March 17, 2025 FY 2024 Supplementary Budget and FY 2025 Initial Budget
Results of the Public Solicitation for Research Management Organizations for the Start-up and Budding Researchers Support Program

　The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) announces that it has publicly solicited research management organizations for the Start-up and Budding Researchers Support Program under the FY2024 supplementary budget and the FY2025 initial budget, and has selected one.

1. Outline of the Program

　The MIC launched the Start-up and Budding Researchers Support Program (hereinafter referred to as the "Program") in FY2023. The Program has provided ongoing support for start-ups aiming to launch or expand their businesses, from the early R&D stage to commercialization. The support includes subsidies for R&D expenses in the ICT field or accompanying support through public-private partnership.
　MIC has publicly solicited research management organizations for the Program (hereinafter referred to as the "Subsidized Entity") and has selected the following candidate for the Subsidized Entity.

2. Selection of Subsidized Entity candidates

　During the Subsidized Entity solicitation period from Monday, January 27, 2025, to Friday, February 28, 2025, one entity submitted an application. Following a thorough evaluation by external experts, the following organization has been selected as a candidate:

・Deloitte Tohmatsu Financial Advisory LLC

3. Future plans

　MIC will accept a subsidy application from the selected Subsidized Entity, review it, and decide whether to grant the subsidy.
　
・April 2025: Decide to grant a subsidy to the Subsidized Entity
・June 2025: Select indirectly subsidized entities.
・March 2025: The indirectly subsidized projects completion

4. Notes

　This public solicitation was conducted prior to the approval of the carry-over of the FY2024 supplementary budget by the Minister of Finance and the enactment of the FY2025 initial budget, to ensure that R&D can begin immediately after the approval or enactment. Therefore, please note that the contents may change in the future.