Global Niche Top Subsidy Program (FY Reiwa 8)

This subsidy supports Tokyo-based SMEs holding technologies or products with global business potential. It covers part of the expenses to acquire, maintain, and utilize intellectual property rights (patents, utility models, designs, trademarks, copyrights) overseas, providing continuous and robust support from IP-strategy formulation through implementation. The implementing body is the Tokyo Intellectual Property Center of the Tokyo SME Support Center. Both jGrants e-application and paper document submission via recorded mail are required. Eligible applicants are SMEs or SME associations (cooperatives under the SME Cooperative Act) with a registered head office, branch, or principal place of business in Tokyo that have substantively operated in Tokyo for at least one year as of April 1, 2026, in which large enterprises do not substantively participate in management. General incorporated associations/foundations, medical corporations, school corporations, and religious corporations are not eligible. Applicants must also have received recognition, an award, subsidy, or support under one of 37 designated Tokyo or Kosha programs between April 1, 2021 and March 31, 2026. Eligible expenses include filing/registration/examination/appeal fees, translation, domestic and local agent fees, intermediate-processing costs (opinions, amendments), IP-litigation insurance, infringement investigation, counterfeit removal at overseas exhibitions, customs interdiction of counterfeits, and prior-art search fees for foreign filings of patents, utility models, designs, trademarks, and copyrights. Domestic Japanese filings, PCT national-phase entry into Japan, related-company transactions, joint-applicant transactions, domestic consumption tax, litigation costs, and out-of-period maintenance annuities are excluded. The subsidy rate is up to 1/2 of eligible expenses; the ceiling is 10 million yen (cumulative over three periods). The subsidy period runs from April 1, 2026 to a maximum of December 31, 2028 (2 years 9 months), divided into three fiscal-year segments. Applications are accepted from June 16, 2026 (Tue) through 17:00 on July 15, 2026 (Wed). A GBizID Prime account is required for jGrants. After document and interview screening, grant decisions are expected in early December 2026. Each SME may receive only one decision per fiscal year; payment is lump-sum after completion, with five years of annual utilization reports thereafter.