Circulation Commissioned by Sapporo City, Hokkaido to Operate 'Sapporo Healthcare Business Support Program 2026'

Circulation Inc. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Yu Fukuda; hereinafter referred to as Circulation), which operates a pro-sharing business that solves management issues by sharing the experience and knowledge of over 30,000 professional talents across multiple companies, has been commissioned by the Economic & Tourism Bureau of Sapporo City to operate the "Sapporo Healthcare Business Support Program 2026" (hereinafter referred to as this project) aimed at supporting the commercialization of healthcare-related companies. With this, centered around the Hokkaido branch, it will generate co-creation between professional talents from the Tokyo metropolitan area and local companies, strongly supporting the growth of the healthcare industry, a priority field for Sapporo City.

■ Breaking Through the "Barrier of Practical Application" Amidst Dramatically Changing Socio-economic Conditions
In Sapporo City, within the healthcare business where demand is expected to expand against the backdrop of an aging population, the "Sapporo Healthcare Business Support Program 2026" will be implemented to promote the creation and growth of "Sapporo-originated Healthcare Businesses" that lead the domestic healthcare industry and to revitalize local industries in the "health welfare and medical" field. The program recruits and discovers promising healthcare businesses and combines hands-on (side-by-side) support by experts and the secretariat for adopted companies, business support subsidies by Sapporo City, and various other supports leading to collaboration and sales channel expansion.

Circulation opened its Hokkaido branch in February 2025 and has been accelerating the promotion of solving corporate issues and growth. In this project, by utilizing the pro-sharing mechanism possessed by Circulation, the aim is to contribute to accelerating business growth and establishing the Sapporo-originated healthcare business in the industry by matching and providing hands-on support from professional talents with optimal experience for the advanced management issues faced by the adopted companies.

■ Specific Initiatives and Schedule in This Project
In this project, we will be responsible for the operational work of recruiting and discovering promising healthcare businesses, as well as providing the following support to the adopted parties.

1. Hands-on support involving detailed adjustments and cooperation
2. Expert consultation support toward solving management issues and promoting business
3. Network building support contributing to the expansion of business opportunities, etc.
4. Granting of business support subsidies by Sapporo City

The schedule for this project is planned as follows.
April 6, 2026: Application period begins
May 22, 2026: Application deadline
Late May - Early June 2026: Document screening
Mid - Late June 2026: Presentation screening (assumed to be held hybrid)
Late June 2026: Adoption notification
July 2026: Hearing with adopted companies - Matching with professional talent
From August 2026: Start of hands-on support by professional talent
*The schedule is subject to change.

Please also see here for details of this project.

■ Comment from Yu Fukuda, President and CEO of Circulation Inc.
Since the opening of the Hokkaido branch in February 2025, Circulation has felt firsthand the potential and passion for challenges unique to the region.
Sapporo City is rich in medical and welfare resources...