Utilization of Public Grants and Subsidies

In the life sciences field, large-scale grants are substantial. At an early stage, obtaining grants and subsidies is the first choice. Securing grants from organizations like AMED is particularly beneficial for future fundraising from VCs and for collaborations with pharmaceutical companies, so it is advisable to actively pursue them.

Overview

• Government-Affiliated
  • Life Science Focused: AMED
  • For Academia and Startups: JST, NEDO
• Small and Medium Enterprise Agency
  • For Small and Medium Enterprises
• Local Governments
  • For Startups and Small and Medium Enterprises
• Others
  • Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (KAKENHI)

Public Grants
AMED (Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development)

• Program (Project) Introduction: https://www.amed.go.jp/program/index.html
• Public Offering Information Search: https://www.amed.go.jp/koubo/index.html
• AMED Research Compass (AReC): If you are unsure which program to apply for or which field your research falls into, you can consult the centralized public offering consultation service, "AMED Research Compass (AReC)".
• Consultation Desk Link: https://www.amed.go.jp/contact/arec.html

JST (Japan Science and Technology Agency)

• Website: https://www.jst.go.jp/
• List of Publicly Offered Projects: https://www.jst.go.jp/all/jigyou/koubo_list.html
• Main Programs:
  • START (Program for Creating STart-ups from Advanced Research and Technology): Aims to commercialize technology seeds from universities and other institutions by developing business strategies from the pre-startup stage with the support of business promoters.
  • Link: https://www.jst.go.jp/start/
  • SUCCESS (Support Program of Capital Contribution to Early-Stage Companies): Provides capital investment as well as human and technical assistance to venture companies aiming to commercialize R&D results from JST.
  • Link: https://www.jst.go.jp/entre/
  • A-STEP (Adaptable and Seamless Technology Transfer Program through Target-driven R&D): A competitive funding program that seamlessly promotes everything from the discovery to the commercialization of research outcomes (technology seeds) from universities and public research institutions.
  • Link: https://www.jst.go.jp/a-step/

NEDO (New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization)

• Website: https://www.nedo.go.jp/
• StarT!Ps from NEDO: A portal site by NEDO for startups and small to medium-sized enterprises.
• Link: https://startips.nedo.go.jp/
• Inquiry Contact: https://www.nedo.go.jp/qinf/contact.html
• Main Programs:
  • NEP (NEDO Entrepreneurs Program): Publicly recruits entrepreneur candidates with specific technology seeds and provides various forms of support.
    • Link: https://www.nedo.go.jp/content/100943135.pdf
  • Support Program for R&D-oriented Startups:
    • Link: https://www.nedo.go.jp/activities/ZZJP_100091.html
  • STS (Commercialization Support for Seed-stage R&D-oriented Startups):
    • Link: https://www.nedo.go.jp/koubo/CA2_100358.html

Subsidy Information
Monodukuri Subsidy (Manufacturing, Commerce, and Service Subsidy)

• Jurisdiction: Small and Medium Enterprise Agency
• Maximum Subsidy Amount: ¥7.5 million - ¥50 million
• Subsidy Rate: 1/2 - 2/3
• Website: https://portal.monodukuri-hojo.jp/

Medical Device Industry Entry Promotion Grant Program (Tokyo)

• Implementing Organization: Tokyo Metropolitan Small and Medium Enterprise Support Center
• Website: https://www.tokyo-kosha.or.jp/support/josei/medical/index.html
• Medical Device Commercialization Support Grant Program (Covering from development to commercialization)
  • Grant Limit: ¥50 million
  • Grant Rate: Up to 2/3
  • Grant Period: Scheduled from March 1, 2025, to February 28, 2030
• Medical Device Development Start-up Support Grant Program (Available for early-stage development)
  • Grant Limit: ¥5 million
  • Grant Rate: Up to 2/3
  • Grant Period: Scheduled from March 1, 2025, to February 28, 2026

KAKENHI (Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research)

• Overview: This is one of the competitive funding systems for which the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) is the distributing body. It aims to advance all fields of research, from humanities and social sciences to environmental studies, and from basic to applied research, based on the free ideas of researchers.
• Website: https://www.jsps.go.jp/j-grantsinaid/
• KAKENHI Pamphlet: https://www.jsps.go.jp/file/storage/kaken_pamph_j2023/kakenhi2023.pdf
• How to Choose an Application Category: https://www.yodosha.co.jp/kakenhi/contents/web_grant/web_grant01.html

How to Search for Public Grants and Subsidies

• e-Rad (Cross-ministerial R&D Management System)
  • List of Public Offerings: https://www.e-rad.go.jp/offer_list.html
• J-grants (Digital Agency)
  • Search for National and Local Government Subsidies: https://www.jgrants-portal.go.jp/
• InnoHub (under the jurisdiction of METI)
  • Search for Healthcare-related Grant Information: https://healthcare-innohub.go.jp/subsidy

＠K.Kamitani