NEDO to Hold Final Selection for Prize Money-Based Program "NEDO Challenge, Satellite Data - Updating Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries with Satellite Data!"

NEDO will hold the final selection for "NEDO Challenge, Satellite Data - Updating Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries with Satellite Data!" (hereinafter referred to as "this project"), one of the themes of the "NEDO Prize Money-Based Program" (hereinafter referred to as "this program"), which solicits diverse seeds and solutions that contribute to solving technological and social issues through a prize money-based R&D method in a contest format. The final selection will be held on Wednesday, July 15. Applications to view the final selection will open today, Wednesday, July 1.

This project offers prize money to developers of systems that utilize satellite data, etc., to solve issues, aiming to create new industries and businesses in the agriculture, forestry, and fisheries sectors.

At the final selection, awardees will be decided through a pitch contest by 12 teams that have passed the preliminary screening.

Figure: Top page of the project's dedicated website (https://space-data-challenge.nedo.go.jp/)

1. Overview of this Project

Amidst the declining number of farmers, foresters, and fishers in Japan, it is necessary to utilize advanced technologies such as information and communication technology (ICT) and to foster human resources and strengthen infrastructure in order to respond to various international environmental changes and maintain and develop production in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries. Furthermore, it is also necessary to actively work on improving the environment that supports agriculture, forestry, and fisheries, such as promoting reforms in the value chain and boosting exports. For this reason, the government's growth strategy, "Reform across Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries and Realization of Smart Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries," aims to strengthen the competitiveness of agriculture, forestry, and fisheries and food security, and to achieve robust agriculture, forestry, and fisheries even with a declining population, by vigorously promoting reforms.

Meanwhile, as the combination of satellite data and ground data is being explored to solve various global issues and the momentum for utilizing satellite data is growing, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and NEDO are working on developing solutions that utilize satellites to solve various social issues.

This project calls for systems that can more effectively realize solutions to issues across the entire agriculture, forestry, and fisheries sector by utilizing satellite data, etc., and a prize money-based contest is being held with the aim of soliciting more innovative and original proposals.

Through this program*2, which solicits diverse seeds and solutions that contribute to solving technological and social issues through a prize money-based R&D method*1 in a contest format, we aim to quickly discover technological seeds that can lead to the creation of future new industries and new businesses, and to promote their commercialization and practical application.

2. Application for Viewing the Final Selection

Theme 1: Technological Development Contributing to Solving Issues in Production Sites

We are seeking technological development that contributes to solving issues in the production sites of agriculture, forestry, and fisheries using satellite data, etc.

Theme 2: Technological Development Contributing to Resource Management/Monitoring and Logistics Sophistication

We are seeking technological development that contributes to resource management and monitoring in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries, as well as the sophistication of logistics, including domestic and international supply chains and import/export, using satellite data, etc.

[Prize Money]

1st Place: 10 million yen, 2nd Place: 5 million yen, 3rd Place: 3 million yen, Special Jury Prize: 1 million yen

These will be awarded to the winners of Theme 1 and Theme 2, respectively.

Please note that there may be no awardees depending on the results of the judging.

[Overview and Application for Viewing the Final Selection]

- Date and Time: Wednesday, July 15, 2026, from 9:30 to 17:05

Networking reception from 17:15 (for on-site attendees only)

- Selection Method: Pitch contest by applicants (pre-screening by judges will be conducted before the final selection)

- How to View: The final selection can be viewed either on-site or online. Please apply from the dedicated website below.

[Dedicated Website] https://space-data-challenge.nedo.go.jp/

- Prize Money Award: Scheduled for September 2026

[Notes]

*1 Prize Money-Based R&D Method

In foreign countries, governments and foundations set R&D goals and solicit numerous applicants, competing with various ideas and approaches in a contest format. After the development period, prize money is paid to the top few who have achieved results above the target level (prize money-based R&D method). In Japan, there are not many examples of this method being implemented, but prize money is stipulated in the Civil Code, and this program will also award prize money based on the Civil Code.

*2 This Program

Project Name: NEDO Prize Money-Based Program

Project Period: FY2023 onwards

Project Overview: NEDO Prize Money-Based Program https://www.nedo.go.jp/activities/ZZJP_100268.html