NEDO Entrepreneurs Program (NEP)

NEP Advanced Track

Funds early stage Japanese start ups with support for technology validation, business model testing, and customer driven commercialization planning.

The NEP Advanced Track is a grant program operated by Japan's New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) that supports early-stage Japanese deep-tech startups in the transition from initial feasibility to full commercialization readiness. The program bridges the gap between exploratory proof-of-concept work and the larger-scale R&D investment provided by NEDO's Deep-Tech Startup Support Program (DTSU). Eligible technology sectors are broad, spanning AI infrastructure, biotechnology, materials, quantum, semiconductors, robotics, space, medtech, clean energy, and advanced manufacturing.

Award sizes are estimated in the range of ¥20 million to ¥100 million per project (approximately $130,000–$660,000 USD), with a typical project duration of one to two years. Eligibility is restricted to Japanese-registered for-profit startups, generally under five years old, operating at TRL 3–5. The applicant must demonstrate completion of NEP Exploratory stage or equivalent feasibility evidence. Universities, research institutions, nonprofits, and individuals are not eligible. VC or CVC co-investment is not formally required at this stage but is expected for pipeline continuity.

Funded activities include technology refinement, customer discovery and validation, business model iteration, IP strategy development, commercial partner identification, and financial model development. Successful NEP Advanced graduates are positioned to apply directly to DTSU STS (Phase 1), where awards scale to ¥300–500 million for core technology R&D. Applications are reviewed by NEDO's Startup Support Department. Public recruitment is open annually, and applicants should apply to the single phase that best fits their current development stage.