[FY R8 Small Business Cooperative Growth Strategy Promotion Program Support Project]

①Overview: The Ibaraki SME Federation subsidizes feasibility studies and follow-up implementation projects by small-business cooperatives to improve existing joint businesses, develop new businesses, incorporate SDGs into existing operations, or build trial limited-period multilingual websites for overseas market development. ②Eligible Applicants: (1) business cooperatives/commerce cooperatives/shopping-district promotion cooperatives where at least 3/4 of direct/indirect members are small businesses (≤5 permanent employees; ≤2 for commerce/service); (2) small business cooperatives and business cooperative companies; (4) their federations where ≥3/4 of total direct/indirect member-cooperative members are small businesses. Requirements: proper management/governance, separated accounting, no other national funding for same project this year. ③Eligible Expenses & Content: Costs for feasibility studies (improvement of existing joint businesses, new business development, SDGs incorporation) and follow-up implementation projects (utilizing FS results, multilingual websites for overseas market development). Payment is on settlement after achievement report; partial advance payment available on request. Post-project reporting required for 5 years on IP and commercialization. Implementation-period and post-project (about 5 years) on-site inspections required. ④Subsidy Rate, Cap, Schedule, and Application Tips: Up to ¥600,000 (excluding tax) per project; 6/10 of total eligible expenses (excluding tax). Payments must be completed by 29 January 2027 (Fri). Three rounds: Round 1: 27 April – 18 May 2026; Round 2: 8 – 29 June; Round 3: 21 July – 24 August. Submit application form, articles of incorporation, recent business/financial reports, current-year business plan and budget, and member roster.