“TOKYO Strategic Innovation Promotion Program” Development Support Themes Decided! Application Entry Now Open!

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has been implementing the “TOKYO Strategic Innovation Promotion Program” since FY2021, which provides subsidies for large-scale development projects that will introduce next-generation industries to the world.

Specifically, to realize the vision for Tokyo set forth in the “2050 Tokyo Strategy” and other initiatives, we have developed “Innovation Maps” outlining urban challenges and trends in technology and product development within growth industry sectors. We provide subsidies and hands-on support for development efforts undertaken by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Tokyo in collaboration with other companies, universities, and research institutions, in line with the development support themes indicated in these maps.

We are pleased to announce that the development support themes for FY2026 have been decided, and applications for the subsidy program are now being accepted.

1. Program Overview

Eligible Applicants

- Small and medium-sized enterprises (companies and sole proprietors) that conduct substantial business activities at their head office or a branch office in Tokyo. - Individuals who are concretely planning to start a business in Tokyo.

Support Details

- Subsidy payments - Advice and guidance on the implementation of subsidized projects

* Hands-on support may continue for up to one year after the completion of the subsidized project, as needed.

Maximum Subsidy Amount

Subsidy Rate

Maximum subsidy amount: 80 million yen (Minimum amount: 15 million yen)

Subsidy rate: Within two-thirds

Subsidy Period

March 1, 2025 (FY2027) to the end of February 2028 (FY2030) (maximum 3 years)

Eligible Expenses

Raw materials and subsidiary materials, machinery, tools, and equipment, outsourcing and subcontracting fees, expert guidance fees, direct labor costs, certification and registration fees for standards, intellectual property application and acquisition costs, exhibition participation fees, advertising costs.

Implementing Body

Tokyo SME Support Center

Other

Collaboration with other companies, universities, public research institutions, etc. (utilization of know-how through outsourcing, subcontracting, or joint research) is a condition.

For details on the subsidized projects and to apply, please visit the website of the Tokyo SME Support Center

“TOKYO Strategic Innovation Promotion Program”.

URL: https://www.tokyo-kosha.or.jp/support/josei/jigyo/tokyo-innovation.html

2. Program Schedule

* Dates are subject to change depending on circumstances.

July 9 - August 12

Application Entry (Apply via the Support Center website)

* Application entry is required to submit application documents.

Mid-July

Publication of Innovation Maps

August 14 - September 3

Application Document Submission (Electronic application via J-Grant)

Early September - Early December

First Screening (Document review)

Early January 2025 (FY2027)

Second Screening (Interview)

Early March 2025 (FY2027)

Decision on Subsidized Projects

3. Innovation Map Seminar & Subsidy Program Briefing (Both Online)

An Innovation Map Seminar and Subsidy Program Briefing will be held for those who have entered their applications. For details and application methods, please refer to the URL above.

≪Innovation Map Seminar≫

Based on the Innovation Maps, we will explain the latest technological trends, policies, and areas of focus.

1st Session: July 23 (Thu) 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM (Latest Technological Trends and Policies)

2nd Session: August 4 (Tue) 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM (Examples of Recently Noteworthy Technologies)

≪Subsidy Program Briefing≫

We will explain the subsidy program and how to write applications. The content of the 1st and 2nd sessions will be the same.

1st Session: July 23 (Thu) 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM

2nd Session: August 4 (Tue) 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM

* Participation in either the Innovation Map Seminar or the Subsidy Program Briefing is not required to apply for this program.

4. FY2026 Development Support Themes

Development Support Theme

Examples

1. Disaster Prevention, Mitigation, and Recovery

Safety confirmation systems, disaster information collection, automatic processing, and distribution systems, technologies related to evacuation life, 3D mapping technology, disaster prediction technology, disaster recovery technologies, distributed emergency power sources, seismic reinforcement technologies for structures, wind and flood damage/lightning strike countermeasures, fire and fire prevention technologies, heat-shielding/insulating materials, technologies related to underground utility poles, technologies for forest fire/volcanic eruption countermeasures, etc.

2. Infrastructure Maintenance

Infrastructure inspection and diagnosis technologies, infrastructure monitoring technologies, new materials such as self-healing materials, maintenance-free technologies, production management technologies for construction sites, technologies for supporting on-site work, renovation technologies, automated/remote construction technologies, repair technologies, digital fabrication, etc.

3. Ensuring Safety and Security

Security cameras and image analysis systems, intrusion detection and access control systems, next-generation home security, information and network security, personal authentication technology, contactless technology, automation and labor-saving technologies, location tracking technology, technologies related to deepfake countermeasures, technologies for countermeasures against damage from birds and animals, etc.

4. Sports Promotion and Parasports

Technologies related to various sports, technologies for improving sports performance, urban sports technologies, sports viewing technologies, technologies for streamlining sports team management, technologies that can be utilized as a legacy of the Tokyo 2020 Games, fitness and training technologies, parasports technologies, assistive devices for parasports, e-sports promotion and virtual sports technologies, etc.

5. Support for Child-Rearing, the Elderly, Persons with Disabilities, etc.

Educational tool technologies, monitoring technologies for the elderly and children, baby tech, femtech, barrier-free and universal design technologies, ABW (Activity Based Working) technologies, remote work, smart home appliances, universal communication technologies, transfer and mobility support technologies, personal care related equipment, prosthetics and orthotics, functional assistance and recovery technologies, care support technologies, etc.

6. Medical and Health

Biometric measurement and monitoring technologies, disease prevention and health management systems utilizing genomic information and health data, personal healthcare, mental health technologies, health devices, brain tech, electronic health records (EHR) and personal health records (PHR) technologies, medical specimen testing equipment, diagnostic imaging technology, various medical devices, treatment and surgical support technologies, development of treatment devices and life function support/assistive devices, various testing technologies, online medical consultations, mobile health, emergency and life-saving technologies, animal health, complete nutrition food, hygiene technologies including infectious disease countermeasures, heatstroke countermeasures, pediatric medical devices, etc.

7. Environment, Energy, and Power Saving

Energy management systems, VPP (Virtual Power Plant) and distributed energy, ZEB (Net Zero Energy Building) and ZEH (Net Zero Energy House) technologies, storage batteries, decarbonized fuels, hydrogen utilization and ammonia utilization technologies, renewable energy technologies, ZEV (Zero Emission Vehicle) technologies, recycling technologies, upcycling technologies, plastic recycling technologies, carbon recycling technologies, advanced materials, food loss reduction technologies, smart agriculture technologies, plant factories, fusion energy technologies, marine resource development technologies, etc.

8. Realization of an International Tourism and Financial City

Metaverse, AR/VR technologies, five-sense reproduction technology, telepresence and holography, virtual tour and online tour technologies, tourism personalization technologies, multilingual navigation technology, communication support technology, indoor navigation technology, crowd visualization technology, data management platform (DMP) technologies, tourism MaaS, cashless payments, blockchain, NFT (Non-Fungible Token), smart contracts, asset management and operation systems, service robots, food tourism technologies including land-based aquaculture, overtourism countermeasures, content industry technologies and services, services utilizing crypto assets, etc.

9. Transportation, Logistics, and Supply Chain

Car telematics and connected cars, autonomous driving support devices and systems, wireless power supply technology, personal mobility, sharing service technologies, on-demand transportation technologies, air mobility/drones, logistics optimization technology, next-generation industrial robots, satellite data utilization for supply chain optimization, automated delivery robots, maritime transportation and logistics technologies, etc.

- Pharmaceuticals, quasi-drugs, and similar items as defined by the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Act are generally excluded.

- The “Examples” listed above are for illustrative purposes only. Contents that align with the “Development Support Themes” are eligible.

This initiative promotes the “2050 Tokyo Strategy.” Strategy 13: Industries “Supporting and Promoting Growth of SMEs.”

[Contact Information]

- For general inquiries about the program: Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Bureau of Industrial and Labor Affairs, Commerce and Industry Division, Startup Support Section Tel: 03-5320-4745

- For inquiries about the subsidy program: Tokyo SME Support Center, Subsidy Division Tel: 03-3251-7894