Chino City (Nagano) New Product Development Subsidy

(1) Overview: Chino City (Nagano Pref.) New Product Development Subsidy helps city-based SMEs develop new products using local or tourism resources to revitalize the region. Part of necessary costs is subsidized within budget under the city's Grant Guidelines. (2) Eligible Recipients: SMEs (and equivalents) with main office in Chino City. Excluded: applicants receiving/seeking similar subsidies from the city's New Tech R&D Subsidy or national/prefectural sources; municipal-tax delinquents or non-filers; businesses against public order; organized-crime members per the Anti-Boryokudan Act. (3) Eligible Expenses: Two project types — (i) products using local resources (soba, agar, highland vegetables, hozuki, gentian); (ii) products using tourism resources (Yatsugatake, Jomon, Venus Line, Mishaka Pond, Tateshina). Products must target consumers, be high quality, marketable, innovative vs existing items, and comply with the Food Sanitation Act. Covered: raw/supporting materials; purchase, prototyping, improvement, installation, lease or repair of machinery/tools; outsourced processing; technical guidance; packaging design; other costs the mayor approves. Production equipment excluded. (4) Rate/Cap/Schedule: Up to 1/2 of eligible expenses, capped at 300,000 yen (rounded down to 1,000 yen). Submit Plan Notification (Form 1) BEFORE starting; develop; submit Grant Application (Form 4) with receipts, project evidence and tax certificate; review committee decides; on Decision Notice (Form 5) submit Payment Request (Form 6); subsidy paid. Form 2 for major changes; Form 3 for cancellation.