Yokohama City SME New Technology / New Product Development Promotion Grant (FY2026)

This grant is operated by the City of Yokohama Economic Affairs Bureau as the core scheme of the Yokohama New Technology Development Support Project, with the aim of promoting applied research and development of new technologies and new products by SMEs based in Yokohama, and accelerating commercialization. The current ordinance was originally established on May 12, 2008 and most recently revised on March 31, 2026 (Keimo No.1178). Two project types are eligible: (1) applied research necessary for developing new technology or new products, and (2) development of new technology or new products. Applicants must be SMEs as defined by Article 2(1) of the Small and Medium Enterprise Basic Act, SME cooperatives, or technical research associations. They must have been founded at least 5 years before April 1 of the application year, must have continuously operated a business in Yokohama for at least 1 year, must hold a base for project implementation within the city, and must have no outstanding taxes or debts owed to the city. Filing the Yokohama decarbonization commitment under the June 2024 ordinance is a mandatory new requirement. Group applications based on a joint R&D agreement are also accepted. Eligible expenses under Appended Table 3 cover nine categories: raw materials and auxiliary materials, machinery and equipment, outsourcing and consignment, industrial property rights, technical instruction, cloud usage, direct labor, survey costs, and other costs specifically approved by the mayor. Caps on the calculation basis include 50% of total cost for machinery and outsourcing, 2 million yen for IP rights, 3 million yen for direct labor, and 1 million yen for survey costs. Projects that wholly outsource prototype development or that have equipment purchase as the primary purpose are excluded. The standard subsidy rate is 1/2 of the calculation basis. Through the incentive review by the Yokohama New Technology Development Support Review Committee, projects that especially contribute to the circular economy may be uplifted to 2/3. The maximum subsidy is 10 million yen (10,000 thousand yen). Review criteria include technical value, R&D capability, business viability, market potential, and feasibility of starting sales by the end of the year after next. Applications are filed via the electronic system, mail, or in-person delivery. After completion, beneficiaries submit Form 17 (results report) and Form 19 (settlement report), then receive payment after submitting Form 21 (claim form).