Supporting the Proactive Efforts of SMEs: Applications Open for the FY2026 'Ingenuity Challenge Promotion Project for Strengthening Management Capabilities'
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government announced a new FY2026 subsidy program offering up to 10 million yen to help SMEs improve operations, increase wages, and enter new markets.
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- 📰 Published: April 15, 2026 at 23:00
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In addition to increasing business costs due to prolonged price hikes, the management environment surrounding SMEs is becoming increasingly severe due to factors such as unstable international situations.
Under these circumstances, for SMEs to survive, it is important to strengthen their management base through capital investment and to diversify and multiply management through the development of new businesses.
Therefore, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Tokyo Metropolitan Small and Medium Enterprise Support Center will subsidize a portion of the necessary expenses for initiatives that SMEs undertake using their ingenuity, such as deepening and developing existing businesses, and entering new markets and fields. In addition, we will strengthen the management base by providing support such as operational improvement by dispatching experts (advisers).
## Support Contents
1. Subsidy Support
- Business Improvement Course
- Eligible Entities: SMEs in Tokyo that have recorded a decrease in operating profit compared to the previous period, or have recorded a loss in the most recent financial period.
- Subsidy Limit: 6 million yen
- Subsidy Rate: Within 2/3 (Within 4/5 for small enterprises)
- Eligible Expenses: Expenses related to initiatives implemented based on a management improvement plan to deepen and develop existing businesses.
- Target Period: 1 year from the grant decision
- Support Scale: 700 companies
- Wage Increase Focus Course
- Eligible Entities: SMEs in Tokyo that meet the above requirements and formulate a wage increase plan.
- Subsidy Limit: 6 million yen
- Subsidy Rate: Within 3/4 (Within 4/5 for small enterprises) *If the wage increase plan is not achieved, the subsidy rate is within 2/3.
- Eligible Expenses: Expenses related to initiatives implemented based on a management improvement plan to deepen and develop existing businesses.
- Target Period: 1 year from the grant decision
- Support Scale: 500 companies
- New Market / New Field Entry Course
- Eligible Entities: SMEs in Tokyo that have recorded a decrease in operating profit compared to the previous period, or have recorded a loss in the most recent financial period.
- Subsidy Limit: 10 million yen
- Subsidy Rate: Within 2/3 (Within 3/4 if a wage increase plan is formulated, within 4/5 for small enterprises)
- Eligible Expenses: Expenses related to initiatives implemented based on a management improvement plan to enter a new market or new field.
- Target Period: 1 year from the grant decision
- Support Scale: 100 companies
2. Expert Dispatch
For the SMEs selected above, experts (advisers) will be dispatched free of charge to provide advice on improving the operation of initiatives and expanding into the next business (maximum 2 times per company. Maximum 10 times for the New Market / New Field Entry Course).
## How to Apply
For details on applications, please visit the Tokyo Metropolitan Small and Medium Enterprise Support Center website (G-Biz ID is required for application).
## Application Schedule
1st Round:
- Business Improvement Course: Monday, May 11, 2026 to Friday, May 29, 2026
- Wage Increase Focus Course: Monday, June 1, 2026 to Friday, June 12, 2026
- New Market/New Field Entry Course: Wednesday, July 1, 2026 to Tuesday, July 14, 2026
2nd Round:
- Business Improvement Course: Monday, August 3, 2026 to Friday, August 14, 2026
Under these circumstances, for SMEs to survive, it is important to strengthen their management base through capital investment and to diversify and multiply management through the development of new businesses.
Therefore, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Tokyo Metropolitan Small and Medium Enterprise Support Center will subsidize a portion of the necessary expenses for initiatives that SMEs undertake using their ingenuity, such as deepening and developing existing businesses, and entering new markets and fields. In addition, we will strengthen the management base by providing support such as operational improvement by dispatching experts (advisers).
## Support Contents
1. Subsidy Support
- Business Improvement Course
- Eligible Entities: SMEs in Tokyo that have recorded a decrease in operating profit compared to the previous period, or have recorded a loss in the most recent financial period.
- Subsidy Limit: 6 million yen
- Subsidy Rate: Within 2/3 (Within 4/5 for small enterprises)
- Eligible Expenses: Expenses related to initiatives implemented based on a management improvement plan to deepen and develop existing businesses.
- Target Period: 1 year from the grant decision
- Support Scale: 700 companies
- Wage Increase Focus Course
- Eligible Entities: SMEs in Tokyo that meet the above requirements and formulate a wage increase plan.
- Subsidy Limit: 6 million yen
- Subsidy Rate: Within 3/4 (Within 4/5 for small enterprises) *If the wage increase plan is not achieved, the subsidy rate is within 2/3.
- Eligible Expenses: Expenses related to initiatives implemented based on a management improvement plan to deepen and develop existing businesses.
- Target Period: 1 year from the grant decision
- Support Scale: 500 companies
- New Market / New Field Entry Course
- Eligible Entities: SMEs in Tokyo that have recorded a decrease in operating profit compared to the previous period, or have recorded a loss in the most recent financial period.
- Subsidy Limit: 10 million yen
- Subsidy Rate: Within 2/3 (Within 3/4 if a wage increase plan is formulated, within 4/5 for small enterprises)
- Eligible Expenses: Expenses related to initiatives implemented based on a management improvement plan to enter a new market or new field.
- Target Period: 1 year from the grant decision
- Support Scale: 100 companies
2. Expert Dispatch
For the SMEs selected above, experts (advisers) will be dispatched free of charge to provide advice on improving the operation of initiatives and expanding into the next business (maximum 2 times per company. Maximum 10 times for the New Market / New Field Entry Course).
## How to Apply
For details on applications, please visit the Tokyo Metropolitan Small and Medium Enterprise Support Center website (G-Biz ID is required for application).
## Application Schedule
1st Round:
- Business Improvement Course: Monday, May 11, 2026 to Friday, May 29, 2026
- Wage Increase Focus Course: Monday, June 1, 2026 to Friday, June 12, 2026
- New Market/New Field Entry Course: Wednesday, July 1, 2026 to Tuesday, July 14, 2026
2nd Round:
- Business Improvement Course: Monday, August 3, 2026 to Friday, August 14, 2026