Subsidy Program for Global Innovation Centers

Feb 18, 2016

JETRO has started accepting the application of Subsidy Program for Global Innovation Centers.

Period of Application: Tuesday, February 16, 2016 to Friday, September 9, 2016 (entry must arrive by 12:00 p.m. Japan Time)

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.

Outline　(Please see the Application Guidelines for more details.)

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Categories of Eligible Costs, Subsidy Rates
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)
4. Project Period
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.)

Application

1. Period of Application
Public Announcement: Friday, February 16, 2016 to Friday, September 9, 2016 (12:00 p.m. Japan Time)
Period for Acceptance of Application Forms: (first deadline) Thursday, March 10, 2016 (12:00 p.m. Japan Time)
* Several screenings are scheduled through the middle of September 2016. (second deadline: Friday, May 13, 2016, third deadline: Friday, July 8, 2016, fourth deadline: Friday, September 9, 2016.)
2． Application
Please download the Appication Guidelines and Application Forms from below.  After filling in the forms, send by mail or bring in directly to JETRO (see below).  FAX or E-mail is not accepted. 

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

3. Briefing Session (only in Japanese) (need reservation)
Due to the size of the venue, number of people from each group shall be one or two. Reservation is on a first-come and first-served basis.
Date Venue Capacity Reservation
Tokyo Session Wednesday, February 24 , 2016
Briefing:10:00-11:00
Individual consultation:11:00-13:00 		IBSC Hall, 7th floor of JETRO Tokyo 70 seats Reserve for Tokyo Session
Osaka Session Monday, February 29 , 2016
Briefing:14:00-15:00
Individual consultation:15:00-16:30 		Meeting Room, JETRO Osaka 40 seats Reserve for Osaka Session
*Directions to the venue will be sent to the registered e-mail address.
*After a briefing session, individual consultation will be held (20 minutes each, for the first ten groups). Reservation can be made by phone call.

Application/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

Application forms should be sent or brought in directly to JETRO (General Information Desk at 6th floor) .  FAX or e-mail is not accepted.

Reference

IoT Acceleration Lab (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).