Subsidy Flash Survey: Subsidies Covering Personnel Costs Now Available for Capital Investments
Subsidy Flash, an AI-powered search service, surveyed 193 new subsidy programs opened for application between April 19-25, 2026. The findings reveal 18 subsidies that cover personnel costs in addition to capital investments, offering opportunities for SMEs and sole proprietors to reduce their financial burden.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 30, 2026 at 19:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 30, 2026 at 10:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 30, 2026 at 19:30 (8h 58m after Collected)
Subsidy Flash (https://hojokin-kensaku.jp/), an AI-powered service that allows users to search for subsidies and grants nationwide, analyzed 193 new public offering programs that opened between April 19, 2026, and April 25, 2026, from those registered in its service.
It is often thought that 'personnel costs should be subsidized separately from equipment costs,' but programs that include personnel costs as eligible expenses within the same framework as equipment purchase costs, construction costs, and outsourcing fees have opened for applications this week.
Summary of Analysis Results:
(1) For those considering replacing equipment or introducing machinery, 18 programs were identified this week that allow simultaneous application for personnel costs in addition to the purchase and installation of the equipment itself. Searching for candidates with combined applications for equipment costs can reduce application effort.
(2) Approximately 30% of this week's new programs primarily target equipment and machinery purchase costs. Half of the 18 programs covering personnel costs are also open to sole proprietors, so checking the type of eligible expenses first, before narrowing down by corporation or individual, can help filter candidates.
(3) Regarding subsidy rates, approximately 60% of the 193 new programs this week offer subsidy rates of 50% or more. Multiple programs that also include personnel costs are set at rates of 2/3 or more, indicating a structure where several programs can reduce the self-funded portion of recruitment and training expenses.
Survey Outline:
Target of Survey
Subsidies and support programs that began accepting applications between April 19, 2026, and April 25, 2026.
Survey Method
Aggregated analysis of publicly available information published on Subsidy Flash.
Survey Purpose
To understand trends in subsidies and support programs that include personnel costs as eligible expenses, and to provide reference information for application opportunities combined with capital investment.
Survey Period
April 19, 2026, to April 25, 2026 (based on public offering start date).
Survey Area
Nationwide
Number of Programs Surveyed
193 programs
Survey Organizer
Subsidy Flash (operated by Franca AI Inc.)
Main Survey Results:
What expenses are covered?
Source: Subsidy Flash (proprietary database) / Aggregation Date: April 26, 2026
Among this week's new offerings, programs targeting equipment and machinery purchase costs were the most numerous, and 18 programs including personnel costs also opened for applications.
For those wanting to proceed with equipment replacement or machinery introduction, programs targeting equipment and machinery purchase costs are central, but there are also a certain number of programs that can simultaneously cover personnel costs. For example, the Reiwa 8th New Product/Service Development Support Grant (Support for New Product/Service Development and Market Expansion aimed at Solving Social Issues) (Ishikawa Prefecture, up to 3 million JPY) is a program that includes personnel costs, outsourcing fees, and expert remuneration as eligible expenses in addition to equipment/machinery purchase costs.
Among the 18 programs covering personnel costs, multiple programs can be combined with equipment costs and outsourcing fees. If you have a capital investment plan, and also plan to recruit or conduct training during the same period, searching for programs with a wider range of eligible expenses can reduce application effort.
What can it be used for?
Source: Subsidy Flash (proprietary database) / Aggregation Date: April 26, 2026
Among all new programs this week, the theme of capital investment accounts for about 30% and is central, followed by management improvement and environment/energy saving themes.
Narrowing down to the 18 programs covering personnel costs, the capital investment theme is central with 7 programs, followed by productivity improvement with 4 programs. There is a strong tendency for personnel costs to be covered in conjunction with investments in labor-saving equipment and automation. The Subsidy for Promoting Industrial Robots, etc. (Subsidy for Pre-introduction Verification of Industrial Robots, etc.) (Fukuoka Prefecture, up to 2 million JPY) is a program that covers personnel costs incurred for pre-introduction verification of robots, making expenses eligible from the preparation stage before equipment introduction.
Choosing a program that spans multiple themes allows you to address multiple challenges with a single application.
What is the minimum application amount?
Source: Subsidy Flash (proprietary database) / Aggregation Date: April 26, 2026
Programs ranging from small to large amounts are available, and among those with clearly specified amounts, programs for 1 million JPY or less constitute the largest portion at 35.8%.
Among the 18 programs covering personnel costs, the 1 to 5 million JPY range is central, with multiple programs designed to support several million JPY for recruitment and training expenses. The Reiwa 8th Core Human Resource Development Support Project (Akita Prefecture, up to 1 million JPY) is a program that subsidizes expenses for advanced training and qualification acquisition support conducted by companies, covering personnel costs along with expert remuneration, travel expenses, and material purchase costs.
By checking candidates in the 1 to 5 million JPY range according to the investment scale and narrowing down to programs that also include personnel costs, options can be organized.
Key Points from the Survey:
This week's 193 new programs, centered on capital investment and management improvement, include programs that allow simultaneous application for equipment costs and personnel costs. This provides an opportunity for SMEs and sole proprietors considering equipment renewal or machinery introduction to check the types of eligible expenses.
Among programs covering personnel costs, several are available for recruitment and training expenses in the 1 to 5 million JPY range.
It is often thought that 'personnel costs should be subsidized separately from equipment costs,' but programs that include personnel costs as eligible expenses within the same framework as equipment purchase costs, construction costs, and outsourcing fees have opened for applications this week.
Summary of Analysis Results:
(1) For those considering replacing equipment or introducing machinery, 18 programs were identified this week that allow simultaneous application for personnel costs in addition to the purchase and installation of the equipment itself. Searching for candidates with combined applications for equipment costs can reduce application effort.
(2) Approximately 30% of this week's new programs primarily target equipment and machinery purchase costs. Half of the 18 programs covering personnel costs are also open to sole proprietors, so checking the type of eligible expenses first, before narrowing down by corporation or individual, can help filter candidates.
(3) Regarding subsidy rates, approximately 60% of the 193 new programs this week offer subsidy rates of 50% or more. Multiple programs that also include personnel costs are set at rates of 2/3 or more, indicating a structure where several programs can reduce the self-funded portion of recruitment and training expenses.
Survey Outline:
Target of Survey
Subsidies and support programs that began accepting applications between April 19, 2026, and April 25, 2026.
Survey Method
Aggregated analysis of publicly available information published on Subsidy Flash.
Survey Purpose
To understand trends in subsidies and support programs that include personnel costs as eligible expenses, and to provide reference information for application opportunities combined with capital investment.
Survey Period
April 19, 2026, to April 25, 2026 (based on public offering start date).
Survey Area
Nationwide
Number of Programs Surveyed
193 programs
Survey Organizer
Subsidy Flash (operated by Franca AI Inc.)
Main Survey Results:
What expenses are covered?
Source: Subsidy Flash (proprietary database) / Aggregation Date: April 26, 2026
Among this week's new offerings, programs targeting equipment and machinery purchase costs were the most numerous, and 18 programs including personnel costs also opened for applications.
For those wanting to proceed with equipment replacement or machinery introduction, programs targeting equipment and machinery purchase costs are central, but there are also a certain number of programs that can simultaneously cover personnel costs. For example, the Reiwa 8th New Product/Service Development Support Grant (Support for New Product/Service Development and Market Expansion aimed at Solving Social Issues) (Ishikawa Prefecture, up to 3 million JPY) is a program that includes personnel costs, outsourcing fees, and expert remuneration as eligible expenses in addition to equipment/machinery purchase costs.
Among the 18 programs covering personnel costs, multiple programs can be combined with equipment costs and outsourcing fees. If you have a capital investment plan, and also plan to recruit or conduct training during the same period, searching for programs with a wider range of eligible expenses can reduce application effort.
What can it be used for?
Source: Subsidy Flash (proprietary database) / Aggregation Date: April 26, 2026
Among all new programs this week, the theme of capital investment accounts for about 30% and is central, followed by management improvement and environment/energy saving themes.
Narrowing down to the 18 programs covering personnel costs, the capital investment theme is central with 7 programs, followed by productivity improvement with 4 programs. There is a strong tendency for personnel costs to be covered in conjunction with investments in labor-saving equipment and automation. The Subsidy for Promoting Industrial Robots, etc. (Subsidy for Pre-introduction Verification of Industrial Robots, etc.) (Fukuoka Prefecture, up to 2 million JPY) is a program that covers personnel costs incurred for pre-introduction verification of robots, making expenses eligible from the preparation stage before equipment introduction.
Choosing a program that spans multiple themes allows you to address multiple challenges with a single application.
What is the minimum application amount?
Source: Subsidy Flash (proprietary database) / Aggregation Date: April 26, 2026
Programs ranging from small to large amounts are available, and among those with clearly specified amounts, programs for 1 million JPY or less constitute the largest portion at 35.8%.
Among the 18 programs covering personnel costs, the 1 to 5 million JPY range is central, with multiple programs designed to support several million JPY for recruitment and training expenses. The Reiwa 8th Core Human Resource Development Support Project (Akita Prefecture, up to 1 million JPY) is a program that subsidizes expenses for advanced training and qualification acquisition support conducted by companies, covering personnel costs along with expert remuneration, travel expenses, and material purchase costs.
By checking candidates in the 1 to 5 million JPY range according to the investment scale and narrowing down to programs that also include personnel costs, options can be organized.
Key Points from the Survey:
This week's 193 new programs, centered on capital investment and management improvement, include programs that allow simultaneous application for equipment costs and personnel costs. This provides an opportunity for SMEs and sole proprietors considering equipment renewal or machinery introduction to check the types of eligible expenses.
Among programs covering personnel costs, several are available for recruitment and training expenses in the 1 to 5 million JPY range.