5th Call for Applications for the Small and Medium M&A Research and Education Center Grant: Theme 'M&A for SMEs'

Nippon M&A Center Holdings Co., Ltd. (hereinafter, the Company; Head Office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President and Representative Director: Taku Miyake) and Kobe University Graduate School of Business Administration (Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture; Dean: Ryuta Suzuki) have jointly established the Small and Medium M&A Research and Education Center (located in Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture; Director: Hiroshi Uchida) within the graduate school. The Center implements the 'Small and Medium M&A Research and Education Center Grant' with the aim of fostering researchers in SME M&A, returning academic research results to society, and contributing to the revitalization of the Japanese economy and the resolution of social issues.

We are pleased to announce the start of applications for the '5th Small and Medium M&A Research and Education Center Grant,' consisting of two categories: the Prize Paper Division and the Research Grant Division, targeting universities and graduate schools nationwide.

Background of the 5th Call

Small and medium enterprises play a vital role in the Japanese economy. However, they face various challenges such as aging management, business continuity risks due to lack of successors, and declining profitability due to business maturation, forcing business model restructuring. To solve these issues, it is necessary to build mechanisms for smooth third-party succession in addition to family succession, and to develop existing businesses further while creating new businesses that can become the next pillars.

M&A is one means to achieve this, but most SME M&A transactions are not publicly disclosed, and academic research has been scarce. In April 2025, the M&A Research Society was established as a general incorporated association, finally laying the foundation for SME M&A research.

In 2022, the Company signed an industry-academia collaboration agreement with Kobe University Graduate School of Business Administration to promote research and education on SME M&A. To advance this collaboration, the Small and Medium M&A Research and Education Center (MAREC) was established within the graduate school, promoting joint research on SME M&A. We also launched the 'Small and Medium M&A Research and Education Center Grant.' Through research funding, we aim to increase the number of researchers involved in SME M&A, return academic results to society, and contribute to revitalizing the Japanese economy and solving social issues.

In previous grants, the Prize Paper Division awarded 3 gold, 2 silver, and 3 bronze prizes, while the Research Grant Division adopted 26 projects.

We look forward to many applications from across the country for this year's call.

[Application Guidelines for the 5th Small and Medium M&A Research and Education Center Grant]

https://b.kobe-u.ac.jp/marec/support.html

[Prize Paper Division]

・Theme: 'M&A for SMEs' (Paper title can be set freely)

・Languages: Japanese, English

・Eligibility: Undergraduate and graduate students (master's programs, including professional degree programs) as of April 1, 2026.

Individual or groups of up to 3 people. (Multiple applications not allowed: regardless of being the representative or co-author, only one application per person)

*For groups, a representative must be designated, consent must be obtained from all co-authors, and roles must be clarified.

・Submission format: Word file, approximately 5-10 pages (including figures and tables)

・Awards and prizes: Gold prize (1 group): 200,000 yen; Silver prize (2 groups): 100,000 yen; Bronze prize (3 groups): 50,000 yen.

Company visits for all winners

・Schedule:

Application start: Saturday, August 1, 2026

Application deadline: Tuesday, December 15, 2026

Review notification: Late January 2027 (individual contact)

Winner site visits: February-March 2027

・Application: Please apply according to the guidelines.

Download the application form (and 'Prize Paper Application Consent Form' if there are co-authors) from the official website.

[Research Grant Division]

・Theme: 'M&A for SMEs' (Research topic can be set freely)

・Languages: Japanese, English

・Eligibility: Graduate students (doctoral programs (latter half)), postdoctoral researchers (research fellows), and faculty members under 40 years of age as of April 1, 2026.

*Must be affiliated with a university or research institution between October 1, 2026 and September 30, 2027. (This does not apply to co-researchers.)

(Multiple applications not allowed: regardless of being the applicant or co-researcher, only one application per person)

*For joint research, consent must be obtained from all co-researchers and roles clarified. If any change from the submitted application (change of affiliation, leave of absence, withdrawal, graduation, retirement, etc.) or interruption of research occurs, the applicant must immediately notify.

・Research funding limit: Up to 1 million yen per project (no limit on number of adopted projects)

・Research period: October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027 (set your research period within this range)

・Schedule:

Application start: Saturday, August 1, 2026

Application deadline: Wednesday, August 19, 2026

Review notification: Late August 2026 (individual contact)

・Research outcome report (Research Outcome Report (Form F-1), Financial Report (Form F-2)): Submit by the end of the research period.

・Research outcome presentation meeting: Scheduled for February 2028

・Paper submission deadline: Friday, March 31, 2028

By the end of April 2028, register and submit the paper to the Small and Medium M&A Research and Education Center's Working Paper or Discussion Paper.

After 2028, must enter the 'Paper Contest' planned by the Center.

・Application: Please apply according to the guidelines.

Download the application form (and 'Research Grant Application Consent Form' if there are co-researchers) from the official website.

[Application Guidelines for the 5th Small and Medium M&A Research and Education Center Grant]

https://b.kobe-u.ac.jp/marec/support.html

[Contact for the 5th Small and Medium M&A Research and Education Center Grant]

Small and Medium M&A Research and Education Center, c/o Kobe University Graduate School of Business Administration

marec@b.kobe-u.ac.jp (Hours: 9:00-17:00)

The Nippon M&A Center Group celebrated its 35th anniversary in April 2026.

Positioning the 35th anniversary as an opportunity for a 'second founding,' we continue to strengthen our business foundation and enhance the value we provide, aiming for further growth.

[Nippon M&A Center Holdings Co., Ltd. (Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime: 2127)]

Company name: Nippon M&A Center Holdings Co., Ltd.

Head office: 24th Floor, Tekko Building, 1-8-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

Business description: Management of group companies, etc.

Established: April 1991

Bases: Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, Sapporo, Okinawa, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand (including bases of Nippon M&A Center, a local subsidiary and consolidated subsidiary)

[Contact for this matter]

Nippon M&A Center Holdings Co., Ltd. Public Relations pr@nihon-ma.co.jp