日本語Startup Support
Fukushima Tech Create
- About Fukushima Tech Create (FTC)
- List of Companies Receiving Support and Pitch Videos
- Contact Us
- Accompanied Support
- Innovation Creation Support Subsidies
- FTC Supporters
- Startup Tour
About Fukushima Tech Create (FTC)
[Held January 31 to February 1, 2024!] Fukushima Tech Create 2024 Results Presentation
The Fukushima Tech Create program in support of entrepreneurship will hold a results presentation during which the 34 selected companies (persons) will make their presentations.
Click here for an overview of the event and to register! Come join us at the event!
Second call for participants in the FY2023 “Fukushima Tech Create” business idea commercialization program. *Reception of applications has closed.
(Deadline: 5:00 p.m. on July 25, 2023)
Call for participants in the FY2023 “Fukushima Tech Create” program.*Reception of applications has closed.
(Deadline: 5:00 p.m. on May 31, 2023)
Fukushima Tech Create was launched out of a desire to expand the number of people from Fukushima (the Hamadori area of Fukushima) who Create (invent or produce) Tech (technology and services).
Three Engines of Support
(1) Guidance support for actualizing ideas and brushing up business plans by professionals with extensive experience in providing support
(2) Financial support for prototype development, market research, and demonstrations through “Innovation Creation Support Subsidies”.
(3) Support for actualizing a business realistically and quickly by FTC supporters
*Innovation Area
Iwaki, Soma, Tamura, Minamisoma, Kawamata, Hirono, Naraha, Tomioka, Kawauchi, Okuma, Futaba, Namie, Katsurao, Shinchi, Iitate
See here for an overview of FTC programs and testimonials from 2021 participants.
*This video covers an overview of the support for FY2022.
List of Companies Receiving Support and Pitch Videos
Here, you will find a list of support recipients from 2020 onward as well as archived videos of pitch events (presentations on efforts aimed at commercialization).
Contact Us
Industrial Cluster Department, Business Creation Support Division
TEL.024-581-7045
Details on Support (the 3 Engines)
Accompanied Support
FTC offers three programs based on the stage a business is in, such as the startup and foundation stages.
Program participants can receive guidance support for actualizing ideas and brushing up business plans from professionals with extensive experience in providing support (business and technical advice related to business plan creation, matching, and developing new markets as well as matching opportunities, etc.).
Participants can also attend innovation creation events that include not only networking events or study sessions on fundraising but also pitch events (presentations on efforts aimed at commercialization) to attract venture capitalists and others to help procure funding and business partners.
Three Programs for Accompanied Support
|
Business Idea Commercialization Program |
A support program for those who want to take on new challenges such as starting a business or developing a new business in one of FIPO’s six priority areas*1 |
|---|---|
|
Community Future-Building Program |
A support program for early-stage companies that want to commercialize their products in one of FIPO’s six priority areas |
|
Commercialization of Leading Technologies |
A support program for those who want to implement in society the results of research conducted at public research institutes and universities in society (participants select the phase that suits them best) |
*The Six Focus Areas of the Fukushima Innovation Coast Framework: Decommissioning; Robots and Drones; Energy, Environment, and Recycling; Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries; Medicine; Aerospace.
Innovation Creation Support Subsidies
FTC will subsidize costs related to prototype development, market research, and demonstrations for participants in the three support programs.
|
Program Name |
Years of Support |
Subsidy Amount Maximum Subsidy Amount |
Subsidy Rate |
Subsidy Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
(1) Business Idea Commercialization Program |
1 year |
3 million yen |
3/4 |
＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿ |
|
Acceleration Program |
1 year |
5 million yen (maximum of 10 million yen if selected to receive the subsidy a second year) |
3/4 |
With regard to the “Innovation Creation Support Subsidies”, for which applications will be accepted after program participants have been selected, the submission of documentation confirming the establishment of a business base in an Innovation Area as of January 2025, such as a copy of corporate registration, rental contract, proof of rent payment, etc., is required to receive the subsidies. Please note that the establishment of a base merely for the residents of representatives or other parties is not accepted. |
|
Commercialization of Leading Technologies Acceleration Program |
each phase 1 year |
each phase 10 million yen |
3/4 |
With regard to the “Innovation Creation Support Subsidies”, for which applications will be accepted after program participants have been selected, the submission of documentation confirming the establishment of a business base in an Innovation Area as of January 2025, such as a copy of corporate registration, rental contract, proof of rent payment, etc., is required to receive the subsidies. Please note that the establishment of a base merely for the residents of representatives or other parties is not accepted. |
*2: A review will be conducted based on the progress and results for that fiscal year at the time of application for the following fiscal year. The implementation of the application and requirements for the following fiscal year and subsequent years have not yet been finalized.
Expenses eligible for subsidies
- Rental & usage fees for business facilities & equipment in Innovation Areas
- Material expenses, etc. (raw materials, consumables)
- Supply expenses (items with a service life of less than 1 year or an acquisition cost of less than 100,000 yen)
- Survey expenses (Costs for test marketing conducted by the company, etc.)
- Travel expenses
- Communication & transport expenses
- Cloud expenses
- Outsourcing expenses
- Personnel expenses (excluding representatives’ portion): Only for the commercialization & mass production phases of the Leading Technology Commercialization Acceleration Program
- Survey expenses (design costs for production & inspection equipment, etc. for mass production demonstration, and design costs for the buildings in which the equipment is installed): Only for the mass production phase of the Leading Technology Commercialization Acceleration Program
Examples of subsidy use
- Rent for incubation facilities relating to prototype production in Innovation Areas.
- Fukushima Robot Test Field usage fees related to prototype performance verification.
- Purchase of supplies, raw materials, and consumables for producing prototypes.
- Transport & travel expenses for equipment to verify the performance of prototypes in Innovation Areas.
- Costs of commissioned research for studying market needs.
- Costs of outsourcing related to defining system requirements and creating plans for the production of prototypes.
- Costs of outsourced fabrication to produce prototypes.
- Costs for professionals, etc. related to enrollment and registration (excluding patent fees and registration & license takes for incorporation & establishment)
FTC Supporters
A number of organizations in Innovation Areas, including government agencies, financial institutions, venture capital, and universities, serve as FTC supporters to assist program participants with the commercialization of their projects (as of April 2023).
FTC Supporters:
| Category | FTC Supporters |
|---|---|
| Government Agencies | ■ Reconstruction Agency ■ METI ■ Fukushima Prefecture ■ Iwaki ■ Soma ■ Tamura ■ Minamisoma ■ Kawamata ■ Hirono ■ Naraha ■ Tomioka ■ Kawauchi ■ Okuma ■ Futaba ■ Namie ■ Katsurao ■ Shinchi ■ Iitate |
| Financial Institution Venture Capital |
■ Development Bank of Japan, Tohoku Branch ■ Japan Finance Corporation (Fukushima Branch, Iwaki Branch) ■ Japan Finance Corporation, Iwaki Branch ■ Toho Bank ■ Abukuma Shinkin Bank ■ Agri-Invest ■ FUNDINNO, Inc. ■ Spurcle Inc. ■ Unicorn, Inc. ■ Fund Creation, Co., Ltd. ■ Nissay Capital Co., Ltd. ■ Ecrowd Inc. ■ Archetype Ventures Inc. ■ iUZ Investment LLC ■ Tohoku University Venture Partners Co., Ltd. |
| Academic Institutions | ■ Tohoku University (New Industry Creation Hatchery Center (NICHe)) ■ Fukushima University ■ University of Aizu ■ College of Engineering, Nihon University ■ Fukushima Medical University ■ National Institute of Technology, Fukushima College |
| Other Support Organizations | ■ Fukushima Soso Reconstruction Corporation ■ National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology Fukushima Renewable Energy Laboratory ■ Japan Atomic Energy Agency ■ National Center for Industrial Property Information and Training ■ Japan Patent Attorneys Association ■ Organization for Small & Medium Enterprises and Regional Innovation, Tohoku Headquarters ■ Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) Fukushima Trade Information Center ■ Guarantee Corporation of Fukushima ■ Fukushima Center For Industrial Promotion ■ Fukushima High-Tech Plaza ■ Fukushima Medical Device Development Support Centre ■ Fukushima Federation of Societies of Commerce and Industry ■ Small Business Association of Fukushima ■ Iwaki Chamber of Commerce and Industry ■ Soma Chamber of Commerce and Industry ■ Haramachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry ■ Iwaki Cooperative Support Network for Industrial and Community Field ■ Yume Support Minamisoma and more ■ Professional University of Information and Management for Innovation |
(as of October 2023)