Checked against the official page on 2026-10-20. Part of Oak’s directory of Japanese business grants.
Before you apply
- The money is not up front. You pay for the whole project yourself. The grant reimburses a share of it (often half to two-thirds) after a completion report has been checked, typically 6 to 18 months after applying.
- Do not spend before approval. Costs ordered, contracted or paid before the official grant decision (交付決定) are usually not eligible.
- Competitive and strict. Business plans are scored against other applicants and many are rejected. Eligibility rules on company size, ownership and tax compliance are applied to the letter.
- Obligations continue after payment. Reports for up to five years, inspections, and targets in your plan. Missing them can mean repaying part or all of the grant.
| Japanese name | 中堅・中小・スタートアップ企業の賃上げに向けた省力化等の大規模成長投資補助金 |
|---|---|
| Level | National · Nationwide |
| Administered by | METI Regional Economic Policy Div.; secretariat (NRI → dedicated office) |
| Type | Large capex / factories |
| Maximum amount | 5,000,000,000 |
| Subsidy rate | ≤1/3 |
| Who can apply | Companies with ≤2,000 regular employees (中堅・中小), and startups (≤20 yrs old with VC/CVC shareholders). Investment ≥¥2bn (≥¥1.5bn for 100億宣言 firms). Consortia of up to 10 allowed |
| Support organisation | None |
| How to apply | Dedicated system (secondary source) |
| Rounds and deadlines | 5th call 2026-02-27 to 03-27 (198 applications; results 2026-05-18); 6th call 2026-07-31 to 08-31 (163 valid applications; first-stage results 2026-09-30) |
| Adoption rate | 5th: 198→77 (~39%, secondary source) |
Can a foreign-owned company apply?
みなし大企業 excluded (official site). Same ownership tests apply, so a foreign-owned group above the 2,000-employee line, or a subsidiary of one, is out. Must invest in Japan.
Points to note
R7補正 4,121億円 including a new ¥200bn fund, about ¥100bn reserved for 100億宣言 firms. Wage condition: per-head pay +5.0%/yr (4.5% for 100億宣言 firms) for 3 yrs, with repayment if missed. FY2027 request rebrands it as サプライチェーン形成支援補助金 (2,376億円).
How Oak can help
Oak is a licensed gyoseishoshi (administrative scrivener) firm. We check eligibility before you spend time on an application, help set up the GビズID Prime account most programmes require, prepare and organise the supporting documents within the programme's rules, and handle the reporting that follows an award.