2025 Grant Program: Japan-ASEAN Global Partnership Awardees

Grantee

SEASREP Foundation, Inc.

Project Title

Southeast Asia-Japan Intellectual Exchange for Research and Collaborative Training

Project Director

Dr. Maitrii V. Aung-Thwin
Associate Professor, National University of Singapore

Grant Amount

76,214.00 USD

Outline
This project aims to develop the next generation of experts and leaders in intellectual fields within the Japan-ASEAN region. Activities include academic exchanges and joint research between Japan and Southeast Asia, 30th-anniversary conference on Southeast Asian studies, seminars led by Japanese and Southeast Asian experts, and fieldwork training programs for graduate students.

Grantee

Khon Kaen University

Project Title

Fostering Japan-ASEAN Collaboration on Neglected Tropical Diseases: Training, Model Development, and Global Networking

Project Director

Prof. Banchob Sripa
Senior Research Scholar, Khon Kaen University

Grant Amount

1,505,900 THB

Outline
This project aims to promote cooperation between Japan and ASEAN and to enhance response capabilities for tropical disease control. Participants from both Japan and ASEAN come together to conduct training sessions, develop models, and hold conferences. The results are disseminated through digital platforms, journal publications, and reports.

Grantee

Universiti Malaya

Project Title

i-Halal Tourism: Boosting Muslim-friendly Tourism for Southeast Asia Traveler

Project Director

Dr. Nor Aishah Abdullah
Senior Lecturer, Universiti Malaya

Grant Amount

17,831.00 USD

Outline
This project aims to establish a cooperative framework between Japan and Malaysia to realize sustainable “i-Halal Tourism.” Workshops, webinars, and field visits are conducted to survey and compare the current state of smart halal tourism in both countries. The findings will be widely shared with tourism stakeholders in both nations through seminars and videos.

Grantee

Universitas Indonesia

Project Title

Advancing AI Policy for Local Industries: Japan-ASEAN Partnership on Ethical AI Governance and Digital Transformation

Project Director

Yulius Eka Agung Seputra, SAk, ST, MSi, CAP, cert DA
Senior Lecturer, Universitas Indonesia

Grant Amount

9,506,200 JPY

Outline
This project aims to address key challenges related to the ethical implementation of AI and digital transformation in industries across the ASEAN region. Leveraging Japan’s expertise, including the “AI Business Guidelines Ver. 1.0” and knowledge on ethical AI governance, it seeks to develop region-specific frameworks tailored to the diverse socio-economic contexts within ASEAN. The outcomes will be shared through workshops, reports, and a dedicated website.

Grantee

Center for Urban and Development Studies (CEFURDS)

Project Title

Community-Based Water Resourses Management in The Context of Water Resources Depletion in The Mekong Delta

Project Director

Prof. Ton Nu Quynh Tran
Project Director, Center for Urban and Development Studies (CEFURDS)

Grant Amount

10,995USD

Outline
A collaborative research project on the role of communities in water resource management in the Mekong Delta. Through field surveys and interviews, it aims to analyze and identify the current state and mechanisms of local residents’ involvement in water resource management. In addition to proposing a community-based water resource management model rooted in the local context, the project will present policy recommendations drawing on Japan’s experience.

Grantee

The Japan Institute of International Affairs (JIIA)

Project Title

Japan-ASEAN High-Level and Expert Dialogue (7th Tokyo Global Dialogue) and Next-Generation Joint Project

Project Director

Kensuke Yanagida
Researcher, JIIA

Grant Amount

9,502,662 JPY

Outline
This project aims to deepen the shared understanding of challenges and policies in the Indo-Pacific region among experts from Japan and ASEAN, while also promoting exchanges among next-generation leaders and researchers from both sides and building a multilayered human network. Public events and roundtable discussions are held, and the outcomes are published in the organization’s journal, Strategic Outlook.

Grantee

Social Value Japan

Project Title

Research Exchange for Model Development of Regenerative Tourism in Japan and ASEAN

Project Director

Aya Kojima
Director of Business Administration, Social Value Japan

Grant Amount

9,785,336 JPY

Outline
This project aims to promote the practice and development of models of “Regenerative Tourism” that revalue local heritage and promote cultural and biological diversity, as well as to build related networks. Organizations from Thailand, Japan, and Malaysia collaborate to conduct fieldwork and workshops, through which they develop guidelines and training materials to support practical implementation.