established on 1 October 2003 as an incorporated administrative agency that operates under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT).

Looking back, JSPS was originally established as a nonprofit foundation in 1932 with an endowment of 1.5 million yen gifted to the Minister of Education by Emperor Showa. Then in September 1967, the Act on the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science was enacted making JSPS a quasi-governmental organization. Over the course of some 70 years from its initial establishment, JSPS had developed a wide range of programs which accrued to making it Japan’s core science-promotion agency. Accordingly, JSPS was reestablished as an incorporated administrative agency in October 2003 for the purpose of enhancing the services it provides to researchers and research institutions by strengthening and streamlining its administrative capacities.

JSPS is Japan’s sole independent funding agency with a mission to advance science. JSPS carries out a variety of programs in ways that proactively provide stable and sustained support for researchers’ activities. As JSPS continues to support the advancement of scientific research covering all the fields of the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences, it will promote cooperation among universities and research institutions in and outside Japan and collaboration with science-promotion organizations around the world.

About Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Beijing Representative Office 

JSPS operates 10 overseas offices in 9 countries to strengthen international scientific collaboration. JSPS Beijing Office was founded in 2007, and has been involved in enhancing international collaboration with funding agencies and research institutes such as universities in China and developing various international programs.

Its main missions are:

  To collaborate with China’s counterpart organizations

  To promote or implement JSPS international programs

  To support the overseas activities of Japan’s universities

  To establish the networks for researchers

  To gather and disseminate information on domestic or foreign scientific trends

  To carry out academic exchanges with Korea, Mongolia, Central Asian countries