We have started the YES Award program with the objective of fostering future leaders in the field of science and technology. The program focused on Vietnam in 2006, followed by India in the following year, and will continue to expand the project scale to foster mainly Asian students in the future.

This system is grants scholarships to students who have excelled in the area of science and technology and continued to aspire for higher academic achievement. However, it is distinct in that it is not restricted to tuition but may be used for a broad range of activities. Furthermore, the grant is awarded in two stages. Another very unique characteristic of the system is that its details are matched to the receiving country’s needs and circumstances; it is set up to be flexible to each country’s needs.

The program hopes to promote dissemination of ecotechnology among the young generations and at the same time to strengthen interaction and exchange between Japanese youths and young people expect to lead science, technology and industry in their respective countries.

Stage One: YES Award

• We award brilliant students who would drive future society towards an ecotechnological orientation. Each YES Award recipient will receive the prize grant. Thereafter, if they want to pursue their academic career in Japan, and fulfill required conditions, they become eligible for an additional money award called the “YES Award Plus”.
• Applications are accepted and considered once per annum. An applicant must be an undergraduate at one of the YES-affiliated universities. There is no particular quota with regard to the maximum number of applicants and recipients for each YES-affiliated institute. The list of these schools and the quota (maximum number) of recipients allotted for India are reviewed annually and subject to change.

Stage Two: YES Award Plus

• Any YES Award recipient becomes eligible for the YES Award Plus, an additional money award for unrestricted purposes if, within three years after he/she received the YES Award prize, he/she is admitted to, and pledges to attend within one year after admission.

Outline of the Counties

Past Awardrees

　Soichiro Honda, together with Takeo Fujisawa had earlier developed an aid project that was the predecessor of this system. It was named Sakkokai, which anonymously provided grant aid to promising young researchers in Japan. By the time it ended in 1983 it had helped over 1,700 people, many of whom went on to become leaders in the field of science and technology.

　The YES Award continues the spirit of the Sakkokai, and it aims to be even more international. In the future we intend to provide support to young people who have dreams and desires in the field of science and technology through this new project.

1.　Takeo Fujisawa managed Honda Motor Co., Ltd. as Vice President along with Soichiro Honda, and developed the company into a global corporation.