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 | 中小企業省力化投資補助金 一般型 |
|---|---|
| Level | National · Nationwide |
| Administered by | METI SME Agency / SMRJ |
| Type | Labour-saving / automation / DX capex |
| Maximum amount | ≤5 staff 7.5M (10M); 6–20 15M (20M); 21–50 30M (40M); 51–100 50M (65M); 101+ 80M (100M) |
| Subsidy rate | 1/2; small/turnaround firms 2/3; minimum-wage special 2/3 |
| Who can apply | SMEs |
| Support organisation | No 認定支援機関 |
| How to apply | Dedicated e-system; GビズIDプライム |
| Rounds and deadlines | ~Every 2–3 months. 8th call closed 2026-10-16; 9th call opens early Nov, accepts applications from early Dec, deadline late Dec 2026 |
| Adoption rate | R1 68.5%; R2 60.9%; R3 66.8%; R4 69.3%; R5 61.4% (2,035→1,251, results 2026-06-05) (secondary source) |
Can a foreign-owned company apply?
Japan-incorporated KK/GK (incl. foreign-owned) eligible if within SME capital/employee limits. Excluded as みなし大企業 if one large company owns >=1/2, large companies together own >=2/3, or large-company officers/staff hold >=1/2 of board seats; a foreign parent counts as a large company if BOTH its capital and headcount exceed SME limits. Branches of foreign companies (no Japanese HQ/本店) not eligible. Standard METI wording; confirm in this programme's 公募要領.
Points to note
The highest adoption rates among METI capex subsidies – a strong entry product.
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.