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The Watanabe Trust Fund at the University of Iceland

The Watanabe Trust Fund is now accepting grant applications for the academic year 2025-2026. The application deadline is 1 February 2025.
 
The Watanabe Fund supports students and academic staff from all disciplines at the University of Iceland for studies and research in Japan, and the same applies to students and researchers from Japanese universities who wish to study or conduct research at the University of Iceland.

Undergraduate and graduate students can apply for a travel and subsistence grant for up to a nine month stay at the University of Iceland or a Japanese university. A monthly subsistence grant of up to ISK 200,000 is available for stays in Iceland and 150,000 JPY for stays in Japan. In addition, for stays of more than one month, a travel grant of up to ISK 200,000 is available. Tuition fees or other costs are not funded.  

Academic staff can apply for a grant of up to ISK 500,000 for a shorter stay (up to one month) for research work or research collaboration between the University of Iceland and universities or research institutes in Japan.

The objective of the Watanabe Fund is to strengthen the academic ties between Iceland and Japan. The Board of the Watanabe Trust Fund evaluates the applications and selects recipients. The Board reserves the right to reject a grant application.

The application deadline is 1 February each year, or the next business day if the application deadline is on a public holiday.

Application and supporting documents should be submitted (in English) by email to watanabe@hi.is.

Application form - Students

Application form - Staff

Inquiries about the Watanabe Trust Fund and the application process can be directed to the same email address or by phone at +354 525 4311.

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The Watanabe Trust Fund was founded at the University of Iceland in 2008 with a generous endowment gift of $3 million from Mr. Toshizo (Tom) Watanabe. 

Further information on the Watanabe Trust Fund

Mr. Toshizo Watanabe is currently the president of the Toshizo Watanabe Foundation and chair emeritus and former president and CEO of Nikken Global, an international wellness products company based in the USA. Mr. Watanabe received financial support from the Wien International Scholarship Program (WISP) at Brandeis University in Massachusetts, U.S.A. At Brandeis he met and became friends with Mr. Geir H. Haarde who was also a Wien Scholar and later the Prime Minister of Iceland and Ambassador of Iceland to the USA.

Mr. Watanabe, inspired by gratitude for receiving scholarship for his valuable education wanted to offer students similar opportunities and at the same time, promote goodwill between Japan and Iceland. Following the recommendation of his fellow Brandeis classmate, Geir H. Haarde, the fund was set up at the University of Iceland with endowment gift of $3 million from Mr. Watanabe. In 2018 he generously endowed additional $2 million. 

The Board of the Fund consists of three individuals, each of whom is appointed for a three-year term. The Rector of the University of Iceland appoints one board member, who acts as the Fund’s chairman; Mr Toshizo “Tom” Watanabe, or a representative of his descendants, and Mr Geir H. Haarde, or a representative of his descendants.

Current board members are Dr Eiríkur Smári Sigurðarson, chair of the board; Mr Toshizo “Tom” Watanabe, and Geir H. Haarde. 
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