Subsidy Program for Global Innovation Centers

Updated on May 9, 2023

Achievements

Through the Subsidy Program for Global Innovation Centers, JETRO has supported projects with the promise of bringing high novelty and added value in the IoT or regenerative medicine fields where foreign companies work in collaboration with Japanese companies, universities and organizations. The program assisted with expenses for the establishment of R&D centers, experimental studies and feasibility studies in Japan for the purpose of introducing technologies and products new to the Japanese market.
A number of new products and services to be realized through these projects that combine state-of-the-art technologies of foreign companies and Japanese companies and organizations in various fields—such as medicine, tourism, agriculture, finance, disaster prevention, manufacturing, transportation, communication and architecture—are expected to give birth to true innovation in Japan capable of addressing societal problems (e.g., resolving the labor shortage, improvement of productivity, sophistication of industries and reduction of medical expenses).

Sixteen projects deemed innovative and likely to contribute significant added value were adopted, three of which were the establishment of R&D centers, twelve were experimental studies, and six were feasibility studies.
* Companies that have applied to two or more schemes among the options of 1) establishment of R&D centers, 2) experimental studies and 3) feasibility studies at the same time are counted repeatedly for the total of projects.
* This program was conducted from January 2016 to March 2017 under the 2015 supplementary budget.

Details of each project are as follows.

Subsidy Program for Global Innovation Centers Company list (in Japanese alphabetical order)
No. Company name Nationality of parent company Industrial Field Project category Partners, collaborators, cooperating organizations Contents Details
1 iWave Japan, Inc.External site: a new window will open. India IoT
(Transportation)
Experimental study
  • NIPPON SIGNAL CO., LTD.
Development of a remote railway signal monitoring system via the Internet PDF File(367KB)

2

Agilis GTRI Japan Inc.External site: a new window will open. USA Regenerative medicine Establishment of global innovation center
  • Gene Therapy Research Institution Co., Ltd.
  • Jichi Medical University
Research and development for the production of AAV vectors targeting gene therapy of AADC deficiency and Parkinson's disease PDF File(326KB)
3 Analog Devices, Inc.External site: a new window will open. USA IoT
(Agriculture)
Experimental study
  • CF-K
  • Strawberry farm (Ibaraki Prefecture)
  • Amazon Web Services Japan K.K.
Development of smart agricultural system by sensing technology highly integrated with Japanese farmer's techniques PDF File(408KB)
4 Ericsson Japan K.K.External site: a new window will open. Sweden IoT
(Communication)
Experimental study, feasibility study
  • MARUWA SHOMEI CO.,LTD.
  • Nihon Dengyo Kosaku, Co., Ltd.
Development of LED street light "Zero Site-J" which incorporates wireless and antenna-based signaling PDF File(318KB)
5 Elekta K.K.External site: a new window will open. Sweden IoT
(Medicine)
Feasibility study
  • KDDI CORPORATION
Research on commercialization of a cloud computing system for radiotherapy PDF File(339KB)
6 GE Healthcare Japan CorporationExternal site: a new window will open. USA IoT
(Manufacturing, medicine)
Experimental study
  • Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
  • Okabe Marking Systems Co.,Ltd
  • DAIKO DENSHI TSUSHIN,LTD.
  • Keepdata Ltd.
Improvement of factory productivity and asset optimization in hospitals using industrial IoT platform and sensing technology PDF File(368KB)
7 Siemens Healthcare K.K.External site: a new window will open. Germany

Regenerative

Medicine

Experimental study

  • Kyoto University
Monitoring of regenerative medical treatment by latest 7T-MRI. PDF File(329KB)
8 Skymind Inc.External site: a new window will open. USA IoT
(Finance)
Experimental study
  • Major financial institution
Development of an application to detect fraud in the financial system using AI technology (deep learning) PDF File(377KB)
9 Space-Time Engineering Japan, Inc.External site: a new window will open. USA IoT
(Disaster response)
Experimental study, feasibility study
  • e-trees.Japan, Inc.
  • Kochi Chuo Higashi Public Health and Welfare Office
  • Konan City, Kochi Prefecture
  • University institution
Development of information sharing system utilizing multimedia contents for disaster medical response PDF File(413KB)
10 CENIT Japan,K.K.External site: a new window will open. Germany IoT
(Manufacturing)
Experimental study
  • HIROTEC Corporation
Optimization of factory production line through virtual factory built in cyber space (factory CPS) PDF File(369KB)
11 Laboratory Of Hi-Think CorporationExternal site: a new window will open. China IoT
(Manufacturing, welfare)
Establishment of global innovation center, experimental study, feasibility study
  • Osaka University
  • Kyoto University
  • Mikura Engineering Co., Ltd.
Development of IoT operation system (IPv6, compact high-performance machine learning, a welfare service for the elderly) PDF File(500KB)
12 Pfizer Japan Inc.External site: a new window will open. USA IoT
(Medicine)
Feasibility study
  • NTT Comware Corporation
  • Okayama University
  • Kyoto University
  • IMS Japan K.K.
  • Tobii Technology K.K.
  • F.S.C Inc.
Platform construction based on clinical trial data, drug discovery research and algorithm creation technology through data analysis PDF File(306KB)
13 Philips Japan, Ltd.External site: a new window will open. Netherlands IoT
(Medicine)
Experimental study
  • Nagasaki University
  • Kobe University
  • Computer System Laboratory Co., Ltd.
Development of remote digital pathology report system PDF File(454KB)
14 Philips Japan, Ltd.External site: a new window will open. Netherlands IoT
(Medicine)
Establishment of global innovation center, experimental study
  • Showa University Hospital
  • Showa University Toyosu Hospital
  • NEC Networks & System Integration Corporation
  • Daishin-Giken Co., Ltd.
  • Ryoyo Electro Corporation
Research and development of remote intensive care patient management program PDF File(466KB)
15 LOOP Japan K.K. Canada IoT
(Tourism)
Experimental study
  • Okinawa Prefectural Government (Tourism Promotion Division, Information Industry Promotion Division)
  • Okinawa Convention & Visitors Bureau
  • OKINAWA CREARE Co., LTD.
  • ZERO-SUM,LTD
  • IP Dream Inc.
Development of electric vehicle sharing system with built-in type touch screen display device linking tourist information PDF File(370KB)
16 w00rk LLC.External site: a new window will open. UK IoT
(Architecture)
Feasibility study
  • IMPACT HUB Tokyo
Feasibility study of IoT laboratory function service "IoT OEX" which enables data sharing analysis by tenants PDF File(350KB)

Outline

1. Objective

This subsidy program subsidizes the cost of companies from overseas for setting up innovation centers, experimental studies and feasibility studies (F/S) in collaboration with Japanese companies and other organizations in Japan with the aim of drawing investments and excellent management resources from overseas by promoting location of high value-added sections of overseas companies such as R&D facilities, and making Japan a high value-added hub and innovation base for global value chains.

2. Subsidized Projects

Projects eligible for the subsidy shall be 1. establishment of global innovation centers, 2. experimental studies, or 3. feasibility studies (F/S) in Japan with respect to regenerative medicine or IoT(=Internet of Things).

  1. Establishment of global innovation centers refers to establishment of R&D sites including the accompanied facilities such as manufacturing, sales or administration. However, the relocation and consolidation of existing sites in Japan are not eligible for the subsidy.
  2. Experimental studies refer to experiments being conducted by a foreign company in collaboration with Japanese companies or organizations, such as research and data collection in order to achieve practical application of technologies, products and services in Japan, which are already being put to practical use, or are expected to have practical application in foreign countries, such as the country where the foreign company’s headquarters is located.
  3. Feasibility studies (F/S) refer to activities such as market research conducted by a foreign company in collaboration with Japanese companies or organizations, in order to achieve practical application of technologies, products and services in Japan, which are already being put to practical use, or are expected to have practical application, in foreign countries, such as the country where the foreign company’s headquarters is located.

3. Requirements for the Subsidy : Subsidized projects must satisfy all of the below requirements.

  1. The subsidized company must be a company whose parent company, or ultimate parent company, is a corporation founded or organized under the law of a foreign country and currently engaged in active operations.
  2. The research related to the subsidized project must be connected to regenerative medicine or IoT.
  3. The subsidized company must have favorable prospects of capital or business collaboration with Japanese companies, universities, public research institutions or other organizations.
  4. The investment plan submitted for this subsidy program should not have been announced or commenced before the cabinet decision on the FY2015 Supplementary Budget Plan made on December 18, 2015.

Note: Candidate companies (including branch offices in Japan) do not need to have corporate status in Japan at the time of application for this subsidy program. After the grant notification, however, the companies must have corporate status in Japan by the time they petition for the grant.

4. Categories of Eligible Costs, Subsidy Rates

No. Project category Details Subsidy Rates
1 Establishment of global innovation centers Design, facility purchase and rental, equipment and machinery, construction, surveying and tests, etc. Up to one-third
2 Experimental studies Costs for researchers’ employment, business trips, interpretation and translation, outsourcing, tests, equipment and machinery, etc. Up to two-thirds
3 Feasibility studies(F/S) Costs for researchers’ employment, business trips, interpretation and translation, outsourcing, etc. Fixed amount
(up to JPY 10 million)

5. Application

In principle, the projects shall be completed by Friday, February 3, 2017. (Not only the operations but also all of the related payments shall be completed by the subsidized company.)

(1) Period of Application

Public Announcement: Friday, February 16, 2016 to Friday, October 14, 2016 (12 : 00 p.m. Japan Time)

(2) Application documents

* Application Forms are also available in Japanese : Application Guidelines and Forms (Japanese)

(3) Briefing Session (only in Japanese) (need reservation)

6. Selection Results

Inquiries

Secretariat for Subsidy Program for Global Innovation Centers
Invest Japan Department, JETRO

12-32 Akasaka 1-Chome, Minatoku, Tokyo, 107-6006, JAPAN
Tel: +81-(0)3-3582-5234
E-mail: invest-japan@jetro.go.jp

Reference

IoT Acceleration LabExternal site: a new window will open (website only in Japanese)

A working group (Advanced Model Business Promotion Working Group) established in order to promote leading model project under “IoT Acceleration Consortium” which was set up based on the “Revised Japan Revitalization Strategy (Growth Strategy) 2015 - Revolution in Productivity by Investment in the Future -” (cabinet decision on June 30, 2015) for the promotion of IoT usage and utilization by industry, academia and government beyond the boundaries of the companies and industrial sectors in response to a new age of IoT, big data, and AI (artificial intelligence).

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