The MIRAI Three Minutes Competition is an exciting opportunity for doctorate students to effectively explain their research within a limited time-span of three minutes, in a language appropriate to a non-specialist audience. The Competition aims to develop the doctorates’ presentation and research communication skills, while leading to broader society (as the audience) further enhancing their positive understanding of doctorate resources and researches.
Since our first event was held on November 1, 2015, this competition has been organized annually, with the inclusion of online editions, through the cooperation of national, public, and private universities across western Japan, primarily in the Chugoku and Shikoku regions, as well as many companies and public institutions.
Until the 11th event "HIRAKU Three Minutes Competition", this competition had been held as part of the initiatives of the consortium program, “Home for Innovative Researchers and Academic Knowledge Users (HIRAKU)”. Starting with this 12th event, this competition will be supported by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)'s "Future-Leading and Advanced Graduate-schools (FLAGs)" and "Support for Pioneering Research Initiated by the Next Generation (SPRING)." The venue is scheduled to be held in Hiroshima City again. We sincerely look forward to your enthusiastic participation!
November 21 (Sat.), 2026 / 13:00～17:30
HIROSHIMA Convention Hall - 2F MAIN HALL (Hiroshima City) (Access)
Students enrolled in doctoral programs (including 4-year doctoral programs in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, or veterinary science, or integrated doctoral programs in their third year or above), from any research field, at any university in Japan as of November 21, 2026, and who have not yet graduated by that date.
※ Excluding students enrolled in master’s programs and/or professional degree programs.
Two Divisions ("Japanese Division" and "English Division")
The Competition will be held across two judgement stages for each division.
Only those who complete the Competition Entry will be able to upload their presentation videos, therefore, please complete the Competition Entry first.
1. Competition Entry
Deadline for Competition Entry: July 15 (Wed.), 2026 17:00 (JST)
2. Video Presentation Screening
Deadline for Video Upload: August 21 (Fri.), 2026 17:00 (JST)
3. Final Stage (presentation judging)
November 21 (Sat.), 2026
*Finalists coming from outside Hiroshima Prefecture will be provided with travel expenses in accordance with Hiroshima University regulations.
| Winner | The Winner of each division will receive a certificate and a ¥300,000 scholarship. |
|---|---|
| Runner-Up | The Runner-Up of each division will receive a certificate and a ¥150,000 scholarship. |
| People’s Choice | The People’s Choice (to be decided by the Audience Polls) of each division will receive a certificate and a ¥80,000 scholarship. |
※ In addition to the above, several video presentations from the Video Presentation Screening stage will be selected for a Sponsor Award (these awards will be specifically titled after the Special Sponsors’ names).
Please carefully read and follow the instructions of the Application Guideline linked below, and thereafter, choose a division (Japanese or English), and then fill in the appropriate Competition Entry Form within the link for each division below.
*These application forms have been created using Google Forms.
*Please note that you can complete a Competition Entry for both divisions, but, if your presentation is selected for the Final Stage, the Video Judging Panel will decide which division you will compete in (as you cannot compete in both divisions during the Final Stage).
The Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) Competition was developed by the University of Queensland (UQ).
MIRAI Three Minutes Competition Operating Office
082-424-6213
info■3mt.hiroshima-u.ac.jp
※ Please replace ■ with @
This Competition is held with the comprehensive support of Acaric Co., Ltd. and Springer Nature Japan K.K., especially in regard to promotional activities.
This support is a result of them being in agreement with the purpose of the Competition, which is to develop the doctorates’ presentation and research communication skills, while leading to broader society (as the audience) further enhancing their understanding of doctorate resources and researches.
On September 16, 2025, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) selected our university’s proposal, entitled "Formation of a World-Class Graduate Education Hub that Practices 'Science for Sustainable Development'" for the FY2025 "Future-Leading and Advanced Graduate-schools (FLAGs)." (The participating universities: Shimane University, Okayama University, Yamaguchi University, Tokushima University, Kagawa University, Ehime University, and Kochi University)
