This article summarizes 6 subsidy programs for SMEs in FY2026 and their deadlines. It also discusses developments related to wage increases, including the fifth application-round deadline for the Digitalization and AI Adoption Subsidy on 29 September and the sixth-round deadline on 30 October.
The 6 major subsidy programs available to SMEs in FY2026 are the Digitalization and AI Adoption Subsidy, the SME Labor-Saving Investment Subsidy, the New Business Entry and Monozukuri, Commerce and Services Subsidy, the Small Business Sustainability Subsidy, the Business Succession and M&A Subsidy, and the SME Growth Acceleration Subsidy. Each program has its own eligibility requirements and objectives, and an increasing number of programs provide special provisions for wage increases. The latest application schedules vary by program, with deadlines tending to be concentrated in the autumn.
The Digitalization and AI Adoption Subsidy consists of 5 categories: the Standard Category, the Invoice Category, the Security Measures Category, and the Multi-Party Collaboration Category. The subsidy rate is 1/2 for the Standard Category, up to 3/4–4/5 for the Invoice Category, and approximately ¥3.2 billion at maximum for the Multi-Party Collaboration Category. Recent approval rates vary by category, and the latest application schedule should be confirmed through official sources.
The New Business Entry and Monozukuri, Commerce and Services Subsidy has 3 categories: Innovative New Products and Services, New Business Entry, and Global. With the wage-increase special provision, the maximum subsidy may be raised to as much as ¥90 million. The deadline for the first application round is 30 October.
The SME Labor-Saving Investment Subsidy has 2 types: the General Type and the Catalog Order Type. The General Type provides up to ¥80 million, which may be increased to ¥100 million when the wage-increase special provision applies. The Catalog Type provides up to ¥15 million. The eighth application round has opened, with the deadline scheduled for mid-October.
The 15th application round of the Business Succession and M&A Subsidy has closed, and the 16th round is scheduled to be announced at a later date. There are multiple application categories, including subsidies for professional fees such as share transfers and due diligence.