
Record 291 applications mark diminishing academic resistance to military-linked work in Tokyo
Japanese universities doubled their defence ministry research funding applications to a record 291 this year, signaling a shift in academia's historic resistance to military-linked work.
AI-generated summary
Japanese academia has maintained a decades-long resistance to military-linked work.
Japanese universities and other educational institutions more than doubled their applications for defence ministry research funding this year to a record 291, up from 123 last year, as Tokyo moves to strengthen its defence capabilities.
The increase is the clearest sign yet that academia’s decades-long resistance to military-linked work is diminishing.
The bids accounted for more than half the record 560 applications received by the ministry this year, up from 340 last year, with the rest coming from public research institutes and companies.
Of the 47 projects selected for funding under the 12.9 billion yen (US$82 million) programme, 30 will be led by university researchers, with 11 universities – including Osaka, Nagoya and Keio – winning grants for the first time.

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When inspecting various missile components, the Chinese Academy of Sciences found that the filter connector used for communication testing of the air-launched Xiongsan missile was suspected to be made in China, and it immediately notified the manufacturer for explanation to eliminate any doubts. The missile is currently undergoing testing and is aimed at attacking Communist aircraft carrier battle groups or amphibious landing ship groups.