AgVenture Lab to Serve as Secretariat for Tokyo's Agricultural Challenge Support Project

AgVenture Lab (hereinafter referred to as 'AgVenture Lab'), a general incorporated association established by eight national organizations of the JA Group with the aim of co-creation with startups, will commence accepting applications from startups and small to medium-sized enterprises wishing to participate in the project starting today, July 14 (Tuesday).

The project aims to support initiatives that leverage the outstanding ideas and technological capabilities of startups and small to medium-sized enterprises to address various challenges faced by Tokyo's agricultural, forestry, and fisheries industries. As part of the '2050 Tokyo Strategy,' which promotes the evolution towards the ideal vision of Tokyo in the 2050s, the project will promote the development of new technologies and business models to further advance and activate Tokyo's agricultural, forestry, and fisheries industries.

Project Content

AgVenture Lab will serve as the operating secretariat, providing mentoring and hands-on support for the implementation of product development capabilities by startups and others to address challenges in the agricultural, forestry, and fisheries industries as presented by the metropolitan government. Additionally, for startups and others engaged in technological development or the creation of new business models to address these challenges, a portion of the development costs will be subsidized (see attached for details).

★ Application Period

July 14 (Tuesday) to August 20 (Thursday). An online explanation meeting will be held on July 21 (Tuesday).

★ Subsidy Recipients

Startups, Small to Medium-Sized Enterprises

★ Support Content

① Support by the Operating Secretariat

For startups and small to medium-sized enterprises selected for this project, AgVenture Lab will provide individual mentoring to support technological development and other initiatives that contribute to addressing challenges in Tokyo's agricultural, forestry, and fisheries industries. AgVenture Lab will provide venues for challenge verification and hands-on support for the implementation and promotion of products and services developed or improved through this project. Additionally, a results presentation meeting is planned.

② Subsidies for a portion of development and improvement costs

A portion of the costs required for the development and improvement of in-house technologies and products, aiming for practical application, and for bringing practically applied products to a state where they can be sold, will be subsidized.

Subsidy Period

From the date of grant decision to March 31, 2028 (maximum)

★ Subsidy Eligible Expenses and Subsidy Rate

・Maximum eligible expenses: 1 billion yen/year

・Subsidy rate (maximum subsidy amount): 2/3 (6,666 million yen)

・Eligible expenses are those required for development, improvement, and practical application (raw materials and auxiliary materials costs, machinery and equipment and tool costs, commissioning costs, industrial property rights application and introduction costs, direct labor costs, travel and transportation costs, exhibition costs)

Project Schedule

2026 July 14 (Tuesday) to August 20 (Thursday) Application Acceptance

Late August 2026 First Screening (Documentation)

Early September 2026 Second Screening (Presentation)

Mid-September 2026 Comprehensive Screening Meeting

Late September 2026 Grant Decision

※ For those who pass the first screening, a separate hearing survey will be conducted, and a field survey will be conducted as necessary.

※ Payment of the subsidy will be made after the submission of the results report, completion inspection, and determination of the subsidy amount upon project completion.

Details of the schedule will be announced separately.

Public Recruitment Explanation Meeting

An online explanation meeting regarding the public recruitment will be held as follows.

Date and Time: July 21 (Tuesday) from 15:00 to 16:00

URL: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89644774146 (Zoom)

Password: 261945

Application Procedures

Applications will be accepted through JGrants. A G-Biz ID account is required for application. Please refer to the recruitment page for details.

Subsidy Recruitment Page: https://nourinsuisan-startup.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/

Determination of Business Operators

The subsidy recipient will be determined based on the submitted application documents, first screening (document screening), second screening (presentation screening), and comprehensive screening meeting.

General Incorporated Association AgVenture Lab (https://agventurelab.or.jp/)

AgVenture Lab was established on May 27, 2019, jointly by eight national organizations, including the National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations, the National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations, the National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations for Mutual Aid, the Agricultural Cooperative Central Bank, the General Incorporated Association Home Light Association, Nippon Nogyo Shimbun Co., Ltd., the National Federation of Health Agricultural Cooperative Associations, and Nokyo Kanko Co., Ltd.

With the concept of 'nurturing agriculture that will be passed on to the next generation, supporting local life, and connecting places and people,' the organization aims to create new businesses, develop services, and solve regional issues through co-creation with startup companies, partner companies, universities, and government agencies, utilizing various insights and technologies. Through its activities at AgVenture Lab, the JA Group is actively strengthening its collaboration with external companies and challenging itself to create new value that leads to the resolution of social issues faced by primary industries and local communities.