Fukui DX Acceleration Subsidy

(1) Overview: The Fukui DX Acceleration Subsidy (FY 2026) is a Fukui Prefecture program that supports small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Fukui adopting digital tools such as IoT, AI, VR, RPA and cloud services, in order to improve productivity, transform operations, and accelerate digital transformation (DX) within the prefecture. It is administered by the Industrial Labor Department, Management Reform Division of Fukui Prefecture, with secretariat at Urala Communications. (2) Eligibility: Open to SMEs and small-scale businesses headquartered (or domiciled, for sole proprietors) in Fukui and operating production/service hubs within the prefecture. Excluded: 'deemed large enterprises' (1/2+ of shares held by a single large enterprise, etc.), businesses primarily in information & communications, doctors, dentists, midwives, general/public-interest incorporated foundations and associations, medical corporations, religious/school/agricultural cooperatives, social-welfare corporations, would-be founders not yet open, voluntary groups, and NPOs failing both required conditions. (3) Eligible expenses: machinery/system costs (digital tools, sensors, RFID, dedicated software etc.), outsourcing/commissioning (system development and design), expert fees, transport/communication, cloud service usage fees (metered/pay-as-you-go excluded), training, and other approved costs. Excluded: general-use PCs, printers, tablets, smartphones, rent, utilities, vehicle purchase, consumption tax, consumables, etc. (4) Rates, caps, schedule and tips: subsidy rate 2/3 for small-scale businesses, 1/2 for others; floor 300,000 yen, ceiling 4,000,000 yen; total budget 48,000,000 yen. Application period: April 10, 2026 to June 10, 2026 (17:00). Project period: from grant-decision date through January 31, 2027. Two-stage review (paper + interview); evaluation criteria weight 'content/effect' and 'competitive advantage' at x2. Extra points for Fukui DX Promotion Declaration members, Partnership-Building Declaration signatories, wage-raise declarants, and Fukui Carbon Neutral awardees.