Certifying youth with high aspirations and exceptional talents as members to support, and providing financial assistance to selected applicants

The Masason Foundation (“the Foundation,” President: Masayoshi Son) has chosen 33 people aged between 10 and 20*1 as members of the Foundation (the 10th generation). The members will be given support as associate members*2 starting July 1, 2026.

Members chosen include a 10-year-old student who designed, prototyped, and validated an exoskeleton device for individuals with upper-limb paralysis and authored a research paper on the project, as well as a 17-year-old high school student who designed and built a highly efficient system for recycling 3D-printing waste, achieving lower costs and reduced environmental impact. Associate members certified last year as the 9th generation members who passed the screening process will be certified as authorized members on the same day.

■About Members (Planned for July 1, 2026)
1. Number of members (from the 1st generation to the 10th generation): 165
2. Age distribution:
Youngest: 10 years old, Oldest: 27 years old
10 – 14 years old: 21 members (13%), 15 – 19 years old: 86 members (52%), 20 – 24 years old: 55 members (33%), 25 years old and above: 3 members (2%)

*1 As of July 1, 2026
*2 The Foundation will certify talented persons as associate members for the initial year, and a decision will be made as to whether they will be registered as authorized members on the basis of their activities and achievements during that year. Associate members will receive support from the Foundation such as financial support and the free use of facilities for members, and will be able to participate in events organized by the Foundation. The period of validity will be determined on a case-by-case basis after taking into account the completion date of each individual’s educational process. However, if an authorized member reaches 29 years of age, the period of validity will end on the last day of the first fiscal year after that point. In addition, if an authorized member is 23 years old or younger at the end of the validity period and wishes to extend the period, it may be extended after re-screening.

The Foundation asked 6 of the members to share their thoughts. Their self-introductions will be posted sequentially on the Foundation’s website (https://masason-foundation.org/en/scholars/).

・Aarthav Sharma, 10 years old
Aarthav, who designed, prototyped, and validated an exoskeleton device for individuals with upper-limb paralysis and authored a research paper on the project, comments, “Over the past few years, I have developed a strong passion for engineering, biomechanics, and product design, leading projects ranging from robotics and CAD engineering to a passive biomechanical exosupport for individuals with kyphosis and postural dysfunction. With the Foundation’s support, I hope to continue developing my exosupport by researching the effects of different materials, to improve both comfort and biomechanical performance.”

・Renka Yamada, 12 years old
Renka, who collaborates with research institutions and companies to enhance biodiversity and promote carbon dioxide absorption by creating environments in which algae can thrive, comments, “I have been interested in the natural sciences since I was very young, and I am currently exploring chemical elements and environmental issues. I conduct research on marine-related applications of compression-cast concrete, and have made efforts in coral aquaculture since my fourth year of elementary school, and on seagrass bed restoration since my fifth year. Now, as a sixth-year student, I am currently considering plans for new experiments with guidance from a company engaged in research and development in civil engineering, geotechnical engineering, and concrete block technologies.”

・Hiroto Abe, 13 years old
Hiroto, who received the Prime Minister’s Award at the Japan Student Science Award for research on a model for expanding linguistic expression through a comparison between the sounds of meat cooking and onomatopoeic expressions, comments, “I am very honored to have been selected as a Masason Foundation member. I am passionate about research at the intersection of AI and human emotion/creativity. My work is in the interdisciplinary research of AI and human emotion/creativity, and includes leveraging AI to explore the physical and linguistic mechanisms behind onomatopoeia that evoke emotional responses, and developing a dementia support app that helps build memory reconstruction processes. I hope to broaden the scope of my research and development while being inspired by fellow Foundation members, working hard to help solve social issues and translate research into real-world applications.”

・Bhavishyaa Vignesh, 15 years old
Bhavishyaa, who presented her research on satellite edge computing at SpaceOps, the international conference on space mission operations and ground data systems, comments, “With the Masason Foundation’s support, I plan to pursue my dream of making my mark in the aerospace industry by developing my expertise at a leading university. I have already seen the impact Masason Foundation members and alumni are creating, and it is truly an honor to be part of this community and to accelerate the work I’ve already started.”

・Areej Al-Muqbil, 17 years old
Areej, who won the Grand Award for two consecutive years at the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), one of the world’s largest science competitions for high school students, comments, “Through the Masason Foundation, I hope to collaborate with people who pursue ideas that initially seem impossible. I am especially interested in building projects that connect sustainability and global policy. I hope to continue advancing my work in carbon capture and environmental infrastructure while also learning how breakthrough technologies are transformed into systems that shape industries and societies.”

・Daniel Honciuc Menendez, 18 years old
Daniel, who at 16 published a first-author paper on Quantum Error Correction in the American Physical Society’s peer-reviewed international journal “Physical Review A”, comments, “With the Foundation’s support, I will continue advancing research in quantum technologies for social applications, building upon my expertise in fields such as quantum algorithms and quantum error correction, to develop scalable, reliable quantum technologies in fields including molecular simulation, environmental monitoring, and secure communication. I am excited to collaborate with Masason Foundation members from wide-ranging fields, learning from their experience and contributing my quantum research expertise, toward quantum breakthroughs that laboratories, public agencies, and organizations can use for social good across health, environment, technology, and beyond.”

*All ages mentioned in this press release are as of July 1, 2026.

<About the Masason Foundation>
The Foundation was established in December 2016 by Masayoshi Son, SoftBank Group Representative, to provide an environment that enables youth with high aspirations and exceptional talents to develop their skills, and to contribute to the future of humankind. The Foundation supports these young members by helping them expand their potential and grow into individuals who will create the future through exposure to new values and the latest technologies, and interaction with other members.
For more details, please visit the Foundation’s website (https://masason-foundation.org/en).