地域興し博士プログラムとは

Support for Pioneering Research Initiated by the Next Generation (SPRING)

The Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), through the associate universities, provides various supports for doctoral students, including provision of living and research expenses, career development and training contents (cultivation of internationality, cultivation of interdisciplinarity, career development, acquisition of transferable skills, internship, etc.). The program provides various types of support, including international and interdisciplinary training, career development, transferable skills training, internships, and others.

Kitakyushu Innovative Human Resource and Regional Development Program

This is the program by the University of Kitakyushu City, which was approved by JST as part of their SPRING program.

Vision of the Program

VISION 1

Fostering human resources to solve regional issues with technological and social innovations through interdisciplinary activities

With Kitakyushu City and its surrounding areas (hereafter referred to as the Kitakyushu region) as the field, doctoral students learn how to solve technical and social issues. This helps solve regional problems and enables sustainable development.

VISION 2

Ensuring student diversity

As Kitakyushu City engages in diverse international cooperation, particularly with Asian countries, we will establish an initiative to utilize local technology and policy techniques globally by involving multinational students and graduates.

VISION 3

Self-sustaining program operation

As part of efforts to make Kitakyushu an economically viable city, we encourage our students to utilize their research seeds to revitalize the region. The revenue obtained from the revitalization will be used to self-finance this program.

Education and Training Content Content

Item	Content for students enrolled in October 2025 or later.
Item	Classification	Content
Support grant for living expenses	–	2,160,000 yen per year (from 2025.4)
Research grant	–	500,000 yen per year
Overseas activity support	Selective	Information support	Sharing information on overseas activity destinations, etc.
Overseas activity support	Selective	Financial support	Support based on budget and performance of overseas activities
Education team meetings	Required	Frequency of implementation	About once every three months
Internship	Required	Implementation period	More than half of the entire support period
		Type	Job-based research internship or regional internship (either or both conducted)
		Graduate school credit	2 credits can be earned by declaration
Interdisciplinary activities	Required (at least once during the support period)	Presentations and discussions at interdisciplinary camps or seminars that focus on issues in the Kitakyushu region
Business skill training	Required (at least once during the support period)	Participation in lectures by business school faculty and other experts. Participation in business events.
Business contest	Selective (participation recommended)	Participate in entrepreneurship support programs such as the university's PARKS program and present business plans
Training for independence	Selective	Tax return courses, disaster prevention and lifesaving courses, United Nations University SDGs courses, etc.
Japanese language training (international students)	Required (for those with insufficient Japanese language skills)	FAIS Japanese language courses, etc.