Subsidies
Major subsidy schemes
Below are representative schemes available to SMEs. Application periods and requirements change each fiscal year, so please contact us for the latest information.
About subsidy application support
Our subsidy application support is currently in preparation (business registration and support structure). We are accepting consultations on confirming schemes, assessing eligibility, and preparing for applications. Formal application representation and post-selection procedures will begin once our structure is ready.
| Scheme | Amount | Eligibility | Period | Eligible expenses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IT Introduction Subsidy | Up to ¥4.5M | SMEs and small businesses | ~2 times/year (e.g., May & October) | Cloud services, accounting software, CRM, security measures, etc. |
| Digitalization Promotion Subsidy | From ¥1M | SMEs and small businesses | 1–2 times/year | Digitalization of analog tasks, EC construction, online support. Consulting fees are sometimes eligible |
| Monozukuri Subsidy | Up to ¥10M | Mainly manufacturing (some service industries) | Once/year (e.g., spring call) | Innovative product development, production-process improvement. AI/IoT use is also eligible |
| Small Business Sustainability Subsidy | Up to ¥2M | Sole proprietors / small businesses with ≤5 employees | Several times/year | Covers a wide range of activities: sales-channel development, service development, IT adoption |
IT Introduction Subsidy
Up to ¥4.5M
Eligibility: SMEs and small businesses
Period: ~2 times/year (e.g., May & October)
Cloud services, accounting software, CRM, security measures, etc.
Digitalization Promotion Subsidy
From ¥1M
Eligibility: SMEs and small businesses
Period: 1–2 times/year
Digitalization of analog tasks, EC construction, online support. Consulting fees are sometimes eligible
Monozukuri Subsidy
Up to ¥10M
Eligibility: Mainly manufacturing (some service industries)
Period: Once/year (e.g., spring call)
Innovative product development, production-process improvement. AI/IoT use is also eligible
Small Business Sustainability Subsidy
Up to ¥2M
Eligibility: Sole proprietors / small businesses with ≤5 employees
Period: Several times/year
Covers a wide range of activities: sales-channel development, service development, IT adoption
Use Cases
What subsidies can cover
Digitizing front-line information
Digitalization of paper forms, materials scattered across files, and individual-dependent procedures. Areas often eligible for the IT Introduction Subsidy and Digitalization Promotion Subsidy.
Adopting AI / productivity tools
Adoption costs for AI-driven productivity tools such as document search, data-entry automation, and CRM. Some schemes also include consulting fees.
Strengthening security measures
Protecting confidential data, organizing access management, etc. The security frame of the IT Introduction Subsidy may be usable.
Scope
What we do and do not handle
What we handle
+ Identifying and selecting the right subsidies
We sift through schemes that fit your industry, size, and the IT tools you plan to adopt, and organize the subsidy estimate and application schedule.
+ Organizing information needed for application
We organize the materials needed for the application — current issues, the expected impact of the tools, numerical targets. Formal application representation comes after our structure is ready.
+ Pre-checks for online application
We confirm the accounts, attachments, and input items required to use systems like J-Grants. Input representation comes after the business registration and support structure is in place.
+ Preparing attachments and managing schedule
Confirming and preparing necessary documents — quotes, registry, financial statements. We manage a back-calculated schedule against the application deadline.
+ Organizing issues for post-selection procedures
We organize in advance the flow of performance reports, change-approval requests, and completion reports required after the grant decision.
What we do not handle
- Guaranteeing selection
Screening is conducted by a third-party organization. We make no statements guaranteeing selection, nor effect estimates not grounded in fact.
- Brokering non-subsidy fundraising
We do not introduce loans or investments. For fundraising in general, please consult a specialized institution separately.
- False statements or inflated effect estimates
We make no statements not grounded in fact. Besides causing problems in screening, this carries the risk of a later repayment obligation.
Frequently asked questions
Q. Can I just consult about which subsidy is usable?
A. Of course. If you tell us your industry and what you want to adopt, we check whether a relevant subsidy exists and report back. Application support is currently in preparation, so we start with scheme confirmation and application-prep organization.
Q. When should I apply for a subsidy?
A. Most subsidies are open-call, 1–2 times/year. You need to begin preparation before the call opens. We recommend consulting early.
Q. How much does it cost?
A. It depends on the relevant subsidy and the scope of support. We provide an estimate in a free consultation first.
Process
Flow to application
Hearing
AnytimeWe hear your industry, size, the IT tools you want to adopt, and current issues. Even “I just want to learn about subsidies” is fine.
Identifying matching subsidies
Within 1 weekFrom the hearing, we organize and propose relevant subsidies, an estimate of the amount, and the application schedule.
Application preparation
2–4 weeksWe organize the materials needed for the application — current issues, expected tool impact, numerical targets. Formal application representation comes after our structure is ready.
Pre-submission check
During call periodWe confirm the items, attachments, and deadline needed for system input. Submission representation comes after the business registration and support structure is in place.
Post-selection procedure organization
After grant decisionWe organize in advance the procedures required after the grant decision — performance reports, change-approval requests, completion reports.
Important
What we deliberately tell you
A subsidy is not guaranteed money
There is screening, and selection is not guaranteed. You should also consider a business plan for the non-selected case. We support scheme confirmation and application-prep organization, but we do not guarantee the result.
Subsidies are paid in arrears. You must advance the adoption cost
Most subsidies require you to first advance the adoption cost yourself, with the subsidy granted after the project completes. If cash flow has no margin, using a subsidy may itself be difficult.
Choosing a tool because a subsidy exists leads to regret
If you choose a tool “because there is a subsidy,” you may end up adopting a system that does not fit your company. We believe the right order is to first consider the IT/DX measures you truly need, and then look for subsidies you can use.