We have started the YES Award program for fostering future leaders in the field of science and technology. The program has been introduced in Vietnam in 2006, followed by India in 2007 and extended to Cambodia and Laos in 2008. We are planning to expand the program 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 awardee will receive the prize grant.
• 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 awardees for each YES-affiliated institute. The list of these schools and the quota (maximum number) of awardees allotted for each country is reviewed annually and subject to change.

Stage Two: YES Award Plus

• Any YES awardee becomes eligible for the Stage II, YES Award Plus, an additional money award, if he/she enrolls in a master or doctoral course, or taking an internship program at a university, research laboratory or private sector in Japan, within a certain period after the receipt of the YES Award.

Outline of the Countries

Past Awardees

　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.