July 12, 2024
Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC)
National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) Implementing a “Nationwide Accelerator Program” to Create ICT Startups from Local Communities
- Cooperation Holding of Entrepreneurs’ Koshien and Entrepreneurs’ Expo for FY 2024 -

 To support the business expansion of ICT startups from local communities, the MIC and NICT will implement a "Nationwide Accelerator Program" for FY 2024.
 The final outcomes from the Accelerator Program will be presented at the "Entrepreneurs’ Koshien" and the "Entrepreneurs’ Expo," where students and young entrepreneurs selected from all over Japan will showcase their business plans. The "Entrepreneurs’ Koshien" will be held on Thursday, March 13, and the "Entrepreneurs’ Expo" will be held on Friday, March 14, 2025.

1. Background and purpose

 Aiming to solve regional issues and stimulate regional economy through the creation of ICT startups from local communities, the MIC and NICT have been implementing the "Nationwide Accelerator Program." The Program aims to discover and foster next-generation ICT human resources who are interested in ICT-based businesses, such as junior high school students, high school students, technical college students, university students, and graduate students. It also supports the business expansion of ICT startups from local communities.
 In 2022, the government formulated a Five-year Startup Development Plan, with the goal of increasing investment in startups by 10 times or more in five years as a joint effort of the public and private sectors. The MIC and NICT have long collaborated with the public and private sectors to create an ecosystem that fosters startups. This year, we will also implement the "Nationwide Accelerator Program" to help achieve the government's goal.

2. Nationwide Accelerator Program

 The "Nationwide Accelerator Program" invites ICT industry professionals and venture capitalists as ICT mentors to identify promising entrepreneurs, guide them, and refine their business plans in regional cooperation competitions. Students and young entrepreneurs thus selected from all over Japan will showcase their business plans at the "Entrepreneurs’ Koshien" (for students) and the "Entrepreneurs’ Expo" (for young entrepreneurs). These events serve as platforms for presenting the outcomes of the Program.
 Particularly promising entrepreneurs will be given an opportunity to participate in a major domestic exhibition.

 (1) Cooperation competition
  Those who wish to participate in the "Nationwide Accelerator Program" are encouraged to apply for a cooperation competition to be held in their respective areas. For those living in an area where no cooperation competition is held, we plan to accept applications via the web without requiring participation in a cooperation competition.
  For more information, please visit the NICT website "ICT Startup Support Center" (https://www.nict.go.jp/venture/).

 (2) Entrepreneurs’ Koshien and Expo
  The presenter of the best business plan at the "Entrepreneurs’ Koshien" or "Entrepreneurs’ Expo" will be granted the "Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications Award." The dates and venues for this year's events are scheduled as follows:
  Date: Entrepreneurs’ Koshien - Thursday, March 13, 2025
     Entrepreneurs’ Expo - Friday, March 14, 2025
  Venue: Marunouchi Building Hall & Conference Square
     (7F and 8F, Marunouchi Building, 2-4-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo)

 More details will be announced as the event dates approach.
 * The "Entrepreneurs’ Koshien" and the "Entrepreneurs’ Expo" are registered trademarks of the NICT.