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Do Tax Breaks Actually Fuel Innovation? Evidence from China’s Factory Floors

June 23, 2026
By 32095

China has built one of the world’s most comprehensive fiscal incentive systems for innovation. But whether these instruments reach the entrepreneurs who need them depends less on policy generosity than on policy design, argues Zhe Li (Ristumeikan Asia Pacific University, 2025) based on fieldwork in China’s advanced manufacturing sector.

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Advanced manufacturing is the driving force behind China’s transformation into a global powerhouse and an important pillar in building a modern economic system. The sector encompasses industries that are not only economically important but also strategically significant, including high-end intelligent equipment, new energy vehicles, semiconductors, and aerospace components.

Yet innovation in advanced manufacturing is structurally hard to finance. Research and development activities are characteristically high risk and capital intensive, with long development cycles and uncertain returns, leaving enterprises facing significant financing constraints. When a company decides to innovate, it must first solve the problem of who bears the cost of trying and failing.

This is where government policy enters the picture. Measures such as value-added tax refunds for R&D activity, super deductions for R&D expenditures, and direct innovation financial subsidies can alleviate the financial constraints faced by innovative firms.

China’s fiscal support architecture for innovation is among the most comprehensive in the world. A more pressing question—one that policy designers in every country grapple with—however, is whether these incentives reach the companies that need them and whether they function as effectively as intended. It is this gap between policy design and policy reach that motivated my choice of research topic.

A Combined Quantitative and Qualitative Approach

This SRG-supported study, drawing on fieldwork conducted in China, combined quantitative analysis with in-depth qualitative inquiry—an approach designed to capture both statistical patterns and the human dynamics behind them.

On the quantitative side, I assembled a balanced panel dataset for advanced manufacturing listed enterprises, using data from the China Stock Market and Accounting Research (CSMAR) database and annual financial reports covering 2016–23. Key variables included R&D expenditure, patent filings disaggregated by type, government subsidies, and tax relief.

A two-stage least squares (2SLS) strategy was adopted to address the endogeneity inherent in the relationship between R&D personnel and innovation output: skilled researchers both produce innovation and are attracted to firms that are already innovative.

On the qualitative side, I conducted several on-site interviews with R&D directors, financial officers, and senior engineers at manufacturing firms across the technology intensity spectrum. I also visited relevant government departments that design and optimize the financial incentive policies to understand how programs are designed and monitored from the administrative side. A series of in-depth case studies tracked individual companies’ innovation trajectories across multiple policy cycles—a longitudinal lens that panel data cannot provide.

In addition, I participated in several stakeholder workshops in which enterprise representatives and academic researchers collectively reviewed preliminary findings. These interactions served both to validate interpretations and to highlight policy recommendations grounded in lived experience rather than theoretical assumptions.

Fiscal Incentives Work—Unevenly

The quantitative analysis confirmed that fiscal incentives do improve innovation outcomes. Advanced manufacturing enterprises benefitting from R&D super deductions showed significantly stronger growth in invention patent filings—the most meaningful measure of genuine technological originality. VAT refunds, by reducing immediate cash flow pressure, also enabled firms to maintain multi-year research programs that would otherwise have been limited by budget constraints.

Visiting the manufacturing floor to engage in in-depth discussions with frontline workers.

Visiting the manufacturing floor to engage in in-depth discussions with frontline workers.

But these benefits are unevenly distributed. High-technology firms—those with established R&D departments and sophisticated tax compliance teams—absorbed incentives most effectively. For mid-level enterprises, the effects were more limited and conditional on internal capabilities. In some medium-technology sectors, the incentive policies produced no significant increase in innovation outputs, though some companies successfully used subsidies to fund equipment upgrades and process improvements.

This uneven impact is not surprising and consistent with broader findings. KPMG’s industry report (2023), for example, notes that policy incentives often carry eligibility thresholds—tax compliance requirements, talent registration standards, certification processes—that might exclude firms at the most critical stage of growth: large enough to have innovation ambitions but lacking the administrative infrastructure to access policy benefits.

The Talent Bottleneck: A Cycle That Reinforces Itself

Among the field research’s most significant findings was a mutually reinforcing relationship between R&D personnel and innovation, as confirmed statistically through the 2SLS framework. Firms with stronger research teams produce better innovation outcomes, which in turn help attract and retain higher-quality talent. This creates a virtuous cycle for those companies, but it also leads to wider gaps with less innovative firms.

This finding has direct implications for policy design. The 2025 Urban Manufacturing Quality Development Report (CAICT 2025) documents a similar pattern at the city level: regions with higher R&D intensity tend to attract more innovation talent, further boosting R&D capacity. Enterprises that had built credible innovation records were able to offer competitive salaries and genuine research opportunities to engineers who might otherwise migrate to coastal clusters. Firms without such track records struggled to attract talent, limiting their ability to translate fiscal support into research output.

This suggests that fiscal incentives alone are not enough; breaking this self-reinforcing cycle requires complementary policies to support talent attraction, university-industry collaboration, and personnel development.

State-Owned and Private Enterprises Respond Differently

The research also found differences between state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and private firms. SOEs maintained stable R&D investment across policy cycles, reflecting both their access to patient capital and their responsiveness to institutional mandates. But their innovation outputs—measured by commercially significant patents and new product revenues—were less elastic with respect to fiscal incentives than those of private firms.

Private enterprises proved more responsive. When incentives were accessible and the process manageable, they invested aggressively in R&D; when conditions were less favorable, they pulled back. Research by Qian (2023) on China’s new energy vehicle industry reaches a similar conclusion: tax incentives show stronger innovation efficiency effects on private enterprises than on SOEs. This asymmetry suggests that private firms may offer the greatest potential return for policy support—but are also the most vulnerable to implementation challenges.

A BYD dealership in Shanghai. The electric carmaker has benefited greatly from subsidies, policy financing, and other fiscal incentives to achieve many innovation breakthroughs. (© Robert Way via Getty Images)

A BYD dealership in Shanghai. The electric carmaker has benefited greatly from subsidies, policy financing, and other fiscal incentives to achieve many innovation breakthroughs. (© Robert Way via Getty Images)

The “Last Mile”: Where Policy Design Meets Practice

A relatively consistent finding, regardless of firm type or technology intensity, was the gap between how incentive programs look on paper and how they function in practice for individual enterprises. While these programs may have been designed with realistic budgets and sincere intentions, awareness of available programs at the firm level was uneven. Some application processes proved to be complicated, and disbursement timing often failed to align with R&D planning cycles—undermining the intended incentive effect even for firms that qualified.

Some companies reported learning about subsidy programs only after the application window had closed. Others committed R&D expenditures in anticipation of support but faced liquidity pressure when complicated application processes caused approval delays. The KPMG report identifies analogous institutional barriers, describing problems of unbalanced policy design, insufficient digital governance capacity, and incomplete strategic planning that prevent enterprises from effectively accessing available support. My fieldwork confirmed these observations at the individual firm level, across city types and ownership structures.

Implications for Policy

The policy challenge this research examines—how to design fiscal instruments that genuinely stimulate corporate innovation—is one that every government pursuing a technology-intensive growth strategy confronts. The findings from fieldwork have several implications for concrete and actionable approaches.

The first implication concerns accessibility. The evidence is clear that fiscal generosity does not automatically translate into policy reach. Simplifying application procedures, developing dedicated intermediary services for smaller firms, and building proactive information systems that notify enterprises of approaching program windows would substantially expand the reach of existing measures.

The second implication concerns the need for integrated policy design. The positive feedback loop between R&D personnel and innovation performance suggests that policies should focus on creating sustainable innovation ecosystems rather than one-off interventions. This would be consistent with the logic of China’s long-term strategic planning approach, which considers key aspects of the R&D process in a comprehensive manner to help firms build cumulative innovation capabilities.

The third implication concerns differentiation. The heterogeneity of technology intensity levels argues against uniform incentive structures. Calibrating eligibility thresholds, deduction rates, and complementary support measures to the specific innovation challenges of different technology tiers would generate better outcomes at equivalent fiscal cost.

More broadly, the study illuminates something fundamental about the relationship between public policy and the production of knowledge. Innovation is structurally difficult to finance privately: it requires resources committed today for returns that may not materialize for years. Tax incentives and subsidies are society’s mechanisms for sharing that risk—a collective commitment that the aggregate benefits of technological progress justify absorbing part of its cost. The success of fiscal incentives depends on whether they truly reach the entrepreneurs who need them most.

In short, the fieldwork supported by SRG proved to be far more than an on-site academic survey. The material and perspectives accumulated during the fieldwork have directly shaped my first academic article to be published in Economies, a Scopus-indexed journal, and have inspired the analytical framework I will bring to a second research project examining how fiscal and policy instruments shape corporate export behavior.

Bibliography

Bloom, Nick, Rachel Griffith, and John Van Reenen. 2002. “Do R&D Tax Credits Work? Evidence from a Panel of Countries 1979–1997.” Journal of Public Economics 85 (1): 1–31.

China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT). 2025. Urban Manufacturing Quality Development Research Report. Beijing: CAICT Information Technology and Industrial Development Institute.

China Electronics Information Industry Development Research Institute (CCID) and China Electronic Information Industry Federation (CEIF). 2024. 2023–2024 China Advanced Manufacturing Development Blue Book. Beijing: Publishing House of Electronics Industry.

Guo, Di, Yan Guo, and Kun Jiang. 2016. “Government-Subsidized R&D and Firm Innovation: Evidence from China. Research Policy 45 (6): 1129–1144.

Hall, Bronwyn and John Van Reenen. 2000. “How Effective Are Fiscal Incentives for R&D? A Review of the Evidence.” Research Policy 29 (4-5): 449–469.

KPMG China and Yunhui Capital (V Fund). 2023. “Digital and Intelligent Transformation for Advanced Manufacturing: An Observation Report on China’s Industrial Technology Enterprises.” Beijing: KPMG China.

Qian, Binhua. 2023. “Financial Subsidies, Tax Incentives, and New Energy Vehicle Enterprises’ Innovation Efficiency: Evidence from Chinese Listed Enterprises.” Plos One 18 (10): e0293117.

Song, Li and Yating Wen. 2023. “Financial Subsidies, Tax Incentives and Technological Innovation in China’s Integrated Circuit Industry. Journal of Innovation & Knowledge 8 (3): 100406.

Wu, Aihua. 2017. “The Signal Effect of Government R&D Subsidies in China: Does Ownership Matter?” Technological Forecasting and Social Change 117: 339–345.

 

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From Electric Fleets to Agentic Mobility: Aligning Transport with Societal Needs

June 12, 2026
By 27797

Drawing on three studies, Jônatas Augusto Manzolli (University of Coimbra, 2019) examines how electric mobility, system integration, and AI-enabled “agentic” vehicles are reshaping transportation. These developments point to new pathways toward lower emissions, greater resilience, and more human-centered urban systems.

Introduction

On a cold winter morning in Montreal, waiting for a bus can feel longer than it should. The air is sharp, the streets are busy, and even small delays matter. Public transportation is not an abstract system; it is what people rely on every day to reach work, school, and essential services.

Yet behind this everyday experience lies a complex network of decisions, technologies, and constraints that shape how mobility functions in our cities. For decades, public transportation has depended on diesel-powered vehicles, contributing to air pollution and climate change. The shift toward electric mobility offers a promising alternative, with the potential to reduce emissions and improve urban environments.

As I began working in this field, though, it became clear that electrification is not simply a matter of replacing engines. It changes how fleets are planned, how energy is consumed, and how infrastructure must be designed. This realization shaped the central motivation of my Sylff Research Grant project: to develop tools and frameworks that help decision-makers navigate the transition to electric mobility in a realistic and informed way.

Over the course of the project, this initial focus expanded into a broader investigation of how transportation systems can become more adaptive, resilient, and aligned with human needs. During this period, I published three scientific papers, each addressing a different layer of this transformation. One focused on the operational challenges of electric fleets (Manzolli et al. 2026a), another explored the role of mobility systems in urban resilience (Manzolli et al. 2026b), and a third introduced the concept of agentic vehicles as a new paradigm for intelligent transportation (Yu et al. 2025).

Together, these works form a continuous narrative, moving from practical challenges to system-level integration and, ultimately, to a rethinking of mobility itself.

From Electrification to System Complexity

Electric buses are often presented as a straightforward solution to urban emissions. In practice, however, their deployment introduces new layers of complexity. Unlike diesel vehicles, electric buses depend on charging infrastructure, battery capacity, and electricity markets. Their performance is influenced by external factors such as weather conditions, traffic patterns, and operational schedules.

In earlier stages of my research, I focused on understanding these challenges. Coordinating charging schedules, for example, is not only a technical problem but also an economic one. Charging at the wrong time can increase costs and create peaks in electricity demand that strain the grid. Similarly, battery degradation is influenced by how and when vehicles are charged, affecting long-term fleet performance and investment decisions.

These insights revealed that electrification is fundamentally a system problem. Decisions about vehicles, infrastructure, and energy are interconnected, and optimizing one element in isolation can lead to inefficiencies elsewhere. Addressing this complexity requires integrated approaches that consider the entire system.

The photo below illustrates an example of electric bus charging infrastructure, capturing the interface between transportation and energy systems, where operational decisions directly translate into energy demand. This physical connection is at the heart of the transition to electric mobility.

Overhead fast-charging infrastructure used for electric bus operations illustrates the integration between mobility systems and power networks.

Overhead fast-charging infrastructure used for electric bus operations illustrates the integration between mobility systems and power networks.

Optimizing Electric Fleet Operations

The first major outcome of this research relates to strategies for improving the operation of electric fleets. Using optimization models, approaches were developed to coordinate charging, minimize energy costs, and account for battery degradation. These models drew on real-world data, including trip schedules, energy consumption patterns, and electricity prices.

One key finding was that smart charging can significantly improve system performance. By aligning charging activities with lower electricity prices and favorable grid conditions, operators can reduce costs while avoiding demand peaks. At the same time, incorporating battery degradation into the decision-making process helps extend battery life, which is one of the most expensive components of electric vehicles.

These results demonstrate that operational strategies are critical to the success of electrification. Even with the same vehicles and infrastructure, different charging approaches can lead to very different outcomes. This highlights the importance of providing decision-makers with tools that make these trade-offs visible and manageable.

Mobility as a Component of Urban Resilience

While operational improvements are essential, they represent only part of the picture. Transportation systems are embedded within broader urban and energy systems, and their importance becomes especially evident during disruptions.

In a second study, an examination was made of how shared autonomous electric vehicles can contribute to urban resilience. Using a case study based on real-world data from Montreal, a framework was developed to analyze fleet performance under disruptive conditions, such as power outages. The findings show that electric vehicles can serve not only as transportation assets but also as mobile energy resources.

During disruptions, these vehicles can help supply electricity to critical locations, support emergency services, and maintain essential mobility. This transforms the role of transportation systems from passive energy consumers to active participants in maintaining urban stability.

This perspective is particularly relevant in the context of climate change, which is increasing the frequency and severity of extreme events. Cities must adapt to these challenges by developing flexible systems capable of responding to uncertainty. Integrating mobility and energy systems offers one promising pathway toward this goal.

Toward Agentic Mobility Systems

The third component of this research moves beyond optimization and system integration to explore the future of mobility systems. Recent advances in artificial intelligence have enabled the development of systems that can reason, adapt, and interact with users in increasingly sophisticated ways.

Building on these trends, this research advances the concept of agentic vehicles, which are capable of making decisions based on goals, context, and interactions. Unlike traditional automated systems, which follow predefined rules, agentic vehicles can respond dynamically to changing conditions. They can interpret user needs, coordinate with other systems, and operate under uncertainty. This represents a shift from automation to intelligence.

The photo below shows an experimental autonomous vehicle platform used in this research. While still in a controlled environment, such platforms provide a glimpse into how future mobility systems may operate.

The experimental autonomous vehicle platform used to investigate interactions between automation, electrification, and operational strategies.

The experimental autonomous vehicle platform used to investigate interactions between automation, electrification, and operational strategies.

The concept of agentic mobility also raises important questions. How should these systems be governed? How can they be designed to align with societal values? Addressing these questions requires collaboration across disciplines, including engineering, social sciences, and public policy.

Connecting the Layers: Operations, Systems, and Intelligence

Taken together, these three research directions illustrate a progression. At the operational level, improving charging strategies and fleet management enhances efficiency and reduces costs. At the system level, integrating mobility with energy systems increases resilience and flexibility. At the intelligence level, developing adaptive and interactive systems opens new possibilities for how mobility can function.

This progression reflects a broader transformation in engineering and technology. Systems are becoming more interconnected, data-driven, and responsive. Designing them requires not only technical expertise but also an understanding of human needs and societal contexts.

Contribution to Society

The contributions of this research extend beyond technical advancements. Improving the efficiency and feasibility of electric fleets supports the transition to lower-carbon transportation systems. This has direct implications for reducing emissions and improving air quality in urban areas.

The integration of mobility and energy systems also enhances urban resilience, helping cities respond to disruptions and maintain essential services. This is particularly important for vulnerable populations, who are often the most affected by infrastructure failures.

At the same time, the development of decision-support tools empowers operators and policymakers to make informed choices. By making trade-offs explicit, these tools promote transparency and alignment with broader societal goals.

Finally, the concept of agentic mobility emphasizes the importance of designing systems that are not only efficient but also accessible, equitable, and responsive to the needs of the communities they serve.

Final Remarks

The transition to electric mobility is often described as a technological change. In reality, it represents a broader, systemic transformation that requires new ways of thinking about transportation, energy, and decision-making.

This research contributes to that transformation by connecting operational efficiency, system integration, and intelligent behavior. It shows that improving mobility is not only about reducing emissions but also about creating systems that are more resilient, adaptive, and aligned with human needs.

Looking ahead, the challenge is not only to develop new technologies but also to ensure that they are implemented in ways that benefit society. This requires collaboration, innovation, and a sustained focus on the human dimension of mobility.

References

Manzolli, Jônatas Augusto, Alessandro Vissarios D’Apice, Praveen Pandey, Francesco Ciari, and Luis Miranda-Moreno. 2026a. “Planning Resilient Electric Bus Operations in Cold Regions: An Agent-based Simulation–Optimization Framework.” Applied Energy 413: 127735.

Manzolli, Jônatas Augusto, Jiangbo Yu, Alessandro Vissarios D’Apice, and Luis Miranda-Moreno. 2026b. “Balancing Energy Resilience and Mobility: A Multi-Objective Framework for Shared Autonomous Electric Vehicles.” NPJ Sustainable Mobility and Transport 3 (1): 13.

Yu, Jiangbo, Jônatas Augusto Manzolli, et al. 2025. “Agentic Vehicles for Human-Centered Mobility: Definition, Prospects, and Synergistic Co-Development with Vehicle Autonomy.” arXiv: 2507.04996.

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Online Orientation Meeting with Three New Pedro Arrupe Fellows

May 20, 2026

Three new Sylff fellows have been selected for the 2026–27 academic year at the Institute of Political Education “Pedro Arrupe”: Riccardo Lana, Caterina De Benedictis, and Giorgio Rausa. While their research backgrounds differ, all three share a strong commitment to addressing marginality through socially engaged scholarship and active community involvement.

Their work reflects the emphasis that the Idea-Action Research Program—Pedro Arrupe’s name for the Sylff program—places on turning academic research into concrete action, particularly in contexts marked by social inequality, institutional fragility, and marginalization. They represent a cohort united by a common concern for social inclusion, democratic innovation, and leadership through practice.

An online orientation meeting for the new fellows was held on May 18. Also in attendance were Pedro Arrupe General Secretary Massimo Massaro—himself a Sylff fellow and chair of the institute’s Sylff steering committee, as well as founder of the Idea-Action program—and members of the Sylff Association secretariat.

Research Presentations

Opening remarks were made by Massaro, who expressed gratitude for Sylff’s support of hundreds of outstanding graduate students at Pedro Arrupe—most of them Sicilians—and emphasized the institute’s commitment to turning ideas into action through the development of human capital to address social and political challenges. Welcome remarks by Tokyo Foundation Executive Director Masato Seko were then read by Program Officer Konatsu Furuya of the secretariat, who also gave a presentation introducing the Sylff program.

The three Idea-Action fellows for 2026 are, from left, Riccardo Lana, Giorgio Rausa, and Caterina De Benedictis.

Riccardo Lana led off the fellows’ presentations by describing his applied research project on youth participation and deviance prevention, focusing on the CEP (Centro Espansione Periferica) low-income housing neighborhood of Palermo. Lana’s academic and professional interests span research, sports, and community development. Rather than approaching societal issues solely from an academic perspective, he combines fieldwork, analysis, and personal engagement to produce research-oriented outcomes with measurable social impact, reflecting his strong commitment to socially responsible scholarship and leadership grounded in action.

During the Sylff fellowship, Lana will explore whether improving the quality and accessibility of sports programs can help reduce juvenile delinquency and examine how social, cultural, residential, and economic environments shape young people’s aspirations. The project aims to provide policymakers and stakeholders with guidelines for neighborhood revitalization, raise community awareness of sports as a means of social integration and health, and support local organizations in securing sustainable funding for sports initiatives.

Lana’s methodology combines participant observation through volunteering at the San Giovanni Apostolo center—the only third-sector organization providing sports programs in CEP—with semi-structured interviews and focus groups with youth, families, and community workers, as well as quantitative and qualitative assessments of local sports facilities. In addition to preparing a peer-reviewed journal article in sociology of sport or social policy, he aims to strengthen transnational and interdisciplinary dialogue, leveraging his experience as a project manager in European funded programs to bridge research, policy, and practice. Ultimately, his work seeks to contribute to the empowerment of marginalized youth and the revitalization of their communities.

Caterina De Benedictis is a researcher whose academic and professional work focuses on institutional transformation in Southern Italy, which she views not as a peripheral space but as a laboratory of democratic innovation. Through research on the social reuse of assets confiscated from organized crime, community enterprises, renewable energy communities, and shared administration, she has consistently engaged with territories shaped by socio-spatial marginality, conflict, and institutional fragility, viewing these conditions as opportunities for civic leadership and institutional learning. Grounded in theoretical frameworks of socio-spatial justice, the capabilities approach, and institutional learning, her work explores how urban conflict can become a democratic learning process and a driver of institutional transformation.

During the fellowship period, De Benedictis will conduct a qualitative, process-oriented study of the Civita district in Catania, a historic waterfront district marked by strong socio-spatial stratification, tourism-driven transformation, and conflicts such as those surrounding pedestrianization. Focusing on the coexistence of long-term residents, migrant communities, cultural spaces, and civic actors, her research asks who has the right to shape urban transformation and investigates how tourism-oriented development can result in decision-making marginality among historical residents.

Combining socio-spatial policy analysis, interviews, deliberative focus groups, and participatory action research, she will also establish a co-institutional laboratory that brings together citizens and municipal actors to transform conflict into negotiation, rebuild trust, and generate shared rules. This work aims to experimentally develop the concept of “co-institution”—defined as the mutual transformation of citizens and institutions through structured interaction—while producing outputs such as a co-institution pact, civic leadership tools, and indicators of socio-spatial justice. A comparative dimension in other Southern Italian cities will further support the development of transferable, policy-relevant models for democratic governance and social innovation.

Giorgio Rausa is a clinical psychologist whose academic and professional path reflects a deep commitment to supporting individuals and communities experiencing social, educational, and economic deprivation. Through years of work in marginalized neighborhoods of Palermo, Rausa has engaged closely with children, families, teachers, and educators, guided by the belief that leadership is built through sustained action, care, and presence within communities. Drawing on a phenomenological-relational perspective and influenced by practices such as meditation in Thich Nhat Hanh’s Plum Village tradition, his work emphasizes awareness, embodiment, and compassion as foundations for addressing relational difficulties and preventing conflict, particularly during the critical transition from childhood to adolescence.

During his Sylff fellowship, Rausa will pursue an interdisciplinary research project integrating applied Buddhist philosophy, Gestalt therapy, critical pedagogy, and socio-emotional educational research. Building on his observation that impulsive or aggressive behaviors often reflect unmet relational needs and difficulties in staying in contact with emotions and the body, he adopts a mixed-methods approach combining qualitative and quantitative tools.

His project includes activities such as talking circles, movement- and sports-based engagement, breathing and grounding practices, expressive workshops, and mindful walks, alongside participatory and reflective research methods. Central to this work is the creation of safe, nonjudgmental spaces that foster emotional awareness and relational presence, enabling young people to recognize and regulate their responses. Through a comprehensive literature review, an academic seminar in Palermo, and the preparation of articles for peer-reviewed publications, Rausa aims to develop practical, transferable tools for professionals, while contributing to the prevention of violence and the cultivation of healthier, more reflective forms of collective life.

Orientation meeting participants included, clockwise from top left, Massimo Massaro, Riccardo Lana, Caterina De Benedictis, Konatsu Furuya, Nozomu Kawamoto, and Giorgio Rausa.

The Sylff Association secretariat looks forward to supporting the research of the three new Pedro Arrupe fellows and to seeing the academic contributions and social impact emerging from their work. Through their engagement with practical issues confronting the community, this cohort exemplifies the Sylff mission of linking academic excellence with action for the public good. The secretariat extends its warmest wishes for the success of their research activities and hopes that the fellowship period will serve as a foundation for lasting academic, professional, and civic contributions. (Compiled by Nozomu Kawamoto)

 

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Bringing to Light an Unknown Seminar by Jacques Derrida

April 30, 2026
By 33098

Achilleas Panagiotakis (National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 2019) used an SRG award to examine the original texts of an overlooked seminar by Jacques Derrida, revealing a crucial but unfinished chapter in the philosopher’s reflections on literature and law.

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In a lecture delivered in Brussels in 1979, Jacques Derrida (1930–2004)—one of the most influential thinkers of the twentieth century—casually mentioned a project he hoped to undertake to explore the relationship between literature and law.

“The analysis I am venturing,” he told his audience, “sticks to the border of a work—which I only project—on law and literature.”[1] Papers and seminars from the same period refer to the work of the writer and literary theorist Maurice Blanchot, suggesting that Derrida was actively engaged with this line of inquiry. This project, though—provisionally entitled Du droit à la littérature—was never completed.

Instead, Derrida went on to publish the better-known Du droit à la philosophie (Right to Philosophy) in 1990.[2] What, then, became of his earlier reflections on literature and law? Were they abandoned, or did they take another form?

To answer this question, I turned to an overlooked source: an unedited, unpublished, and untranslated seminar taught by Derrida at Yale University in 1978–79, also entitled Du droit à la littérature. Despite Derrida’s enormous influence on literary studies, this seminar has received surprisingly little attention. Yet it offers a rare and detailed glimpse into a pivotal moment in his thinking.

The Seminar and the Archive

Beginning in 1975, Derrida taught annually in the United States as a visiting professor, first at Yale University and later, from 1986, at the University of California, Irvine—thanks to the initiative of J. Hillis Miller and Paul de Man.[3] The original French texts of these lectures, along with manuscripts, typescripts, recordings, photographs, and other materials dating from 1946 to 2002, comprise the Jacques Derrida Papers, now held at the Critical Theory Archive of the Special Collections and Archives of the UC Irvine Libraries. Derrida himself actively participated in building this archive by regularly
sending his papers there.

The Langson Library at the University of California, Irvine.

The Langson Library at the University of California, Irvine.

Copies of these lectures also exist at the Institut Mémoires de l’Édition Contemporaine in Caen, France, and digital copies are available through Princeton University Library’s online repository of Derrida’s seminars. Several of Derrida’s seminars have been edited and published in French since 2006, first by Éditions Galilée and later by Éditions du Seuil, as part of the Bibliothèque Derrida.[4] English translations are also underway, though at a slower pace, as part of the Derrida Seminar Translation Project.[5] Du droit à la littérature, however, has not been published in either language.

SRG Fieldwork at UC Irvine

In February 2026, thanks to a Sylff Research Grant, I was able to visit the Langson Library at UC Irvine and examine the Du droit à la littérature materials in person. This proved invaluable for my project. The seminar consists of six lectures—five typewritten and one handwritten and incomplete—preserved in the form of the original typescripts along with two copies. Different handwritten notes, additions, and corrections were found in the margins of all three versions. The folders of the seminar also included short notes on 44 numbered index cards and other supporting materials, such as the main points of discussion for one of the lectures. Additional related materials were found
outside the seminar’s folders.

Folders from the Jacques Derrida Papers.

Folders from the Jacques Derrida Papers.

More than half of these materials have not yet been digitized. Working directly with the physical documents made it possible to compare versions carefully, resolve ambiguity issues common in archival research, and decipher Derrida’s notoriously difficult handwriting—tasks that would have been nearly impossible using digital copies alone. By carefully collating the three available versions and supplementary notes, I was able to produce a complete, coherent transcription and edited text of the seminar.

What Du droit à la littérature Argues

Du droit à la littérature is an in-depth study of how institutions—notably copyright laws and universities—have historically shaped literature in the West, from antiquity to the postwar era, with a focus on French texts.

Literature, Derrida argues, is caught in a double bind since literary works can be identified as such only through such legal markers as copyright and genre. At the same time, what gives literature its unique character is its capacity to test and “play” with those very rules. In other words, literature depends on legal definitions to exist, yet it continually pushes against the limits of such definitions.

Pages from Du droit à la littérature.

Pages from Du droit à la littérature.

Derrida develops this argument by examining the history of the establishment of authors’ rights over their published work, focusing on the criteria the copyright law uses to identify a printed text as a literary work, such as the author’s name, the existence of a title, and its classification under a genre. He shows how the shift from printers’ monopolies to authors’ rights in late eighteenth-century France coincided with a parallel autonomization of literature and the gradual narrowing of the meaning and use of the word “literature.” Derrida argues that these developments created the conditions for a literary style that plays with the legal conventions that allow a literary text to be acknowledged as such. Circular narratives, titles with multiple meanings, and dense intertextuality are among the strategies he highlights.

The theoretical discussion is complemented by an illustrative reading of Maurice Blanchot’s La Folie du jour (1973). However, Derrida concludes that a literary text can never fully transcend the limits defined by law without becoming unreadable. Literature may transgress the rules that define it, but it must also remain bound to them. The law is thus not simply an external constraint but one of the conditions that makes literature possible.

Why This Seminar Matters Now

The surviving materials from the seminar on Du droit à la littérature allow us to reconstruct the basic contours of Derrida’s abandoned project on law and literature and to better understand the internal connections among his writings of the 1970s. They also preserve a unique discussion on the relationship between literature, the university, and copyright law—themes that are prominent in his published works but were never treated together in any single publication.

This interdisciplinary approach makes a unique contribution by bridging legal studies, history, and literary studies and emphasizing the legal, institutional, and social dimensions of literature. Finally, Derrida’s historically grounded approach in this seminar is in itself an indirect challenge to the longstanding accusation that deconstruction is indifferent to historical context.

Scholarly Encounters

During my stay in California, I had the opportunity to meet and have a long discussion with Peggy Kamuf, professor emerita at the University of Southern California and one of the foremost experts on Derrida’s work. Named by Derrida himself as co-designate (alongside Emory University Professor Geoffrey Bennington) of the Derrida Estate, she currently directs the Derrida Seminars Translation Project and has co-edited a number
of Derrida’s seminars in English.

Working inside the Caroline A. Laudati Conference Room, Langson Library, UC Irvine.

Working inside the Caroline A. Laudati Conference Room, Langson Library, UC Irvine.

Our discussion provided invaluable insights into the constitution and history of the UC Irvine archive, Derrida’s seminars in the United States, and the evolution of his thought. I was also informed of the ongoing publishing and translation efforts surrounding these seminars both in France and the United States. Our meeting was a vital part of my project, and I am grateful for her generosity and guidance.

I am also grateful to the Sylff program for making this research project possible by providing funding for the transatlantic trip from Greece to the United States. Thanks to the SRG award, the central phase of the project has now been completed. The next step will be to share my findings with the wider academic community, in accordance with the wishes of the Derrida Estate.

Notes

[1] Jacques Derrida, “Title (To Be Specified),” trans. Tom Conley, SubStance 10, no. 2, issue 31 (1981): 12.

[2] Translated into English by Jan Plug in two volumes: Who’s Afraid of Philosophy? Right to Philosophy 1 (Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2002); and Eyes of the University: Right to Philosophy 2 (Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2004).

[3] See Benoît Peeters, Derrida: A Biography, trans. Andrew Brown (Cambridge: Polity Press, 2013), 271–72; Marc Redfield, Theory at Yale: The Strange Case of Deconstruction in America (New York: Fordham University Press, 2016), 26.

[4] A list of all published seminars in the Bibliothèque Derrida can be found here. For additional information on the transition from Éditions Galilée to Éditions du Seuil, see Nathalie Weill, “Derrida de Galilée au Seuil: les raisons d’un transfert,” Le Monde, July 7, 2019, https://www.lemonde.fr/livres/article/2019/07/07/derrida-de-galilee-au-seuil-les-raisons-d-un-transfert_5486439_3260.html.

[5] Additional information on the Derrida Seminars Translation Project can be found here.

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Appointment of New Executive Director for Leadership Development

April 22, 2026

The Tokyo Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of Masato Seko as Executive Director for Leadership Development, as approved at meetings of the Board of Directors and the Board of Trustees held in March.

Masato Seko SylffIn his new role, Seko will oversee and guide the Foundation’s three leadership development programs—Sylff, NF-JLEP, and the READ JAPAN PROJECT—working closely with the many individuals and institutions that make these initiatives possible.

Seko brings more than 25 years of experience in solution-oriented projects and leadership development, including extensive work in the field of peacebuilding at The Nippon Foundation and the Sasakawa Peace Foundation. He has personally traveled to and worked on projects in approximately 50 countries worldwide, giving him a wealth of on-the-ground experience and deep international expertise.

Through the Foundation’s leadership development programs, Seko looks forward to working closely with our global community of fellows, partners, and friends to nurture leaders who contribute to addressing global challenges and to further deepen international understanding of Japan.

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Strengthening Inclusive Pathways into Economic Research in Latin America

April 15, 2026
By 33417

Using SLI funding, Gabriela Sofia Lecaro Calle (University of Michigan, 2023) coordinated a project designed to help Latin American students from diverse backgrounds gain access to high‑quality economic research, offering mentorship and targeted training in preparation for graduate study and academic careers.

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Access to high-quality training in economics and to information about academic and research careers remains highly unequal across Latin America. Many talented undergraduate students—particularly those at public universities and from low-income or first-generation backgrounds—have limited exposure to research, few opportunities to develop technical skills beyond the classroom, and little guidance on how to pursue graduate study.

In response to these gaps, EconThaki was created with the goal of building an inclusive pipeline into academic and applied economic research, not only as a matter of equity but also to increase the quality and scope of the discipline. I am a cofounder of this community-led initiative and have served as a mentor and instructor for previous program editions.

With support from a Sylff Leadership Initiatives grant, EconThaki implemented a set of complementary activities during 2024–25 structured around three pillars: (1) hands-on research apprenticeships, (2) structured mentorship, and (3) targeted skill-building and exposure opportunities.

Together, these components aimed to strengthen students’ technical capacity, professional networks, and understanding of academic career pathways, while ensuring that financial constraints did not prevent participation.

At the center of the project was the EconThaki Fellowship and Research Apprenticeship Program, which matched selected fellows with active researchers working on ongoing projects and integrated them into real research teams. Fellows contributed to a wide range of studies, including randomized controlled trials with small retail stores in Lima, research on financial inclusion in Ecuador, and applied policy evaluations.

Rather than serving only as assistants on narrowly defined tasks, fellows engaged in multiple stages of the research process. Their responsibilities included cleaning and consolidating large datasets, programming in Stata and other statistical software, constructing survey instruments, preparing reproducible workflows, conducting exploratory analysis, and participating in research meetings.

This immersion into research practice allowed fellows to see how abstract methods learned in coursework translate into empirical evidence. Many reported substantial growth in their ability to manage data, write organized and replicable code, and interpret results. Equally important, fellows gained a clearer sense of how academic research is iterative, collaborative, and shaped by practical constraints such as data availability and fieldwork conditions.

An online session of the mentoring program.

Alongside apprenticeships, EconThaki emphasized structured mentorship as a core element of the program. Fellows met regularly with mentors and program staff to discuss research progress, career goals, and next steps. These conversations often extended beyond technical issues to include topics such as preparing for master’s or PhD programs, identifying predoctoral opportunities, and building a competitive academic profile. For many participants, this was their first sustained interaction with researchers who could demystify the academic path.

A recurring theme in students’ reflections was a shift in expectations: what once felt distant or unrealistic now appeared attainable with appropriate preparation. This change in mindset was a critical outcome of the program. By providing both role models and concrete guidance, EconThaki helped students envision themselves as future researchers and graduate students.

The project also invested in complementary training to benefit a broader set of students beyond the fellowship cohort. SLI-supported English classes were offered across multiple EconThaki programs, strengthening academic reading, writing, and speaking skills. These skills are essential for engaging with the international research community, reading frontier literature, communicating with mentors, and preparing graduate applications.

Lima Summer School of Economics, 2025.

In addition, selected students participated in the Lima Summer School of Economics, a selective program jointly organized by the University of British Columbia and the University of Piura that offers intensive short courses in modern economic theory, econometrics, and applied methods taught by international and regional faculty. Full-tuition scholarships were provided by the two universities, while Sylff funding played a crucial role in covering travel expenses. This support ensured that students from outside Lima and from low-income backgrounds could take advantage of this opportunity. Exposure to a demanding academic environment and to instructors from leading institutions further reinforced students’ preparation for graduate-level work.

The project’s activities have generated many tangible and intangible outcomes. Tangibly, students have strengthened technical skills in statistical programming, data management, and research organization. Intangibly, they have gained confidence, professional aspirations, and a sense of belonging in academic spaces. Several participants are now preparing applications to master’s programs, predoctoral positions, or research assistant roles, and many continue to collaborate with mentors after the end of the fellowship period.

Beyond individual trajectories, this project contributes to a broader objective: building a more diverse and locally grounded community of economists who can produce high-quality research on the region’s most pressing challenges. Latin America faces persistent issues related to poverty, inequality, informality, and limited state capacity. Expanding the pool of researchers who have the tools to study these problems rigorously is essential for improving the evidence base that informs policy.

An alumni gathering.

Looking forward, EconThaki aims to scale and refine this model by increasing the number of fellows, strengthening partnerships with researchers and institutions, and deepening complementary training offerings. The SLI grant has shown that targeted funding can generate meaningful changes in students’ skills, expectations, and opportunities. By supporting this project, Sylff has helped transform potential into preparation and aspiration into concrete pathways. EconThaki is grateful for this award and remains committed to building an inclusive pipeline into economic research that reflects the talent and diversity of the region.

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Athens Fellow’s Vision for a School Where Everyone Belongs: Sylff@Tokyo

April 13, 2026

For Maria Eleni Apostolopoulou, a Sylff fellowship recipient at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, education is more than a public requirement. It is a promise of belonging and growth for all children, regardless of ability or background.

Apostolopoulou visited the Sylff Association secretariat on April 7, 2026, during a trip to several Japanese destinations. A trained kindergarten teacher who received a master’s degree in special education in December 2025, she has focused her academic and professional energies on what inclusive education can and should be. “I could never imagine excluding a child from any educational process,” she explains. “Education must be a safe space for all children, not a place where difference becomes a reason for marginalization.”

Inclusion as a Foundation, Not an Exception

Apostolopoulou’s vision challenges traditional distinctions between “general” and “special” education. Rather than treating inclusion as an add‑on response, she believes it should form the foundation of all educational practice. Her teaching philosophy is rooted in empathy, play‑based learning, and respect for each child’s unique pace and abilities—factors that make children eager to go to school.

“I don’t really like the word ‘special education’ because it suggests there’s something different that requires special treatment in the classroom,” she notes. “A truly inclusive education would ensure that every child feels valued, understood, and supported.”

This conviction has shaped her academic focus as well. For her master’s thesis, Apostolopoulou examined teachers’ views and experiences regarding their preparedness for inclusive teaching roles. Through interviews and field interactions with educators at various levels, she found that many teachers feel underprepared to implement inclusive practices despite policy commitments to inclusion.

“I think it’s important to be familiar with special education if you want to do a good job as a teacher. Most teachers aren’t adequately taught to address special needs in the classroom so that no student feels excluded. I chose this field because I felt it would give me the knowledge to include them all.”

Learning Beyond the Classroom

The Sylff Fellowship played a pivotal role in allowing Apostolopoulou to deepen both her theoretical knowledge and practical skills. Fellowship support enabled her to pursue professional training, including seminars on intellectual disability and alternative communication methods such as Makaton—an approach widely used to support children with autism.

An unexpected outcome of her fellowship was her collaboration with the University of Nicosia, where she contributed to the development of a guide on disabilities and appropriate educational practices. Through extensive research and data analysis, Apostolopoulou helped translate academic knowledge into applied guidance for educators—an experience she describes as both challenging and deeply rewarding.

“Without the fellowship, these experiences would not have been possible,” she reflects. “It didn’t just support my studies; it expanded my professional horizons.”

From Research to Real‑World Impact

Beyond academia, she is engaged in volunteer work and leadership activities. She has served as a team leader in children’s summer camps, volunteered with NGOs supporting children in need, and recently earned certification in Braille, underscoring her commitment to continuous learning and accessibility. She is currently creating a haptic children’s book that tells a story about life through texture and sound.

These experiences reinforce her belief that inclusion thrives through collaboration—among teachers, families, specialists, and communities. “No child’s education exists in isolation,” she says. “When we work together, inclusion becomes more natural.”

A Vision for the Future

Ultimately, she aspires to establish an open and innovative school where children with and without disabilities, from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, learn and grow side by side. Until then, she is committed to gaining hands‑on experience, refining her research, and advocating for systemic change in teacher education and educational policy.

A group photo with partner Stefanos Philippou and the Sylff Association secretariat staff.

Through her passion, leadership, and unwavering belief in every child’s potential, Maria Eleni Apostolopoulou embodies the values of the Sylff community—demonstrating how education, when guided by empathy and purpose, can become a powerful force for bridging differences and transforming society.

The Sylff Association secretariat lauds her initiatives and affirms its continued support for her work, recognizing her commitment to inclusive practice, professional growth, and social engagement as an outstanding example of how Sylff fellows translate their ideals into social action. (Compiled by Nozomu Kawamoto)

 

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Navigating the Digital Age: Social Media Risks and Femicide Awareness

April 8, 2026
By 32936

Using a Sylff Leadership Initiatives award, Shephy Elisha Oduor (University of Nairobi, 2021–22) organized and implemented a two-day youth empowerment workshop in Nairobi for over 200 young women and adolescent girls to explore the intersection of digital literacy, online safety, and gender-based violence prevention in urban Kenya.

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Technology is a useful servant but a dangerous master.
—Christian Lous Lange

Over the past decade, digital technology has reshaped the social landscape for young people across the globe. In Kenya, the rapid growth of smartphone ownership and internet connectivity has dramatically transformed how young people access information, communicate with peers, and pursue opportunities. Social media platforms have become powerful spaces for education, entrepreneurship, creativity, and civic engagement. For many young people, digital platforms provide opportunities that were previously unimaginable. Students can now access educational resources, build networks across borders, and participate in global conversations without leaving their communities.

Yet these expanding digital opportunities also come with significant challenges. As digital access grows, so too does exposure of young users to online threats, such as manipulation, harassment, and exploitation. Online grooming, sextortion, phishing scams, impersonation schemes, cyberbullying, and digital stalking have become widespread concerns. For adolescent girls and young women, these risks are often compounded by social and economic vulnerabilities. In many urban informal settlements, digital literacy education has not kept pace with the rapid adoption of smartphones and social media. As a result, many young women enter digital spaces without adequate preparation to identify or respond to online manipulation.

Recent national discussions on gender-based violence and femicide in Kenya have highlighted the need to examine how online interactions can intersect with real-world harm. In several reported cases, online deception or manipulation has preceded incidents of exploitation or violence. These realities underscore the need for proactive education that equips young people with practical knowledge about digital safety while strengthening community awareness of online exploitation.

It was within this broader social and technological context that the workshop on Navigating the Digital Age: Raising Awareness on Social Media Risks and Femicide Awareness was conceptualized. The initiative sought to equip young women and girls with practical skills to protect themselves in digital environments while also fostering awareness about the connection between online manipulation and gender-based violence. By combining digital literacy training with conversations on femicide prevention, the workshop aimed to empower participants to navigate digital spaces with greater awareness, confidence, and responsibility.

More than 200 participants attended the event, including primary beneficiaries as well as adolescent girls aged 16 and 17. Their presence reflected the growing urgency of introducing digital safety education early, as young people begin engaging with social media platforms during adolescence.

From the moment participants arrived at the venue, the atmosphere was intentionally designed to communicate solidarity and shared purpose. Each participant received a pink awareness T-shirt and wristband carrying the message: “Stay Safe Online: Navigating the Digital Age—Fight Against Femicide.” Participants were also provided with digital safety manuals and informational guides outlining available reporting mechanisms for online abuse. These resources ensured that the knowledge shared during the workshop could continue to serve participants long after the event concluded.

Building Awareness Through Dialogue

Participants gather in Nairobi for the two-day digital safety and femicide awareness workshop, demonstrating youth solidarity and shared commitment to safer digital spaces.

The workshop opened with a plenary session designed to create space for honest dialogue about digital experiences among young women. Facilitators guided discussions exploring how digital interactions—often beginning with seemingly harmless communication—can sometimes evolve into manipulation or coercion. Participants examined real-life scenarios involving fake job advertisements, romantic deception schemes, identity theft, and online blackmail. These examples resonated strongly because they reflected situations that many young people had encountered when navigating social media platforms.

Through guided conversations, participants reflected on how trust is established in digital environments and how that trust can sometimes be exploited. They identified warning signs such as requests for private images, emotional pressure, financial demands, and attempts to isolate individuals from their support networks. These discussions were particularly impactful because they allowed participants to learn from each other’s experiences while developing a deeper understanding of digital risk.

Practical Digital Safety Skills

A key strength of the workshop was its emphasis on practical learning rather than theoretical discussion alone. ICT professionals facilitated interactive sessions where participants conducted live digital safety audits using their smartphones. They learned how to review privacy settings across their social media accounts, activate two-factor authentication, strengthen password security, and disable unnecessary location-sharing features.

Participants conduct digital safety audits by reviewing privacy settings and strengthening online protection during group discussions.

For many participants, this exercise revealed previously unnoticed vulnerabilities. Several discovered that their social media profiles were publicly accessible, exposing personal details such as phone numbers, school locations, and daily routines. Facilitators explained how cybercriminals and online predators often collect publicly available information to build trust with potential victims. Understanding these tactics helped participants recognize how seemingly harmless online behavior can sometimes create pathways for manipulation. By the end of the session, participants expressed significantly greater confidence in managing their digital identities and protecting themselves online.

Leadership Through Knowledge: Miss Digital Safety 2026

A distinctive feature of the workshop was the selection of Miss Digital Safety 2026, an initiative designed to recognize leadership in digital safety advocacy. Unlike traditional pageantry, the recognition focused on knowledge, communication skills, and community engagement rather than physical appearance. Participants were evaluated based on their understanding of digital safety principles and their ability to communicate prevention strategies clearly.

Miss Digital Safety 2026, seated, with mentors and other finalists. The winner was recognized for leadership in promoting responsible online behavior and digital safety awareness.

The initiative emphasized that digital literacy itself is a form of empowerment. By recognizing knowledge-based leadership, the program encouraged participants to view themselves as advocates capable of promoting safer digital practices within their communities. The crowned ambassador committed to conducting peer awareness sessions among fellow youth, ensuring that the knowledge gained during the workshop would continue to spread beyond the event.

A Multi-Stakeholder Approach to Digital Safety

One of the strengths of the Navigating the Digital Age initiative was its integrated and collaborative approach. Rather than focusing solely on awareness campaigns, the workshop combined several complementary strategies designed to address digital safety from multiple perspectives.

Participants engaged in practical training sessions addressing online scams, digital grooming, and phishing tactics. Expert facilitators provided insights on the legal frameworks governing cybercrime, technological safeguards for digital security, and the broader social implications of online exploitation.

The workshop also emphasized peer mentorship and community engagement. By encouraging participants to share knowledge within their peer networks, the program sought to cultivate a culture of digital responsibility among young people themselves. Community leaders, educators, and digital security experts participated as mentors and facilitators throughout the program. Their involvement reinforced the idea that protecting young people in digital spaces requires cooperation between families, schools, community organizations, and policymakers.

Measuring Impact and Sustaining the Initiative

Participants pose with Professor Susan Chepkonga, a workshop facilitator, and the author at the close of the workshop, united in their commitment to advancing digital safety and femicide prevention.

As the conversations around digital safety continue to gain urgency, initiatives such as Navigating the Digital Age are increasingly recognized as timely responses to emerging social challenges. The program demonstrated how digital safety education can be strengthened when practical training, expert guidance, peer mentorship, and community engagement are combined within a single learning platform. By addressing both the technical and social dimensions of online risk, the workshop created a holistic approach to digital resilience among young participants.

At the same time, the initiative recognizes the importance of systematically evaluating its long-term effectiveness. Future phases of the program will therefore incorporate structured evaluation strategies designed to assess both immediate learning outcomes and sustained community impact.

These will include post-workshop surveys, structured participant feedback mechanisms, and tracking of peer outreach activities conducted by participants after the training. Such tools will provide valuable insights into how knowledge gained during the workshop spreads within communities and influences digital behavior over time. The aims of strengthening monitoring and evaluation frameworks are not only to refine future workshops but also to contribute evidence-based insights that can inform broader, digital-safety education programs.

Reflection: Protecting Dignity in a Digital World

The Navigating the Digital Age initiative highlights an important reality of contemporary life: digital literacy has become inseparable from personal safety. When young women understand how to safeguard their digital identities, recognize manipulation early, and access support systems when needed, they strengthen not only their own safety but also the resilience of their communities.

A digital safety advocate shares experiences and insights during the workshop.

In a world where technology increasingly shapes human relationships, the challenge is not simply to expand access to digital tools but to ensure that young people are equipped with the knowledge and confidence to use them responsibly.

Ultimately, building safer digital environments depends on the collective efforts of informed individuals, supportive communities, and young leaders committed to protecting dignity in both online and offline spaces.

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Website Maintenance on April 14 (13:00 to 14:00 JST)

April 8, 2026

Access to Sylff website will be temporarily unavailable between 13:00 and 14:00 on Tuesday, April 14 (Japan Standard Time) due to web server maintenance. 

During this period, the website will display a “Maintenance in Progress” message.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding.

 

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Applications for SRG and SLI in Fiscal 2026 to Open in May

April 2, 2026

The Sylff Association secretariat will begin accepting applications for Sylff Research Grant (SRG) and Sylff Leadership Initiatives (SLI) for fiscal 2026 (April 2026 to March 2027) in May 2026.

From this cycle, both programs will accept applications through online forms, which will be available only during the respective application periods. Those interested in applying are encouraged to carefully review the Call for Applications for each program and prepare their submissions for the preliminary application period, which will begin on May 13, 2026.

The Calls for Application for the two programs are linked below.

SRG: https://www.sylff.org/support_programs/srg/

SLI: https://www.sylff.org/support_programs/sli/

We look forward to launching our support programs for fiscal 2026 and to receiving applications for insightful research and innovative social initiatives.