PMO AwardTM 2026 Decides to Hold, Accepting Applications to Recognize Excellent PMO Activities Connecting Transformation to Results

PMO AwardTM 2026

The Nippon Project Management Office Association (NPMO) (Location: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Akifumi Kitayama), an organization dedicated to promoting project management in Japan and the widespread adoption of PMOs that support its sound dissemination, is pleased to announce the "PMO AwardTM 2026 (PMO AWARDTM 2026)" to recognize outstanding PMO (Project Management Office) activities, and has begun accepting applications.

This award aims to shed light on PMO activities that have created value for organizations and society, and to contribute to the increased recognition and status of PMOs, as well as the development of project management, by broadly disseminating these initiatives to society.

Projects undertaken by companies and organizations, such as DX, AI utilization, business process reform, new business development, and organizational transformation, are becoming increasingly complex year by year. In this context, the role of PMOs in driving project success is evolving beyond mere progress management and secretariat functions to more critical management functions, including cross-organizational coordination, governance, quality management, human resource development, and decision-making support.

On the other hand, there are many cases where PMO activities create significant value for organizations and projects, but their results and expertise are not fully communicated internally or externally.

The "PMO AwardTM 2026" seeks and recognizes excellent PMO activities that connect transformation to results.

Recipients will be awarded a certificate of commendation from the Nippon Project Management Office Association, and will be able to use a dedicated recipient logo in their internal and external activities. Furthermore, the award results will be officially announced on the NPMO website and through its public relations media, providing an opportunity to externally promote one's own PMO activities.

Applications are free of charge. We welcome applications from a wide range of individuals and groups, including companies, organizations, civic groups, NPOs, schools, local governments, individuals, and groups.

Details about the "PMO AwardTM 2026," the application form, a "Draft Application Form" to help organize application content, and past award examples can be found on the following special website:

Special Website: https://www.npmo.org/pmo-award-2026

About the "PMO AwardTM 2026"

The "PMO AwardTM (PMO AWARDTM)" is an award aimed at promoting best practices in PMO activities and supporting the development of PMOs by recognizing outstanding PMO activities.

Furthermore, through this award, we aim to share success stories related to PMOs, further enhance knowledge, skills, and capabilities related to PMOs, and broadly raise awareness of the importance of PMOs, thereby improving the recognition and status of PMOs in each company, organization, and individual.

PMOs play a crucial role in increasing the probability of project success by establishing systems, visualizing information, aligning stakeholders' perceptions, supporting decision-making, and enhancing the execution capabilities of the entire organization.

This award will broadly solicit valuable PMO activities and share excellent initiatives with society.

Why are PMOs attracting attention now?

In recent years, projects undertaken by companies and organizations have shifted from those completed within a single department to those involving complex interdependencies between multiple departments, external partners, management, customers, and societal issues.

For themes with significant change, such as DX, AI utilization, business process reform, new business development, human capital management, sustainability, and regional revitalization, the existence of PMOs that structurally support projects, connect stakeholders, and advance decision-making becomes increasingly important.

PMOs are not merely management functions.

They are "transformation execution platforms" that establish systems to prevent projects from going astray, align stakeholders' perceptions, visualize risks, and support the creation of results.

The "PMO AwardTM 2026" will share such valuable PMO activities with society and support the development of project management in various organizations, including companies, organizations, local governments, educational institutions, and NPOs.

Application Categories

We are seeking best practices that have created value and results for organizations and society in one or a combination of the following PMO activity areas:

Creation of value through the establishment, modification, or enhancement of PMO organizations

Creation of value through project-related education for or by PMOs

Creation of value through the setting of PMO organizational goals or KPIs

Creation of value through the development of tools and other resources related to project management by PMOs

Creation of value through the establishment of project management governance or guidelines by PMOs

Creation of value through other unique PMO activities

Target PMO activities are based on performance information from July 2023 onwards, within the past three years.

Here, "value" means having solved or improved a problem, or having enhanced an existing state.

We encourage applications for the following PMO activities

Some may think that only large-scale initiatives are eligible for application, but this award emphasizes the value and changes generated by PMO activities, not just their scale.

For example, the following initiatives are eligible for application:

Visualized project progress, issues, and risks, leading to faster decision-making

Established, reorganized, or strengthened PMO organizations, enhancing project推進力 (project promotion capabilities)

Developed internal project management education, contributing to human resource development

Established project management tools, templates, and guidelines

Undertook coordination functions for projects spanning multiple departments

Supported the promotion of projects such as DX, AI, new business development, and business process reform

Contributed to project promotion in local governments, educational institutions, NPOs, and community activities

...and more

Please also use this award as an opportunity to reflect on your own company's or organization's PMO activities.

Eligibility

Companies, organizations, civic groups, NPOs, schools, local governments, individuals, and groups that meet the following requirements can apply:

Age, gender, occupation, and nationality are not considered.

Ability to apply using the application form specified by this award

Ability to respond to questions, hearings, and interviews from our association for evaluation purposes

Agreement to share application content or interview content on our association's website or public relations media, with prior coordination with our association, in the event of receiving an award.

It is possible for the same company, organization, individual, or group to apply multiple times for different themes or activities.

However, if multiple companies or organizations are involved in the same project, multiple companies or organizations cannot apply under a joint name or duplicate application for the same PMO activity. In such cases, please designate one company or organization as the representative applicant, or have each company or organization apply separately as distinct best practices based on different PMO activities, roles, and achievements. If there are special circumstances, please contact us in advance through the inquiry form on the special website.

Application Period/Schedule

● July-August 2026 Application period via application form Application deadline: August 31, 2026, 6:00 PM

● September 2026 First-round screening by evaluation committee members, and additional interviews with applicants as necessary

● October 2026 Final evaluation and decision of award recipients

● November-mid-December 2026 Award ceremony, announcement of award recipients on website and through public relations

Application Fee

Free

Number of Awards/Award Categories

The "PMO AwardTM 2026" will award a maximum of 3 entries, depending on the content of the applications and the achievements of the activities.

If there is only one award recipient, that recipient will be designated as the "Grand Prize" winner.

If there are two or three award recipients, the recipient with the most outstanding achievements will be designated as the "Grand Prize" winner, and the other recipients will be designated as "Excellence Award" winners.

Furthermore, if unique or highly socially valuable initiatives are identified during the screening process that cannot be adequately evaluated within the initial award categories, a "Special Award" may be established as an award category below the Excellence Award to appropriately recognize them.

Benefits for Award Recipients

Award recipients of this award will receive or be able to utilize the following:

A certificate of commendation for outstanding PMO activities will be awarded by the Nippon Project Management Office Association.

The logo, exclusively awarded to PMO AwardTM (PMO AWARDTM) recipients, can be used in internal and external business activities.

Outstanding PMO activities of award recipients will be officially announced by the NPMO through its website and public relations.

Recipients can use this opportunity to externally promote their PMO activities and enhance the presence of PMOs within their organizations.

Past Award Examples

In past PMO Awards, diverse PMO activities from companies, educational institutions, and the IT/DX domain have been recognized.

In fiscal year 2025, Japan Tobacco Inc. received the Grand Prize for "Establishment of a Strategic PMO Structure and Success of Large-Scale Projects through the Introduction of a Global PM Framework."

Additionally, JP Digital Inc. received an Excellence Award for "Balancing Governance and Quality with an Agile PMO Supporting DX Promotion," and Systena Co., Ltd. IT Management Business Division PMO Service Business Unit received an Excellence Award for "Improving Service Quality and Organizational Strength through the Transformation of the PMO Human Resource Development System."

Furthermore, Eikei University of Hiroshima Prefecture received a Special Award for "Building a Practical Project Promotion Model for Industry-Academia-Government Collaboration by a University PMO."

These examples demonstrate that PMOs are demonstrating value in various fields, including large-scale projects, DX promotion, human resource development, and industry-academia-government collaboration.

Details of past recipients and award contents can be viewed on the PMO AwardTM 2026 special website.

Special Website: https://www.npmo.org/pmo-award-2026

How to Apply

Applications are accepted through the "Application Form" on the PMO AwardTM 2026 special website.

Special Website: https://www.npmo.org/pmo-award-2026

Since the application form does not have a save function, we recommend downloading the "Draft Application Form" from the special website in advance and organizing your application content before filling it out.

Even if you are unsure whether your company's initiative is eligible, please consider applying if it is a PMO activity that has created value or results for projects or the organization.

Comment from Akifumi Kitayama, Representative Director, Nippon Project Management Office Association

Projects are an important means of realizing change in companies and society. And PMOs play a crucial role in connecting these projects to results.

PMO activities go beyond mere progress management and meeting operations. They are important management functions that visualize organizational issues, align stakeholders' perceptions, support decision-making, and create systems to move projects forward. We believe that the widespread adoption of PMOs will greatly contribute not only to organizational growth but also to the improvement of value for Japan as a whole.

The PMO AwardTM is an initiative to recognize such excellent PMO activities and share them widely with society.

We sincerely look forward to receiving applications from companies, organizations, local governments, schools, NPOs, and individuals for PMO activities that have improved organizations and society in fiscal year 2026.

About the Nippon Project Management Office Association

The Nippon Project Management Office Association (NPMO) is dedicated to promoting project management in Japan and the widespread adoption of PMOs that support its sound dissemination.

Through educational and training programs, certification programs, membership services, and e-publishing related to PMOs and project management, we are working to improve knowledge, skills, and capabilities related to project management and PMOs.

Corporate Name: Nippon Project Management Office Association English Name: Nippon Project Management Office Association Abbreviation: NPMO

Established: March 4, 2014 Location: 6-4 Nihonbashi Tomizawa-cho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo Representative: Representative Director Akifumi Kitayama Website: https://www.npmo.org/

Inquiries Regarding This Matter

Inquiries regarding the "PMO AwardTM 2026" are accepted through the "Inquiries/Questions" form at the bottom of the special website.

Special Website: https://www.npmo.org/pmo-award-2026