Large-Scale Support Initiatives in Key Japanese Industries: METI, MIC, MLIT, and MAFF

I. Executive Summary

This report analyzes major large-scale support initiatives (subsidies, grants, etc., with expected support amounts exceeding 100 million JPY) led by Japan’s key ministries: the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF). The Japanese government currently positions Green Transformation (GX), Digital Transformation (DX), advanced technology development, and regional revitalization as pillars of its national strategy, committing massive financial support to these sectors.

The main findings are as follows:

• METI is strongly supporting the strategic development and social implementation of technologies such as renewable energy, hydrogen, next-generation reactors, CCUS (Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage), advanced semiconductors, AI, storage batteries, and biopharmaceuticals through projects utilizing the 2 trillion yen Green Innovation Fund and GX Transition Bonds. Supporting large-scale growth investments by mid-sized and small enterprises is also a key focus.
• MIC supports national ICT infrastructure advancement and regional issue resolution through regional DX promotion packages (many menu items with project limits exceeding 100 million JPY), including next-generation information and communication technologies research and development (such as Beyond 5G, with projects valued in the billions of yen annually), local 5G, AI, and autonomous driving demonstrations.
• MLIT focuses on DX for infrastructure (i-Construction, BIM/CIM), smart city construction (MaaS-related projects up to 100 million JPY), logistics DX/GX (projects exceeding 200 million JPY), decarbonization of buildings and transport (ZEB/ZEH, programs worth billions of yen for zero-emission vessel development), and disaster prevention/mitigation DX.
• MAFF is investing large budgets into modernizing the primary industries and improving sustainability by promoting smart agriculture, forestry, and fisheries, as well as agricultural structural reform (with projects exceeding 20 billion JPY annually).
• Cross-Ministry Initiatives include the GX Transition Bonds (worth 20 trillion JPY) and the Digital Rural City National Initiative Grant (some types up to 600 million JPY), which serve as crucial funding sources for multi-ministry projects.

These support measures cover a wide range of phases, from direct financial aid for target projects to research and development, social implementation, infrastructure development, and human resource training. These programs, involving large sums of money (over 100 million JPY), offer significant opportunities for related companies and research institutions to play a leading role in Japan’s new growth sectors. We hope this report serves as helpful guidance in capturing these opportunities.

II. Large-Scale Support Initiatives by Ministry (Over 100 Million JPY)

A. Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI)

METI leads Japan’s industrial policy, driving large-scale investments into sectors that will be future growth engines. Specifically in GX, DX, and strategic technology fields, METI deploys numerous major support measures significantly exceeding 100 million JPY, covering everything from R&D to social implementation and the establishment of domestic manufacturing bases.

1. Green Transformation (GX) and Decarbonization Initiatives

METI formulated the “Green Growth Strategy” to achieve “Carbon Neutrality by 2050,” conducting intensive investment in the GX sector.  

• a. Green Innovation (GI) Fund Program
  • Overview/Background: The GI Fund is a massive fund totaling 2.7564 trillion JPY (as of Nov 2024), established to provide continuous support for ambitious R&D, demonstration, and social implementation efforts by companies toward achieving carbon neutrality. NEDO (New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization) manages many projects, with individual project sizes averaging over 20 billion JPY. Support covers 14 priority fields, including offshore wind power, hydrogen/ammonia, next-generation thermal energy, CO2 recycling, etc.
  • Specific GI Fund Projects Expected to Exceed 100 Million JPY (NEDO Scale):
    • Cost Reduction in Offshore Wind Power Generation: Total project budget of 119.5 billion JPY. The floating offshore wind common infrastructure development sub-project is approximately 4 billion JPY.
    • Construction of Large-Scale Hydrogen Supply Chains: Total project support scale of approx. 2.2 trillion JPY. MCH supply chain demonstration support is approx. 630 billion JPY, and liquid hydrogen supply chain commercialization demonstration (multiple companies combined) is approx. 2.2 trillion JPY. Hydrogen power generation demonstration projects range from 7 billion to 14 billion JPY each.
    • Development of Next-Generation Solar Cells: The overall GI Fund limit is 648 billion JPY. This includes about 155 billion JPY for foundational technology development and a maximum of 378 billion JPY for demonstration projects.
    • Fuel Manufacturing Technology Development using CO2, etc.: Total NEDO support of 114.5 billion JPY. This includes approx. 576 billion JPY for synthetic fuel R&D and 292 billion JPY for SAF manufacturing R&D.
    • Development of Next-Generation Aircraft: NEDO support scale of 30.6 billion JPY.
  • Strategic Significance (Industrial Creation): The GI Fund’s scale exceeding 2 trillion JPY and its 10-year duration demonstrate a national strategy not merely to improve existing industries, but to build entirely new green industries and resilient supply chains from scratch. This is an intentional industrial policy aimed at establishing Japan’s leadership in future GX technologies.
  • Strategic Significance (Emphasis on Social Implementation): The GI Fund mandates that the primary implementers must be entities conducting profit-making activities capable of reaching “social implementation.” This reflects strong expectations for commercializing research results and creating markets. It shows a clear path toward industrialization with economic outcomes, rather than just research grants.
  • Application Information: Calls for the GI Fund are published on the NEDO website. Examples include projects like “Next-Generation Aircraft Development” or “Cost Reduction in Offshore Wind Power Generation.”
• b. Support Program for Energy and Manufacturing Process Conversion in Hard-to-Abate Industries
  • Overview/Background: This program subsidizes facility investments for converting manufacturing processes or switching fuel sources, targeting industries with difficulty reducing CO2 emissions (Hard-to-Abate), such as steel, chemicals, paper pulp, and cement. The budget limit for executing bodies in FY 2025 was 424.7 billion JPY, and the total budget for Business I (Steel) and Business II (Chemicals, etc.) during the FY 2024 call was 484.4 billion JPY over multiple years.
  • Support Scale: Process conversion/fuel switching typically receives a one-third subsidy, while structural conversion can receive up to a one-half subsidy. Individual projects, such as entire plant renovations, are expected to significantly exceed 100 million JPY.
  • Strategic Significance (Decarbonization of Key Industries): This program directly addresses the most difficult industrial emissions necessary for Japan’s carbon neutrality goals. The massive budget demonstrates the government’s willingness to actively co-invest in these costly transitions.
  • Application Information: Calls for Business I (Steel) and Business II (Chemicals, etc.) for FY 2024 ended in October 2024. Calls for “Subsidizing Operators (Executing Bodies)” for FY 2025 were held in February 2025. Companies should note that calls for companies will be announced later by the selected executing bodies.
• c. Support Program for Power Storage Systems, such as Grid-Connected Batteries, to Expand Renewable Energy Adoption
  • Overview/Background: This supports the introduction of grid-connected batteries and water electrolysis equipment to stabilize the power grid due to increased renewable energy adoption. The required amount has significantly increased from 8.5 billion JPY to 31 billion JPY recently. This program is also listed as a use case for GX Transition Bonds.
  • Support Scale: Due to the nature of grid-connected batteries, individual projects are large and easily exceed 100 million JPY.
  • Strategic Significance (Building Foundation for Renewables): Large-scale batteries are essential infrastructure investment for expanding variable renewables like solar and wind. This support demonstrates a commitment to resolving critical bottlenecks in Japan’s energy transition.
• d. Research and Development Support Program for Next-Generation Innovative Reactors
  • Overview/Background: Promotes R&D for next-generation innovative reactors, such as fast reactors and high-temperature gas reactors. The required amount has increased from 56.3 billion JPY to 82.9 billion JPY recently. This is also a target project for GX Transition Bonds.
  • Support Scale: These are inherently large, long-term R&D projects that exceed 100 million JPY.
  • Strategic Significance (Energy Security and Future Technology): Despite national debate, the government is investing heavily in future nuclear technology, which is viewed as crucial for long-term energy security and achieving decarbonization goals. High-temperature gas reactors are also noted for their connection to hydrogen production.
• e. Advanced CCS (Carbon Capture and Storage) Support and Domestic/International Storage Site Survey Program
  • Overview/Background: Supports advanced CCS projects and surveys for CO2 storage sites. The required amount has significantly increased from 1.2 billion JPY to 11.2 billion JPY recently.
  • Support Scale: CCS projects are capital-intensive, making individual support amounts highly likely to exceed 100 million JPY.
  • Strategic Significance (Addressing Residual Emissions): CCUS is positioned as a complementary technology for capturing CO2 from sources that cannot be completely eliminated. The rapid increase in funding suggests its growing importance.

2. Digital Transformation (DX) and Advanced Technologies

• a. Support for Development and Manufacturing of Advanced Semiconductors
  • Overview/Background: Aims to strengthen the domestic semiconductor industry by supporting the establishment of advanced semiconductor production bases and next-generation R&D. This is crucial both for filling “missing pieces” in the supply chain and from an economic security perspective. The use cases for GX Transition Bonds include “Next-Generation Edge AI Semiconductor R&D Projects” and “Support for Strengthening Manufacturing Supply Chains for Semiconductors Achieving GX.”
  • Support Scale: Since semiconductor R&D and manufacturing facilities (fabs) require enormous costs, the support amounts far exceed 100 million JPY.
  • Strategic Significance (Economic Security and Core Industries): Against a backdrop of global semiconductor shortages and geopolitical competition, rebuilding domestic semiconductor capability and securing supply chains is one of the nation’s top priorities. This technology forms the foundation for all modern industries.
• b. AI Development and Utilization Support
  • Overview/Background: Promotes R&D into high-performance computing resources for AI, as well as “Mobility DX.” The use cases for GX Transition Bonds also include “AI Infrastructure Model and Advanced Semiconductor Related Technology Development Projects.”
  • Support Scale: Developing foundational models or dedicated hardware is highly costly, making related projects likely to meet the 100 million JPY threshold.
  • Strategic Significance (Foundation for Future Industries): AI is a core technology. Support in this area aims to build the computing infrastructure and core technologies necessary for Japan to maintain competitiveness across various AI-driven industries.

3. Next-Generation Mobility and Automotive Sector

• a. Support for Electric Vehicle (EV) Purchase and Infrastructure Development
  • Overview/Background: As part of the “Multi-Pathway” strategy, it supports EV vehicle purchases and charging infrastructure development. This is also a target for GX Transition Bonds. The Ministry of Environment also runs related programs.
  • Support Scale: While individual vehicle subsidies are small, large-scale charging network development or fleet conversion subsidies can exceed 100 million JPY. The budget for the “Commercial Vehicle Electrification Promotion Program” is 40.9 billion JPY.
  • Strategic Significance (Diversified Transformation of Automotive Industry): Japan supports various decarbonization pathways for automobiles, not just EVs. Infrastructure support is essential for overcoming barriers to EV adoption.
• b. Support for Battery Manufacturing and Next-Generation Battery R&D
  • Overview/Background: Supports establishing manufacturing bases for batteries—essential for the automotive industry and energy storage—and realizing next-generation battery applications. The “Support for Strengthening the Battery Manufacturing Supply Chain” is a key focus under GX Transition Bonds.
  • Support Scale: Building battery factories or advanced R&D is extremely costly, making support amounts expected to significantly exceed 100 million JPY.
  • Strategic Significance (Securing Key Components for Electrification): Batteries are core components of EVs and grid-scale storage systems. Domestic manufacturing capacity and R&D leadership are critical for economic security and industrial strength in an electrified society.

4. Bioindustry and Advanced Medicine

• a. Support for Establishing/Expanding Biopharmaceutical CDMOs (Contract Development and Manufacturing Organizations)
  • Overview/Background: Considers how to support the establishment and expansion of CDMOs for biopharmaceuticals, including regenerative medicine, cell, and gene therapy.
  • Support Scale: Establishing or significantly expanding bio-manufacturing facilities are projects worth billions of JPY, suggesting large-scale support is expected.
  • Strategic Significance (Building Domestic Biopharmaceutical Production Capacity): Aims to strengthen domestic production capacity for advanced therapies and build a robust ecosystem that attracts international business.

5. Large-Scale Growth Investment Support for Businesses

• a. Large-Scale Growth Investment Subsidies for Productivity Improvement and Wage Increases in Mid-sized and Small Enterprises
  • Overview/Background: Aims to promote large-scale investments (minimum investment of 1 billion JPY) by mid-sized and small enterprises supporting the regional economy, helping them cope with challenges like labor shortages and achieve sustainable wage increases in local areas.
  • Support Scale: A total budget of 300 billion JPY is allocated over multiple years, with a subsidy ceiling of 5 billion JPY per project (within 1/3 subsidy rate). This clearly exceeds the 100 million JPY support scale.
  • Target Fields/Activities: Large-scale investments by mid-sized and small enterprises aiming for growth or productivity improvement are broadly covered, but the production of primary goods itself is excluded.
  • Strategic Significance (Promoting SME Transformation and Wage Growth): This subsidy is a crucial program that directly links large-scale capital investment by SMEs with the national goal of wage increases. The high minimum investment threshold of 1 billion JPY suggests targeting companies committed to major expansion or transformation.
  • Application Information: The third round call ended on April 28, 2025. Future calls must be checked on the dedicated website. Applications require using jGrants and a G Biz ID Prime account.

Table 1: METI’s Key Large-Scale Support Initiatives (Expected Support Amount Over 100 Million JPY)

(Note) The support scales in the table above indicate the overall program budget or individual project limits, and actual adoption amounts vary by case.

B. Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC)

MIC plays a central role in promoting Japan’s ICT infrastructure development and overall digital transformation. It focuses heavily on the use of digital technology for regional revitalization and problem-solving (Regional DX), as well as R&D into Beyond 5G technologies, which will form future communication foundations.

1. Regional DX and ICT Infrastructure Development

• a. Regional Community DX Promotion Package Program
  • Overview/Background: This program comprehensively supports digital implementation by providing subsidies for securing digital human resources and systems, demonstrating advanced solutions like AI and autonomous driving, and developing regional communication infrastructure. The goal is to create best practices in digital implementation for early nationwide commercialization.
  • Support Scale:
    • Promotion System Establishment Support: Up to 100 million JPY per prefecture (Past adopted prefectures up to 50 million JPY).
    • Advanced Wireless Type (Demonstration): Overall program budget of approx. 1.8 billion JPY, project size guideline: 10 million to 100 million JPY.
    • AI Verification Type (Demonstration): Overall program budget of approx. 500 million JPY, project ceiling guideline: approx. 100 million JPY.
    • Autonomous Driving Level 4 Verification Type (Demonstration): Overall program budget of approx. 2.2 billion JPY, project ceiling guideline: approx. 250 million JPY.
    • Regional Digital Infrastructure Development Support (Subsidy): Overall program budget of approx. 850 million JPY, no individual project limit (subject to review).
  • Target Fields/Activities: Local governments and consortiums including private companies. Utilizing digital solutions for regional problem-solving, advanced wireless technologies like local 5G and Wi-Fi HaLow, AI, and autonomous driving technology.
  • Strategic Significance (Comprehensive Regional DX Support): This package program offers multifaceted support for regional DX promotion—from planning formulation and human resource development to demonstrating cutting-edge technologies and providing large-scale infrastructure subsidies. The diverse support scales and contents encourage initiatives tailored to each region’s needs and stage of development. Notably, the expected large-scale support exceeding 100 million JPY for autonomous driving and infrastructure suggests MIC’s strong commitment to supporting digital transformation across entire regional communities.
  • Application Information:

  Calls for various program types (planning support, demonstration projects, development subsidies, etc.) are launched sequentially for FY 2025, with different deadlines. Details must be checked on the MIC website or related portals.

• b. Beyond 5G R&D Promotion Program
  • Overview/Background: Through NICT (National Institute of Information and Communications Technology), MIC strongly promotes the research and development of Beyond 5G (6G) technology, aiming to maintain Japan’s international competitiveness in future mobile communication fields.
  • Support Scale:
    • The overall strategic goal is over 100 billion JPY in R&D investment over five years.
    • In the “Beyond 5G Function Realization Program – Core Issues” called by NICT, individual R&D themes can receive budgets of tens of billions of JPY annually (e.g., 4 billion JPY/year, 3.3 billion JPY/year, 4.7 billion JPY/year).
    • The “Beyond 5G Function Realization Program – General Issues” provides support up to 500 million JPY per case annually.
    • For the “Beyond 5G International Collaborative Research Program” and “Beyond 5G Seed Creation Program,” support is up to 100 million JPY per case annually.
    • In R&D challenges for “Radio Spectrum Efficient Use,” large budgets such as 1 billion JPY or 23.4 billion JPY can be allocated annually.
  • Target Fields/Activities: Research and development of advanced wireless communication technologies, Open RAN, V2X (Vehicle-to-Everything), HAPS (High Altitude Platform) communication technology, etc. Primarily targets research institutions, universities, and companies in the ICT field.
  • Strategic Significance (Securing Future Communication Leadership): Beyond 5G is indispensable for supporting future social infrastructure like IoT and autonomous driving. MIC’s massive and diverse investment in R&D aims to secure Japan’s technological sovereignty and competitiveness by developing core next-generation communication technologies and contributing to international standardization.
  • Application Information:

  Typically announced on the NICT commissioned research call page. For example, calls for “Core Issues” and “General Issues” were held in April 2022, and a call for “Radio Spectrum Efficient Use” was held in May 2023. Interested organizations must monitor NICT’s call information.

Table 2: MIC’s Key Large-Scale Support Initiatives (Expected Support Amount Over 100 Million JPY)

Priority Field/Area	Program/Project Name	Support Scale (Billion JPY)	Main Objective/Target Activity	Related Document Example
Regional DX	Regional Community DX Promotion Package Program (System Establishment Support)	Up to 100 million JPY/prefecture	Building regional DX promotion systems
Regional DX	Regional Community DX Promotion Package Program (Autonomous Driving Level 4 Demonstration Type)	Project ceiling: approx. 250 million JPY (Overall budget: approx. 2.2 billion JPY)	Autonomous driving Level 4 demonstration
Regional DX	Regional Community DX Promotion Package Program (Regional Digital Infrastructure Development Support)	No project ceiling (Subject to review, Overall budget: approx. 850 million JPY)	Local 5G/LPWA etc. communication infrastructure development
Beyond 5G	Beyond 5G Function Realization Program (Core Issues)	Tens of billions JPY/theme example available	Developing core Beyond 5G technologies
Beyond 5G	Beyond 5G Function Realization Program (General Issues)	Up to 500 million JPY/year・case	Developing element technologies for Beyond 5G
Beyond 5G	Beyond 5G R&D Promotion Program (Radio Spectrum Efficient Use)	1 billion to 23.4 billion JPY/theme example available	Developing radio spectrum efficient use technologies

(Note) The support scales in the table above indicate the overall program budget or individual project limits, and actual adoption amounts vary by case.

C. Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT)

MLIT manages large-scale projects related to national development, infrastructure maintenance, transportation systems, and urban planning, committing massive budgets to modern challenges like DX, GX, and disaster prevention/mitigation. Most of these support measures significantly exceed 100 million JPY.

1. Infrastructure DX and Smart Construction (i-Construction, BIM/CIM)

• Overview/Background: MLIT strongly promotes “i-Construction” and the adoption of BIM/CIM (Building/Construction Information Modeling, Management) to improve efficiency and productivity in the construction process. These initiatives are guided by the “DX Action Plan for Infrastructure.”
• Architectural GX/DX Promotion Program: This program succeeds the BIM Acceleration Project, integrating support for both reducing LCC-CO2 (GX) and improving productivity through architectural BIM adoption (DX). The FY 2025 budget allocates 6.5 billion JPY. Support covers BIM software implementation costs, coordinator/modeler labor costs, etc. LCA calculation support is up to 5 million JPY (9 million JPY if CO2 unit calculation is included), and there are examples of BIM utilization support up to 55 million JPY depending on project size.
• Achieving Sustainable Infrastructure Maintenance through Aging Countermeasures: FY 2025 budget: 788.9 billion JPY (Total 944.8 billion JPY including FY 2024 supplementary budgets). This massive budget is expected to include support for DX technologies aimed at improving maintenance efficiency.
• Promotion of the “DX Action Plan for Infrastructure”: FY 2025 budget request: 7.9 billion JPY.
• SBIR Construction Technology R&D Grant System: Supports R&D by startups and others in construction technology. While individual support amounts are not specified, it promotes innovative technological development.
• Strategic Significance (Structural Transformation of the Construction Industry): MLIT’s promotion of BIM/CIM and i-Construction is not merely about adopting new technologies; it aims to fundamentally transform public works and the entire construction industry process. The 6.5 billion JPY budget for the Architectural GX/DX Promotion Program shows a strong commitment to this transformation, presenting major business opportunities for technology providers and construction companies adapting to new standards.

2. Smart Cities and Next-Generation Urban Development

• Overview/Background: MLIT promotes smart city projects in collaboration with other ministries, supporting the implementation of digital technologies to solve urban challenges.
• Japan-style MaaS Promotion and Support Program (Within Re-design Comprehensive Project for Solving “Transportation Gaps,” etc.): Supports Mobility as a Service (MaaS) initiatives, aiming to provide seamless mobility experiences through cooperation among multiple transport operators. The related budget is 32.6 billion JPY (allocated amount). The subsidy ceiling per project varies by regional type, up to 100 million JPY. This is subject to joint review in FY 2025.
• Smart City Implementation Support Program: Past adoption examples exist. The “FY 2025 Smart City Related Projects (Subject to Joint Review) Overview” includes budgets of “hundreds of millions of JPY” for related projects, or large budget allocations (32.6 billion JPY) as part of the MaaS program.
• Accelerating Social Implementation of Smart Cities: Includes developing 3D urban models (Project PLATEAU), with a FY 2025 budget of 2.9 billion JPY.
• Strategic Significance (Integrated Urban Solutions): Smart city support emphasizes cross-sectoral data linkage and service integration, covering transport, energy, and disaster prevention. The Japan-style MaaS Promotion and Support Program, with its maximum subsidy ceiling of 100 million JPY per project, highlights a strong intent to provide large-scale support for integrated mobility solutions within the smart city concept.

3. Logistics Innovation (DX and Decarbonization)

• Overview/Background: Promoting DX and GX to improve efficiency and reduce environmental impact in the logistics sector.
• Logistics Decarbonization Promotion Program: Supports the introduction of hydrogen and renewable energy equipment at logistics facilities. The subsidy ceiling for hydrogen is 250 million JPY, and for renewables is 200 million JPY. Calls for FY 2025 started in May 2025.
• Subsidy for DX Promotion Demonstration Projects in Logistics Facilities: Subsidizes up to 115 million JPY for DX equipment introduction and up to 25 million JPY for system construction/integration.
• DX Promotion in Ports: Including cyber port promotion, the FY 2025 budget request is 1.2 billion JPY (non-public works costs). The total requested budget for port logistics efficiency improvement is 3.525 billion JPY (FY 2025).
• Modal Shift Promotion Program: FY 2025 budget request: 599 million JPY. Large-scale initiatives could exceed 100 million JPY.
• Strategic Significance (Addressing Structural Challenges in Logistics Systems): Japan’s logistics industry faces labor shortages and decarbonization pressure. MLIT’s massive funding for DX (automation, data linkage) and GX (hydrogen/renewables introduction into facilities) is accelerating efforts to address these structural challenges.

4. Decarbonization of Buildings and Transport (ZEB/ZEH, Zero-Emission Ships)

• Overview/Background: Collaborating with the Ministry of Environment and METI, promoting decarbonization in buildings (ZEB/ZEH) and transportation (zero-emission ships).
• Support for Accelerating Energy Saving/CO2 Reduction in Housing through Insulation Window Renovation Promotion, etc.: Collaboration between METI and MOE. FY 2023 supplementary budget: 135 billion JPY.
• Accelerated Support Program for Decarbonization Retrofitting of Commercial Buildings: Collaboration between MOE and METI. FY 2023 supplementary budget: 111.75 billion JPY. FY 2025 budget plan: 12 billion JPY, FY 2024 supplementary: 111.75 billion JPY.
• Promotion Program for Zero-Emission Ships: Collaboration with MOE. FY 2024 budget: 94 billion JPY, total national debt burden over 5 years: 600 billion JPY. Another source mentions a budget of 65 billion JPY from FY 2025 to FY 2030 (5 billion JPY in the first year). This is also a target for GX Transition Bonds.
• Realization of Autonomous Vessels: As part of the “DX Action Plan for Infrastructure,” the FY 2025 budget request is 22 billion JPY. The “Support Program for Developing Technology for Maritime Industry Integration” also targets autonomous vessel technology.
• Strategic Significance (Comprehensive Decarbonization Approach): MLIT shows a comprehensive approach by committing massive budgets to decarbonization in its key sectors—buildings and maritime transport—in cooperation with other ministries, demonstrating the government’s overall commitment.

5. Disaster Prevention/Mitigation, National Resilience, and DX

• Overview/Background: Utilizing DX and advanced technologies for disaster prevention/mitigation and national resilience is one of MLIT’s most critical tasks.
• Achieving Sustainable Infrastructure Maintenance through Aging Countermeasures, etc.: FY 2025 budget: 788.9 billion JPY. A significant portion of this contributes to disaster prevention/mitigation and includes DX utilization.
• Promotion of Disaster Prevention/Mitigation and National Resilience: Large budgets are allocated in the public works expenditure for FY 2025. Related budgets from the Cabinet Office also include approx. 146 billion JPY in FY 2025 (including funds for accelerating disaster prevention DX).
• Comprehensive Grant and Disaster Prevention/Safety Grant: Large grants supporting infrastructure development (including disaster prevention and DX) by local governments. The requested amount for the Disaster Prevention/Safety Grant is 1.404 trillion JPY.
• Building Volcano Research Human Resource Consortia, etc.: A program run by MEXT, but it allocates a 100 million JPY budget for establishing volcano observation systems, related to MLIT’s disaster prevention scope.
• Strategic Significance (National Resilience through Advanced Technology): To cope with increasingly frequent and severe natural disasters, MLIT continues massive investment. Within this effort, the shift towards more advanced, data-driven (DX) approaches across prediction, prevention, and response stages is progressing.

Table 3: MLIT’s Key Large-Scale Support Initiatives (Expected Support Amount Over 100 Million JPY)

Priority Field/Area	Program/Project Name	Support Scale (Billion JPY)	Main Objective/Target Activity	Related Document Example
Infrastructure DX	Architectural GX/DX Promotion Program	FY25 Budget: 6.5 billion JPY (overall)	Building BIM adoption, LCC-CO2 reduction
Infrastructure DX	Promotion of the “DX Action Plan for Infrastructure”	FY25 Request: 7.9 billion JPY (overall)	General infrastructure DX promotion
Smart City	Japan-style MaaS Promotion and Support Program	Up to 100 million JPY/case (Related budget: 32.6 billion JPY)	MaaS app development, data linkage
Smart City	Accelerating Social Implementation of Smart Cities	FY25 Budget: 2.9 billion JPY (overall)	3D urban model development, etc.
Logistics DX/GX	Logistics Decarbonization Promotion Program	Up to 250 million JPY (Hydrogen), Up to 200 million JPY (Renewables)/case	Installation of hydrogen and renewable energy equipment in logistics facilities
Logistics DX/GX	Subsidy for DX Promotion Demonstration Projects in Logistics Facilities	Up to 115 million JPY (DX equipment)/case	Automation and mechanization of logistics facilities
Logistics DX/GX	DX Promotion in Ports	FY25 Request: 1.2 billion JPY (non-public works)	Cyber port promotion, etc.
Building Decarbonization	Accelerated Support Program for Decarbonization Retrofitting of Commercial Buildings	FY25 Budget Plan: 12 billion JPY; FY24 Supplementary: 111.75 billion JPY	Insulation retrofits, high-efficiency equipment installation in existing commercial buildings
Transport Decarbonization	Promotion Program for Zero-Emission Ships	FY25-30 Budget: 65 billion JPY (FY24 budget: 94 billion JPY, separate total of 600 billion JPY over 5 years)	Developing production facilities necessary for zero-emission ship construction
Transport DX/GX	Realization of Autonomous Vessels	FY25 Request: 22 billion JPY (within Action Plan)	Autonomous vessel technology development and commercialization
Disaster Prevention/Mitigation DX	Achieving Sustainable Infrastructure Maintenance through Aging Countermeasures, etc.	FY25 Budget: 788.9 billion JPY (overall)	Infrastructure maintenance, disaster prevention and mitigation
Disaster Prevention/Mitigation DX	Disaster Prevention/Safety Grant	FY25 Request: 1.404 trillion JPY (overall)	Disaster prevention and safety measures for local governments

(Note) The support scales in the table above indicate the overall program budget or individual project limits, and actual adoption amounts vary by case.

D. Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF)

MAFF sets major policy goals focused on modernizing Japan’s primary industries, strengthening food security, promoting sustainable agriculture, forestry, and fisheries, and revitalizing rural areas. To achieve these goals, it deploys large-scale support measures contributing to smart technology adoption (DX) and environmental load reduction (GX).

1. Smart Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (DX of Primary Industries)

• a. Comprehensive Promotion Measures for Smart Agriculture
  • Overview/Background: This is a core program that comprehensively promotes the development, demonstration, and adoption of smart agricultural technologies using robotics, AI, and IoT, aiming to improve productivity, reduce labor requirements, and enhance sustainability.
  • Support Scale:
    • Large budgets are allocated overall; for example, the “Comprehensive Promotion Measures for Smart Agriculture” shows a budget of 5.5 billion JPY, and “Promotion of Smart Fisheries” shows 2.9 billion JPY.
    • The preliminary request for FY 2025 is 800 million JPY for “Intensive Support for Utilizing Smart Agricultural Technology,” but within this, the “Wide-Area Service Support Type” may receive up to 50 million JPY (minimum principle: 5 million JPY) for smart agricultural machinery introduction. Combined with related expenses, support could reach 50 million JPY. This suggests potential projects exceeding 100 million JPY when assuming large regional co-use or wide-area service deployment (e.g., introducing multiple high-cost machines or building wide-area systems).
    • The “Program for R&D and Supply of Smart Agricultural Technology” was called under the FY 2024 supplementary budget, suggesting potential for large-scale R&D projects.
  • Target Fields/Activities: Farmers, agricultural cooperatives, agricultural support service providers, technology development companies, etc. Includes R&D, demonstration experiments, and introduction of smart agricultural technologies into production sites, as well as developing and providing related services.
  • Strategic Significance (Modernization of Primary Industries): Amid deepening aging and labor shortages among farmers, MAFF is addressing structural challenges and enhancing competitiveness in primary industries through DX. The “Smart Agriculture Technology Utilization Promotion Act” has also been enacted, providing legal backing.
  • Application Information:

  Calls for information are announced by the MAFF website or related organizations like NARO (National Agriculture and Food Research Organization). For instance, the “Emergency Support Program for Smart Agriculture/Agricultural Support Services Introduction Comprehensive Measures” held its 3rd call in April 2025.

2. Green Transformation (GX) of Sustainable Food Systems and Agricultural Sector

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