[Shimane] FY2026 SME Overseas Expansion Support Subsidy (Foreign IP Application Support)

(1) Overview: Implemented by Shimane Industrial Promotion Foundation as an indirect subsidy under METI's national "SME Overseas Expansion Support Subsidy (Foreign IP Application Support)" framework, this program helps Shimane-based SMEs offset the cost of filing patents, utility models, designs and trademarks abroad to protect their products, technologies and brands and accelerate overseas expansion. (2) Eligible applicants: SMEs (including business cooperatives, chambers of commerce, NPOs) with a place of business in Shimane Prefecture that have already filed a corresponding application (patent/utility model incl. PCT, design, trademark) with the Japan Patent Office. Excluded are "deemed large enterprises" (>=1/2 owned by one large enterprise, >=2/3 owned by multiple, >=1/2 directors crossing with a large enterprise, 100% owned by a JPY500M+ capital entity, or with avg taxable income >JPY1.5B over the last 3 years) and any entity falling under the organized-crime exclusion clause. (3) Eligible expenses & content: Foreign patent office filing fees, local agent fees, domestic agent fees and translation costs are covered. Filing routes include Paris Convention priority, PCT national-phase entry, Madrid Protocol and Hague Agreement. The application must show a credible chance of obtaining foreign rights based on prior-art search, and filing/payment to the foreign office or agent must be completed by 2027-02-26. JPO fees and any work begun before grant decision are excluded. (4) Rate, cap, schedule, application notes: Subsidy rate is up to 1/2 of eligible costs; ceiling is JPY3M per company per fiscal year, with per-case caps of JPY1.5M (patent), JPY600K (utility/design/trademark) and JPY300K (anti-squat trademark). Seven open-call rounds run from May 11 to Nov 30, 2026 (closes when budget exhausted). First screening committee on June 9, 2026 at Techno-Arc Shimane. Wage-raising firms and work-life-balance certified firms get bonus points. jGrants e-application is accepted but confidential documents must also be mailed.