Key facts
- Applications for defense ministry research funding from Japanese universities doubled to a record 291 in fiscal year 2026.
- The total number of applications for the security technology research promotion program reached a record 560.
- Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi welcomed the shift in academic attitudes toward defense sector involvement.
- Nagoya, Osaka, and Keio universities were among the new recipients of the defense research funding.
- The program's budget for fiscal year 2026 is 12.9 billion yen.
Japanese universities and educational institutions have significantly increased their applications for defense ministry research funding, with bids more than doubling to a record 291 in fiscal year 2026. This surge, accounting for over half of the total 560 applications received by the ministry, marks a notable shift from academia's traditional reluctance towards military-linked work. Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi welcomed the change, stating that collaboration with universities is essential for national security in the current geopolitical climate. Several universities, including Nagoya, Osaka, and Keio, were selected for the program for the first time. However, concerns have been raised by some academics, such as Tetsuhiko Nakajima, who noted that reduced operational grants to national universities might make defense funding attractive and that this trend could represent an incorporation of basic research into military research.