An overview of the calls for applications for 6 subsidy programs available to small and medium-sized enterprises in fiscal 2026. The article covers the Digitalization and AI Adoption Subsidy, Labor-Saving Investment Subsidy, New Business Development, Manufacturing, and Commerce and Services Subsidy, Sustainability Subsidy, Business Succession and M&A Subsidy, and Growth Acceleration Subsidy, with deadlines concentrated in December.
The main subsidies available to small and medium-sized enterprises in fiscal 2026 comprise 6 programs: the Digitalization and AI Adoption Subsidy, Labor-Saving Investment Subsidy, New Business Development, Manufacturing, and Commerce and Services Subsidy, Small Business Sustainability Subsidy, Business Succession and M&A Subsidy, and Small and Medium-sized Enterprise Growth Acceleration Subsidy. The New Business Development, Manufacturing, and Commerce and Services Subsidy is a consolidated framework combining the former New Business Development Subsidy and Manufacturing Subsidy, and some categories are eligible for a wage-increase special provision.
In fiscal 2026, major calls for applications will begin from November onward. The seventh application deadline for the Digitalization and AI Adoption Subsidy is 1 December, the 20th application round for the Small Business Sustainability Subsidy is 15 December, the second application round for the New Business Development, Manufacturing, and Commerce and Services Subsidy is 25 December, and the ninth application round for the general category of the Labor-Saving Investment Subsidy is scheduled for late December. As the deadlines are concentrated, businesses need to accelerate their preparations.
The large number of applications involving wage increases reflects the rise in the fiscal 2026 regional minimum wage to a national weighted average of ¥1,177, as well as higher raw-material and energy costs. The government is strengthening support centered on wage increases, labor saving, digital transformation, and expansion into new fields.
The Business Restructuring Subsidy has ended its calls for new applications. From fiscal 2026 onward, it will be integrated into the New Business Development category, under which the maximum amount, including the wage-increase special provision, may be increased to as much as ¥90 million. Applicants should also understand points requiring attention, including the difference between subsidies and grants, whether multiple programs can be used together, and the application requirements.