University Startup Creation Support Project

Tokyo is promoting the creation of "global" innovations that leverage Japan's strengths, such as technologies, cultures, and values that bring happiness to people, and penetrate the world, by boldly supporting the "scale-up" of excellent "startups" under the "Global Innovation Strategy 2.0 STARTUP & SCALEUP" startup strategy, which was updated in November 2025, with the participation of all players, including universities and research institutions.

As one of these initiatives, the "University Startup Creation Support Project," which supports the commercialization of research seeds and ideas by leveraging Tokyo's strength as a hub of knowledge where universities are concentrated, has been implemented since FY2023, and has so far created 29 university-launched startups.

This fiscal year, applications were accepted from March 30, 2026, to June 1, 2026, and we are pleased to announce that 13 universities participating in this project have been decided.

1. Project Overview

Coordinators (※) with expertise and know-how in creating university-launched startups will, in cooperation with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, implement the following two types of support over two fiscal years, tailored to the circumstances of each university.

a. Project Step-Up Support (10 universities)

Support for universities that want to proactively advance commercialization utilizing research seeds, etc., and build an internal environment, or universities that are already creating startups, to step up their startup creation efforts while collaborating with other universities.

b. Internal System Construction Support (3 universities)

Support for building a system that can engage in startup creation utilizing research seeds, etc., through coordinators, including clarifying the internal vision and strategy, establishing organizational structures, and creating networks with experts.

※ About Coordinators

These are entities that provide support to universities, etc., in cooperation with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government for the implementation of this project.

※ For details, please visit the following website.

https://www.startupandglobalfinancialcity.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/startup/initiatives/university-startup-support/2026r8

2. Agreement Period

From the date of agreement signing to March 31, 2028

3. Participating Universities

As shown in the attached "List of Participating Universities."

This is an initiative to promote the "2050 Tokyo Strategy."

Strategy 10 Startups: "Establish a Field Where Startups Are Born and Grow."