Applications for 'Girls Meet STEM' 2026 Summer Tour Open May 21: Partnering with 218 Companies, 37 Universities, and 8 Tech Colleges Nationwide

The Yamada Shintaro D&I Foundation (hereinafter referred to as the Foundation) will begin accepting applications on May 21, 2026, for the "Girls Meet STEM" 2026 Summer Tour, a tour-based experience program in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields designed for female junior high and high school students. Marking its largest scale since its inception in 2024, this edition features the participation of 218 companies, 37 universities, and 8 technical colleges (KOSEN). In collaboration with local governments, the first phase will encompass 66 tours nationwide, stretching from Hokkaido to Kyushu.

"Girls Meet STEM" Tour Official Website: https://gms.shinfdn.org/

The percentage of women in STEM faculties (science and engineering) in Japan stands at 18.08%*1, which is among the lowest in the OECD member countries. Viewing this gender gap in the STEM fields as a structural issue, the Foundation promotes initiatives that encourage female junior high and high school students to pursue education and careers in STEM.

"Girls Meet STEM" is a tour-based program where female secondary students visit companies, universities, and technical colleges to interact with female role models in the STEM fields. Since its launch in June 2024, approximately 11,000 female students*2 nationwide have participated. The program's effectiveness in encouraging STEM paths has been confirmed: after participating, the average score for students answering "I intend to choose a science track" increased by 0.55 points on a 5-point scale, and confidence in being able to "enter a science faculty" increased by more than 1 point on average on a 10-point scale*3.

However, despite high interest, the opportunities the tours can provide are currently limited. In fiscal year 2025, out of a total of 12,921 applicants, only about 52% were able to participate. In light of this situation, the Foundation will provide new opportunities alongside the traditional company and university visit tours for individuals. These include "STEM Day," featuring online talk sessions and interactions with women working in companies, and "STEM Week," where women working and studying in STEM fields visit schools for lectures and dialogues. By expanding opportunities to interact with role models beyond regional and school boundaries, the Foundation aims to create an environment where more female students can concretely envision a future in STEM. These new initiatives are scheduled to roll out sequentially starting in the summer of 2026.

*1 Calculated from OECD "Share of new entrants and graduates in each field of education by gender" (as of 2023)
*2 Approximate figures at the end of the "Girls Meet STEM" 2026 Spring Tour
*3 Based on the Foundation's impact analysis "Girls Meet STEM Participant Questionnaire" (2025, n=1216). Selected from 5 points: Science, 4 points: Somewhat Science, 3 points: Neither, 2 points: Somewhat Humanities, 1 point: Humanities.

◾️ "Girls Meet STEM" 2026 Summer Tour Overview

- Tours of corporate offices and research laboratories, experiences with the latest technology, workshops, etc.
- Discussion sessions with female employees and researchers active in the STEM fields.
- Laboratory tours at universities and technical colleges, and discussion sessions with university and graduate students.

Eligibility: Female students from 1st year of junior high school to 3rd year of high school (including those who identify as female)

Schedule:
Phase 1: July 18 - August 16, 2026
(Application deadline: June 23)

Phase 2: August 17 - August 31, 2026
(Application deadline: July 21)

* Tours will be held either in-person or online.
* Guardians may also participate in some tours.
* If applications exceed capacity, participants will be selected by lottery.
* The Summer Tour will be held in two parts (Phase 1 and Phase 2). Details for Phase 2 will be announced on June 24.
* Dates are subject to change.

◾️ Participating in "Girls Meet STEM"

"Girls Meet STEM" is looking for new companies, universities, and technical colleges to participate.
If you are interested, please contact us below.
Inquiries regarding participation (Common for companies, universities, and technical colleges):
https://share.hsforms.com/2mZnzIiyZQZWKpO8pp5Txlwr8gla

◾️ About "Girls Meet STEM"

"Girls Meet STEM" is a tour-based experience program in the STEM fields for female junior high and high school students, operated by the Foundation in cooperation with technical colleges, universities, companies, and research institutions. By visiting campuses, laboratories, and corporate offices, participants experience actual STEM workplaces. Through interactions with university students, graduate students, and working women, the program broadens the possibilities for their future education and careers.