Toyota Foundation

In 2010, the Toyota Foundation is offering international grants under three publicly solicited grant programs.

• Research Grant Program: Under the theme "The Search for the Richness of Human Life and Activity," the Research Grant Program focused on "Revitalizing Local Communities Under Globalization," based on the Toyota Foundation's desire to help create energetic, vital communities where people can support one another. Research projects were solicited in the following areas: (1) transmission and formation of culture, (2) society's frameworks, (3) individual and interpersonal development, and (4) other.

• Asian Neighbors Network Program: Under the basic theme of "Toward Community Formation Based on Mutual Reliance and Collaboration," this program solicited practical projects that aimed to resolve the issues faced by Asian communities from the perspectives of "relationships with nature" and "relationships with people." It supported practical projects in the fields of "relationships with nature" and relationships with people ("culture" and "social systems") that incorporate new viewpoints, energy, and knowledge while still respecting traditional cultures and wisdom, such as efforts to promote the creation of communities by forming networks with neighbors and to eliminate obstacles to network and community development.

• Preservation, Utilization, and Transmission of Indigenous Documents in Asia: Recent years have seen advances in digitized information technology, the development of regional economies throughout Asia, and increasing regional integration. The Toyota Foundation hoped that these grants, through the preservation and application of indigenous documents, would help the people in communities where they are found to examine their own past, gain emotional sustenance in the present, and transmit the content of the documents to future generations. The concept of "indigenous documents" included a full range of materials written by hand, including ancient maps and letters. This change was inspired by the fact that the documents worth preserving and putting to use may vary greatly depending on the region in which they are found.

Deadlines: 7 May 2010 (by email) or 12 May 2010 (by post)