Public Offering Starts March 31st for Subsidy Program Towards Large-Scale Technology Demonstration by Startups in Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, and Food Sectors

General Incorporated Association AgVenture Lab (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Tomoko Tsuchida) announces that, as the secretariat for the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries' "FY2025 Startup Large-Scale Technology Demonstration Support Project" (hereinafter, "this project"), it will begin accepting applications from startups to be the implementing entities for this project starting today, March 31st (Tuesday). In conjunction with the start of the public offering, the application guidelines and documents have been published on the special website below. ■ Project Overview This project aims to help startups overcome the "valley of death," one of the major obstacles they face, and smoothly implement technologies and products into society. It supports large-scale technology demonstrations by startups aiming to commercialize technologies that directly solve on-site challenges to promote agricultural structural transformation, such as improving agricultural productivity through smart agriculture, and facilitates the smooth commercialization of their demonstration results. If selected for this project, each entity can receive a maximum subsidy of 320 million JPY (subsidy rate 2/3) and accompanying support from the secretariat. ■ Eligible Applicants This project targets businesses that address challenges in the agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and food sectors, such as strengthening domestic production capacity for security, by implementing initiatives that challenge problem-solving quickly and with risk, using innovative technologies derived from unique perspectives and flexible ideas. Please refer to "3. Requirements for Project Implementers of This Project" in the "FY2025 Supplementary Budget Startup Large-Scale Technology Demonstration Support Project Application Guidelines" (hereinafter, "Application Guidelines") published on the special website for details. ■ Subsidy Details Subsidy: Expenses directly necessary for the implementation of the project as specified in Appendix 2 of the Application Guidelines. Accompanying Support: Creation of opportunities for the social implementation of the implementing entity's technologies and products (e.g., matching with companies and agricultural organizations). ■ Application Schedule Application Start: March 31st (Tuesday) Briefing Session: April 7th (Tuesday) *After the briefing session, questions will be accepted on the special website. Question Deadline: April 24th (Friday) Application Deadline: April 30th (Thursday) noon Selection Notification (planned): June ■ Briefing Session (Pre-registration required) (1) An online briefing session regarding the public offering will be held on the following date: Date: April 14:00 to 15:00 on April 7th (Tuesday) (2) Those wishing to participate should apply using the application form below by noon on April 6th (Monday), the day before the event. After applying, a participation URL will be sent via an automatic reply email. Application Form (External Link: https://startup-daikibo.agventurelab.or.jp/)