FY2026 Budget Approved: Record MEXT increase strengthens science revitalization and research funding

The government has approved the FY2026 budget proposal—totaling 122.3092 trillion yen—by Cabinet decision. The proposed FY2026 budget for the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) is 5.8809 trillion yen, an increase of 371.5 billion yen (6.7%) compared with the previous year, marking the largest growth rate in history. In particular, to restore Japan's predominance in basic and academic research, the budget related to science revitalization—the core of the 7th Science, Technology and Innovation Basic Plan—was increased by 29 billion yen from the previous fiscal year to 2.0035 trillion yen. Together with a supplementary budget of 477.4 billion yen, an appropriate scale has been secured for the launch of the 7th Plan.

Funding for Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (KAKENHI) increased by 10.1 billion yen from the previous fiscal year to 247.9 billion yen. While the importance of KAKENHI in academic research is unquestionable, during the five-year period of the 6th Basic Plan period, the initial budget only increased by 200 million yen, despite the allocation of supplementary budgets. This increase of over 10 billion yen represents the first substantial rise in 15 years.

In the proposed budget for next fiscal year, a new scheme to strengthen support for young researchers (6.5 billion yen) has been established within the framework of Grants-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory), which emphasizes ideas with the potential to generate research breakthroughs aimed at transforming existing academic systems. Additionally, 700 million yen has been allocated for Fostering Joint International Research, and 2.8 billion yen to improve the fulfillment rate of projects highly evaluated for their international character in Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B). Through a supplementary budget of 30 billion yen, a fund-based system for Grants-in-Aid for Transformative Research Areas (B), Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (S) and International Leading Research will be expanded, fortifying internationality and high-impact research.

Management expense grants for national universities totaled 1.0971 billion yen, an increase of 18.8 billion yen from the previous fiscal year, which is the largest increase on record. The supplementary budget also allocated 42.1 billion yen, which will support the period expenses necessary for each university to secure excellent human resources and sustaining educational and research activities amid continuing rises in prices and personnel costs. Furthermore, the mission realization acceleration coefficient (approximately 10 billion yen), which automatically required universities to contribute financial resources annually for the development of educational and research organizations, will be abolished.

Additionally, 19.3 billion yen has been allocated to advancing innovation in scientific research through AI for Science. Combined with the supplementary budget of 114.3 billion yen, this funding will support the pioneering implementation of cross-disciplinary and cross-organizational AI for Science, leveraging Japan's strengths.

An allocation of 2.5 billion yen (supplementary budget: 2.8 billion yen) has been secured for the development and shared use of the AI foundation model for scientific research (TRIP-AGIS), chiefly developed by RIKEN. By collaborating with other research institutions possessing strengths in specific scientific fields (domains), utilizing the foundation model, and conducting additional scientific research data training, domain-oriented AI foundation models for scientific research (scientific foundation models) and AI agents that connect scientific foundation models with researchers will be developed. In parallel, a network environment optimized for the development and operation of scientific foundation models will be established. Close collaboration with Argonne National Laboratory, the core institution for AI for Science in the United States, will lead to scientific foundation models being developed ahead of the world. By widely opening their use to industry and academia, innovation in scientific research across diverse fields will be targeted.

For field-specific AI for Science, 4.9 billion yen (supplementary budget: 100 million yen) has been allocated to transform materials research and development. Concurrently, 9.7 billion yen (supplementary budget: 4.4 billion yen) has been allocated for research and development in the life sciences field.

To lead the transformation of research systems suited to the age of AI, 200 million yen (supplementary budget: 4.2 billion yen, new) has been allocated to the Large-Scale Integrated Research System Formation Leading Program. This aims to formation of hubs that integrate cutting-edge research facilities to realize advanced and highly efficient research environments. In addition, to renew Japan's research infrastructure and create an attractive research environment where researchers nationwide, including young researchers, can take on challenges, 53 billion yen in supplementary funding has been allocated to the Advanced Research Infrastructure Renewal Project (EPOCH). This project will promote the development, sharing, and advancement of cutting-edge research equipment and instruments.

800 million yen (supplementary budget: 4.7 billion yen) has been allocated to form a research and development base for ensuring the transparency and reliability of generative AI models. At the National Institute of Informatics, construction of foundation models for research and development; research and development on transparency, reliability, and social acceptability; and research and development on model advancement will be implemented toward ensuring the transparency and reliability of generative AI models.

Furthermore, under national strategy-based research and development based in disciplines like AI, quantum technology, materials, health and medical care, etc., multiple targeted investments have been secured. These include 15.5 billion yen (supplementary budget: 7.5 billion yen) to strengthening AI research and development capabilities that support original innovation, 4.5 billion yen (supplementary budget: 900 million yen) for the Quantum Leap Flagship Program (Q-LEAP), 18.1 billion yen (supplementary budget: 4.5 billion yen) for strengthening materials innovation capabilities toward ensuring innovations in materials, and 4.1 billion yen (new, supplementary budget: 4.3 billion yen) for the Next-Generation Medical Care Realization Biobank Utilization Program, among other initiatives.