News
2025/04/24
GTIE Overseas Bootcamp for Graduate Students (GTIE Doctoral Program)
GTIE (Greater Tokyo Innovation Ecosystem), with the support of the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), is a program for graduate students who belong to universities* participating in GTIE and aim to become entrepreneurs in the future. The GTIE Overseas Bootcamp for Graduate Students (hereinafter referred to as “the Program”) is a program for graduate students who belong to universities* participating in the GTIE and aim to start their own businesses in the future. The program is designed to cultivate the knowledge and skills necessary to start a business.
The program consists of two overseas training programs, as well as a domestic training program prior to the dispatch and an advanced program for some students after the completion of the training. The program is open to students who are considering commercialization activities and entrepreneurship using deep technology.
Students selected for this program will receive financial support from GTIE for overseas travel, accommodation, program attendance, and other expenses, and will conduct tentative business validation and trial development of services and products, and continue commercialization activities after the program ends. After the completion of the program, the students are expected to continue their activities related to commercialization and to be involved in the management, business and R&D activities of such startups.
Graduate students who belong to universities participating in GTIE are encouraged to consider applying for this program.
Program Contents:
(1) Pre-departure training in Japan (about three times from June to July 2025)
(2) Training in Toronto, Canada for one week in August 2025)
3) Research dispatch (about 2 weeks to 1 month from September 2025 to January 2026, *)
4) Advanced dispatch and debriefing (December 2025 – March 2025)
Note: Implementation dates are tentative.
* Support for dispatching researchers to overseas research institutions in line with their own research topics
Number of applicants/eligible persons:
Approximately 5-7 graduate students affiliated with a university participating in GTIE
Eligibility and main conditions for application:
Master’s or doctoral students (including doctoral students in an integrated program, excluding those on leave of absence) who are affiliated with a GTIE lead or joint institution as of April 1, 2025 and will be enrolled until the end of March, 2026. Students who are enrolled in a master’s or doctoral program (including students enrolled in an integrated doctoral program, excluding those on a leave of absence) Students who are considering commercializing the results of their university research (including research conducted by themselves under the guidance of faculty members in their university laboratories). Students who are considering commercializing the results of their university research (including their own research under the guidance of faculty members in their university laboratories).
Students who have a strong interest in social implementation, including the commercialization of their own research.
Students must have the consent of their academic advisor to participate in all activities of this program.
Students must have no difficulty communicating in English in their own research field and must be willing to work actively in business English.
Application period:
April 24 (Thursday) to May 16 (Friday), 2025, noon (strict deadline)
Click here for application guidelines
Online Pre-Application
GTIE Doctoral Program Application Form
*This program is part of the GTIE Student Entrepreneurship Program (GTIE SEP), which is offered by GTIE to students affiliated with GTIE participating universities.
*”GTIE participating universities” are the University of Tokyo, Waseda University, Tokyo University of Science, University of Tsukuba, Chiba University, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Ochanomizu University, Kanagawa University of Health and Welfare, Yokohama National University, Yokohama City University, Keio University, Tokyo Metropolitan University, and Shibaura Institute of Technology.
*In addition to GTIE, students belonging to PFs that have been selected by JST for the START Startup Ecosystem Formation Support Program (hereinafter referred to as “students recommended by other PFs”) may also participate in part of this program. After submitting an application form for this program, GTIE will check with the university to which the student belongs to confirm whether travel expenses can be paid if the student is selected for the program.
The six PFs selected for the *START Startup Ecosystem Formation Support Program are HSFC, MASP, Tongali, PSI, KSAC, and PARKS. Approval within your PF is required for adoption.