Digital Human Resources Development Support Subsidy (Yamaguchi)

1) Overview: The Yamaguchi Industrial Development Foundation (Yamaguchi-ken) provides this subsidy to support DX (Digital Transformation) and GX (Green Transformation) in SMEs by partially reimbursing costs when employees attend short-term private training on digital technologies such as IoT, AI, big data, RPA, and on carbon-neutral / ESG topics. The scheme is operated under Yamaguchi Prefecture's SME DX Promotion Program. 2) Eligible applicants: SMEs (chusho kigyo-sha as defined by the SME Basic Act) that have a business establishment within Yamaguchi Prefecture and fall under one of the eligible industries listed in the annex (construction; designated manufacturing sub-classes; transport & postal; wholesale & retail; scientific/technical services; accommodation/food services; lifestyle-related services & amusement; healthcare/welfare; other services). Applicants must have no prefectural tax arrears, must not be engaged in adult entertainment businesses, and must not be related to organized crime groups. 3) Eligible expenses & content: Two tracks. (a) General track - dispatching employees to external training; eligible costs are tuition and teaching materials. (b) Invited-instructor track - inviting an external instructor in-house; eligible costs are honoraria and travel. Training must aim to develop human resources in DX (IoT/AI/big data/RPA etc.) or GX (carbon-neutral/ESG etc.), last at least 3 hours per day, must not be a Foundation-run training, and must be taken on or after the grant decision date. 4) Rate, cap, schedule & application points: Subsidy rate is up to 3/10. Per-unit cap is JPY 30,000 per trainee (general) or per session (invited instructor). Per-company annual cap is JPY 150,000. Application period: 2026-04-24 to 2027-01-31 on a rolling basis; closes when budget is exhausted. Project implementation must finish by 2027-02-28. Applications use Form #1 submitted to the Foundation's Director. Expenses paid before the grant decision are NOT eligible.