July 11, 2025 Implementing a Nationwide Accelerator Program to Create ICT Startups from Local Communities
- Holding of Entrepreneurs’ Koshien and Entrepreneurs’ Expo for FY 2025 and Implementation of Regional Qualifying Events

　To support the business expansion of ICT startups from local communities, the MIC and the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) will implement the "Nationwide Accelerator Program" for FY2025.
　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 Tuesday, March 10, and the "Entrepreneurs’ Expo" will be held on Wednesday, March 11, 2026.

1. Background and purpose

　Aiming to solve regional issues and stimulate regional economies through the creation of ICT startups from local communities*1, the MIC and NICT have been implementing the "Nationwide Accelerator Program" every year. The Program aims to discover and foster next-generation ICT human resources*2, and also supports the business expansion of ICT startups from local communities.
*1 Startups establishing ICT business in local communities
*2 Students interested in ICT business, including junior high school, high school, technical college, vocational school, university, and graduate students.
　In 2022, the government formulated the 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 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

　In the Nationwide Accelerator Program, NICT ICT mentors*3 provide next-generation ICT professionals and promising regional ICT startups identified through regional qualifying events with mentoring opportunities, and help them improve their business plans. This support enables students and young entrepreneurs selected from across the country to advance to the final stage of the Accelerator Program—"Entrepreneur’s Koshien" (for students) and "Entrepreneur’s Expo" (for young entrepreneurs)—where they present their business plans.
* 3: People active in the ICT industry or venture capitalists invited by the NICT.
　Particularly promising entrepreneurs will be given an opportunity to participate in a major domestic exhibition.

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

(2) Entrepreneur’s Koshien and Expo
　The presenter of the best business plan at the "Entrepreneurs’ Koshien" or "Entrepreneurs’ Expo" will be granted the "Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Award." The dates and venues for this year's events are scheduled as follows:

Date: Entrepreneurs’ Koshien - Tuesday, March 10, 2026

Date: Entrepreneurs’ Expo - Wednesday, March 11, 2026

Venue: Marunouchi Building Hall & Conference Square
(7F and 8F, Marunouchi Building, 2-4-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-City, Tokyo)

　More details will be announced as the event dates approach.