Japan Patent Office's IP Award "8th IP BASE AWARD" to be Held, Honoring Startups and Supporters with Excellent IP Initiatives

The Japan Patent Office (JPO) will hold the IP award "8th IP BASE AWARD" aimed at promoting intellectual property (IP) among startups, and will begin accepting applications in early August 2026.

About the IP BASE AWARD

In recent years, the importance of protecting and utilizing intellectual property in startups has been increasing, and there is a growing need to build an "IP ecosystem" where startups proactively utilize IP and supporters appropriately assist them. The JPO operates the IP community portal site "IP BASE," which consolidates basic knowledge on IP strategy essential for startups, support measures, and the latest information on events.

Click here for the IP BASE portal site

The IP BASE AWARD is an awards program that has been conducted since fiscal year 2019. In fiscal year 2026, the 8th year, startups and startup supporters who have demonstrated excellent IP initiatives will be honored to promote the dissemination and awareness of IP among startups and to foster activities within the IP community.

Scheduled Timeline

Early August 2026 - Mid-October 2026: Application Submission Period

Late October 2026 - Mid-December 2026: Document Screening and Candidate Interviews

Early February 2027: Announcement of Startup Division Finalists

Late February 2027 - Early March 2027: Pitch Competition and Awards Ceremony

* The pitch competition is scheduled to include presentations (business models and IP strategies) and Q&A sessions by the finalists from the startup division who have passed the document screening.

Applications will open in early August 2026. As this is an opportunity to widely disseminate your company's IP activities and support initiatives, startups and supporters who are eligible are encouraged to consider applying. Detailed information will be posted on the official IP BASE AWARD website (https://ipbase.go.jp/award/) as it becomes available.

Application Overview

We are seeking applications from individuals and organizations for their initiatives related to intellectual property by startups and startup support stakeholders, through both self-nomination and third-party nomination*. This year, we plan to begin accepting applications on the IP BASE AWARD official website in early August 2026. Details such as the specific application period will be announced on the IP BASE AWARD official website (https://ipbase.go.jp/award/) and other platforms as soon as they are decided.

* For third-party nominations, applications are scheduled to be accepted until early October 2026.

Divisions

Startup Division: Unlisted startups established within the last 10 years that are actively engaged in the acquisition and utilization of strategic intellectual property rights.

Startup Supporter Division: IP specialists such as patent attorneys and lawyers, VCs, investors, accelerators, and incubators involved in the startup ecosystem, companies engaged in startup-related initiatives, researchers, university personnel, etc.

Award Categories

The following awards will be presented for each division:

・ Grand Prize Winner: Trophy presentation

・ Winners of each award: Introduction on the IP BASE portal site, etc., publication of interview articles, and permission to use the award logo during PR activities

【Grand Prize】

Startup Division: 1 recipient

Awarded to those who have received exceptionally high evaluations from the selection committee based on application document screening, interviews, and pitch competition.

Startup Supporter Division: In principle, 1 recipient

Awarded to those who have received exceptionally high evaluations from the selection committee based on evaluation criteria.

【Incentive Award】

Startup Division: Multiple recipients

Awarded to those who have received high evaluations from the selection committee based on application document screening, interviews, and pitch competition, and are expected to win the Grand Prize in the future.

Startup Supporter Division: Multiple recipients

Awarded to those who have received high evaluations from the selection committee based on evaluation criteria, and are expected to win the Grand Prize in the future.

Selection Committee Members

【Chairperson】

Masahiro Sameshima (Representative Partner, Attorney at Law, Uchida & Sameshima Law Firm)

【Members】

Yukiko Kato (Director, Executive Officer, Head of CVC Business Department, SBI Investment Co., Ltd.)

Hiroshi Kawana (Corporate Officer, General Manager's Office, Professional (Intellectual Property Strategy), Patent Attorney, KDDI Corporation)

Hiroshi Morita (Representative Partner, Patent Attorney, Morita & Otani Patent Firm)

Shin Motoki (Representative Director and President, Managing Partner, Mobile Internet Co., Ltd.)

For details on the IP BASE AWARD and past award recipients, please visit the official website.

URL: https://ipbase.go.jp/award/

About IP BASE

The JPO opened the IP community portal site "IP BASE" in December 2018 as a "site for startups to visit first" and a "site to connect with IP specialists," in response to startup voices such as "IP seems important, but I don't know where to start" and "I don't know who to consult."

It consolidates basic knowledge on IP strategy essential for startups, support measures, and the latest information on events, and operates with the aim of becoming a "base" for the startup IP community where both startup stakeholders (startups, venture capital firms, accelerators, etc.) and IP specialists (patent attorneys, lawyers, etc.) can participate.

URL: https://ipbase.go.jp/