March 17, 2026 FY 2025 Supplementary Budget and FY 2026 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 FY2025 supplementary budget and the FY2026 initial budget, and has selected one.

1. Purpose of Program

　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 "Directly Subsidized Entity") and has selected the following candidate for the Directly Subsidized Entity.

2. Selection of Directly Subsidized Entity Candidates

　During the Directly Subsidized Entity solicitation period from Monday, February 2, 2026, to Friday, March 6, 2026, one entity submitted an application. Based on the results of a thorough evaluation by external experts, the following organization has been selected as a candidate:

• KADOKAWA ASCII Research Laboratories, Inc.

3. Future Plans

　MIC will accept a subsidy application from the selected Directly Subsidized Entity, review it, and decide whether to grant the subsidy.

• April 2026：Decide to grant a subsidy to the Directly Subsidized Entity
• June 2026：Select indirectly subsidized entities.
• March 2027：Complete the indirectly subsidized projects.

4. Notes

　This public solicitation was conducted prior to the approval of the carry-over of the FY2025 supplementary budget by the Minister of Finance and the enactment of the FY2026 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.