MEXT budget request for next fiscal year: 6.0599 trillion yen, a 10% increase

The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) has requested a 6.0599 trillion-yen budget for FY2026, representing a 10% increase compared with the previous fiscal year. The special energy account increased by 27.6% to 138.4 billion yen. Science and technology-related budget requests total 1.1850 trillion yen, an increase of 203.3 billion yen. This year, with the ability to make budget requests that account for rising prices and personnel costs, MEXT will increase recurrent expenses such as management expense grants for national universities and national colleges of technology, and subsidies to private institutions. Additionally, by working on enhancing Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (KAKENHI), increasing human resources-related budgets, and implementing AI for Science initiatives, MEXT is committed to the fundamental enhancement of research capabilities toward the "revival of science."

One of the notable features of this budget request is that it has become possible to request necessary expenses in light of rising prices and personnel costs. Particularly significant is the 1.1416 trillion-yen request for management expense grants for national universities (an increase of 63.2 billion yen), with a request for a 62.0 billion yen increase in core expenses for management expense grants —the largest ever increase after recent years of reduction or stagnation. For national colleges of technology, the request is for 72.5 billion yen in management expense grants (an increase of 9.5 billion yen).

However, the management of national university hospitals, which have been a major source of income for universities, is becoming increasingly difficult. In the FY2024 financial results (preliminary figures), 29 university hospitals reported deficits, with an overall loss of 28.5 billion yen. While this budget request includes a new University Hospital Management Foundation Strengthening Project (6.0 billion yen), fundamental solutions require reform of Japan's entire medical system.

The request for Subsidies to Private Institutions of Higher Education for Current Expenditures is 312.4 billion yen (an increase of 14.5 billion yen). For special subsidies supporting universities undertaking reforms by leveraging their distinctive features and strengths, the request is 24.1 billion yen (an increase of 3.4 billion yen), with most of the increase allocated to Education and Research Environment Development Support for Innovation Creation: 3.0 billion yen (new). To strengthen the development of science, technology, and innovation personnel, integrated and priority support will be provided for facility and equipment costs and current expenses for private universities with high research capabilities, thereby strengthening hub functions that generate cutting-edge "knowledge" and enhance Japan's competitiveness. A separate 2.1 billion yen is allocated for facility and equipment costs.

The request for Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (KAKENHI) is 159.1 billion yen (an increase of 11.2 billion yen). Within Grants-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory), a framework for strengthening support for young researchers will be established to actively encourage young researchers to take on challenges. Additionally, by establishing funds for Grants-in-Aid for Transformative Research Areas (B), research time for young researchers will be secured, and emerging and interdisciplinary research will be revitalized.

Furthermore, international brain circulation will be strengthened through the expansion of Fostering Joint International Research (which dispatches young researchers overseas), and priority allocation of research funds will be expanded for research expected to demonstrate international character through Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B).

MEXT will accelerate innovation in scientific research through AI for Science. In addition to promoting the development of AI foundation models for scientific research with inherent strengths in specific fields such as life sciences and promoting the enhancement of material data infrastructure, 31.7 billion yen (an increase of 1.4 billion yen) is allocated for research and development to ensure the transparency and reliability of generative AI and for research and development at the RIKEN AIP Center and other institutions. To advance research data creation and utilization through automation, autonomy, and remote operation, new initiatives will be launched: the Advanced Research Infrastructure Innovation Program (1.4 billion yen) and the Large-scale Integrated Research System Formation Leading Program (1.2 billion yen). Additionally, efforts will be made to strengthen international collaboration between RIKEN and Argonne National Laboratory in the US and enhance next-generation information infrastructure.

The new project for strengthening acceptance of outstanding overseas researchers (1.7 billion yen) will provide necessary support to research institutions accepting outstanding young researchers with world-standard treatment. Additional requests include the International Fellowships for Research in Japan Program (4.2 billion yen), Sakura Science Exchange Program (2.0 billion yen), and Overseas Research Fellowships Program (2.8 billion yen). Furthermore, in preparation for participation in the EU's Horizon Europe, budget portions for relevant ministries will be collectively requested through the Cabinet Office.

The requests for world-class large-scale research facilities total 51.3 billion yen, including: 11.0 billion yen for SPring-8-II development; 16.9 billion yen for the development and construction of a new flagship system that will become the next generation of Fugaku; and the remainder for NanoTerasu, SPring-8, SACLA, Fugaku, J-PARC, and other facilities.

For research and development in health and medical fields, 98.6 billion yen (an increase of 13.6 billion yen) is requested. The Next-Generation Healthcare Realization Biobank Utilization Program will be newly established with 9.3 billion yen. Biobank and cohort infrastructure enriched with clinical information will be developed, and data-driven research using samples and information will be strengthened, as will the research infrastructure supporting this. Additionally, to contribute to the development of medical countermeasures (MCM) for infectious disease crises, a new request of 1.6 billion yen is made to establish world-class hubs that promote research and development and human resource development based on strategic collaboration between academia and industry. Furthermore, efforts to strengthen drug discovery capabilities and research and development focusing on life courses will be enhanced.

For research and development contributing to carbon neutrality, the new Power Electronics Next-Generation Acceleration Project for DX/GX Compatibility (1.3 billion yen) will be launched. To realize a society where DX and GX coexist—an urgent challenge—and achieve energy conservation throughout society by harnessing the power of next-generation power semiconductors, research and development will be promoted toward advancing Japan-originated GaN power device fabrication technology and realizing next-generation GaN power electronics.

For human resource development, in addition to working on expanding Research Fellowships for Young Scientists and other initiatives, a new framework will be established: the Industrial Innovation Human Resources Project (1.3 billion yen) to identify nationally, economically, and socially important science, technology, and industrial fields and promote research and development and human resource development in these areas in an integrated manner. Using research fields in which universities have strengths as a base, deepened collaboration with companies, expanded investment from companies, and priority investment in human resources will be promoted university wide.