Hojokin Flash Survey: For SMEs looking to replace machinery—Over half of grants allow bundled applications for equipment purchase and construction costs

## Analysis Report on Equipment and Machinery Purchase Grants by Hojokin Flash

'Hojokin Flash,' a service providing AI-powered search and application support for subsidies and grants across Japan, conducted an aggregate analysis of 2,218 programs as of May 17, 2026, that include equipment and machinery purchase costs as eligible expenses.

When looking for grants for equipment replacement, it is commonly thought that only the purchase cost of the machinery is covered. However, over half of the 2,218 programs surveyed also cover building, construction, and renovation costs. This design allows for the installation and interior renovation work incidental to machinery replacement to be applied for in a single program. Consequently, businesses do not need to search for separate grants for equipment and construction, allowing them to narrow down their options after listing the total budget and requirements for the entire equipment upgrade plan.

## Summary of Analysis Results

1. For businesses considering machinery replacement, the structure is designed such that purchase costs and installation construction costs can be bundled in the same program. By organizing the 'machinery to be purchased' and the 'presence or absence of incidental construction' beforehand, candidates can be efficiently narrowed down starting from programs with broader eligible expenses.
2. Programs that subsidize only equipment purchase costs are limited; more than half of the programs also cover building, construction, and renovation costs simultaneously. There is no need to apply for machinery updates and workshop renovations separately; by writing out 'equipment + construction' as a single plan, missed opportunities can be reduced.
3. The majority of programs offer a subsidy rate of 50% or more, allowing businesses to initiate initiatives while keeping their personal financial burden to less than half of the investment amount. With a range from small-scale programs to large-scale programs, decision-making can be accelerated by first determining the 'investable amount.'

## Survey Overview

- Survey subject: Publicly offered subsidy and support programs that cover equipment/machinery purchase costs.
- Survey method: Aggregate analysis of public information listed on Hojokin Flash.
- Survey objective: To clarify the distribution of joint expenses, amount ranges, and uses for subsidies, and to provide decision-making materials for business operators selecting programs.
- Survey period: As of May 17, 2026.
- Survey count: 2,218 items (out of 5,050 total currently publicly offered programs, these are the ones including equipment/machinery purchase costs as eligible expenses).

## Company Information

'Hojokin Flash,' operated by Franca AI, provides features such as AI-driven automatic generation of application plans for major grants, powerfully supporting the utilization of subsidies by small and medium-sized enterprises.