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Information on the FY2026 INPIT Overseas Application Grant
[4th Call for Applications: Now Accepting Applications] Application Deadline: Monday, September 28, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.
Applications for the FY2026 4th Call for Proposals (Application Procedure Assistance) are now being accepted starting at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, September 7. The 4th call is scheduled to be the final one for this fiscal year, and the announcement of selected applicants is expected in late November. A G-Biz ID Prime account (which takes 1–2 weeks to be issued) is required to apply.As the jGrants system tends to be congested right before the deadline, leaving no time to correct incomplete documents, please consult us as early as possible. (Updated September 11, 2026; based on the 4th Call for Applications Guidelines)
I am Takefumi Sugiura, a patent attorney. I would like to provide information regarding the FY2026 INPIT Foreign Application Grant (Support Program for Foreign Applications by Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, etc.).
The INPIT Foreign Application Grant is a program designed to promote the acquisition of rights abroad and support the development of international intellectual property strategies by providing small and medium-sized enterprises, startups, universities, and other eligible entities with partial funding for the costs associated with securing rights for inventions, utility models, designs, and trademarks in foreign countries.The program covers PCT international patent applications, Madrid Protocol international trademark applications, and Hague international design applications.
Key Points: You can receive a grant covering up to half of the application fees (with an annual cap of 3 million yen). Starting in fiscal year 2026, “inter-office proceedings assistance” has been newly established in addition to the application procedure assistance.
Table of Contents
- Overview of the Subsidy and Subsidy Amounts
- Maximum Amount per Application
- Eligible Application Types and Filing Methods
- FY 2026 Application Schedule
- Eligible and Ineligible Expenses
- Eligibility Requirements (Criteria for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises)
- Application Method and Post-Application Process
- Important Notes (Duplicate Applications, Economic Security, Obligations)
- Past Participating Companies
- Our Firm’s Application Processing Fee (50,000 yen)
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Free Consultation
Overview of the Grant and Grant Amount
| Item | Application Procedure Assistance | Interim Procedure Assistance |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible Procedures | Patent, utility model, design, and trademark applications filed abroad (including PCT, Hague, and Madrid Protocol applications) | Interim responses to notices of grounds for rejection; requests for examination of applications |
| Assistance Rate | Up to 1/2 | Up to 1/2 |
| Annual Cap | Up to 3 million yen per business per year | Up to 500,000 yen per procedure (by country) (combined with application procedure subsidies, up to 3 million yen per year) |
| Eligible Entities | Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), designated start-up corporations, universities, etc., licensees, etc. | Businesses selected to receive application procedure assistance |
Maximum subsidy amount per application
| Type of Application | Maximum Amount per Application |
|---|---|
| Patent application | Up to 1.5 million yen |
| Utility Model, Design, and Trademark Applications | Up to 600,000 yen |
| Applications for Trademark Infringement Prevention | Up to 300,000 yen |
*Note: “One application” refers to a complete set of applications filed with foreign patent offices, etc., based on a single underlying domestic application. Applications filed in multiple countries or regions are also treated as “one application.” *In the case of
joint applications, the maximum amount per application is calculated by multiplying the amount in the table above by the lower of the ownership share or the cost-sharing ratio.
*For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and specified start-up corporations (excluding universities, etc.), the program covers up to 5 design registration applications and up to 5 trademark registration applications, respectively.
*The annual cap of 3 million yen per business applies to the total amount of grant decisions made during the first through fourth rounds of FY2026.
*There is no cap for research and development institutions, etc. (universities and similar institutions that meet certain requirements).
Types of Applications and Application Methods Eligible for This Grant
This grant covers the following four types of rights:
Inventions (Patents)
Utility Models
Designs
Trademarks
[When Claiming Priority]
- Direct filing with a foreign patent office, etc., in accordance with the laws and regulations of the relevant country or region (Paris Route)
- International application under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) (including national phase entry procedures in each country)
- International design registration application under the Hague Agreement
- International trademark registration application under the Madrid Protocol
[When Not Claiming Priority]
- PCT application (requires national phase entry in Japan)
- Hague applications (Japan may be included among the designated countries)
- Madrid Protocol application (if a corresponding Japanese trademark application exists)
Important: Applications filed with foreign patent offices or similar authorities will not be eligible for subsidies unless the applicant’s name is identical to that on the application filed with the Japan Patent Office.
FY 2026 Call for Proposals Schedule
[Application Assistance]
| Round | Application Period | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | December 1, 2025 (Mon) – December 22, 2025 (Mon) 5:00 PM | Applications Closed |
| Round 2 | March 2, 2026 (Mon) – March 23, 2026 (Mon) at 5:00 PM | Registration Closed |
| Session 3 | June 8, 2026 (Mon) – June 29, 2026 (Mon) 5:00 PM | Registration Closed |
| Session 4 | Monday, September 7, 2026, 10:00 a.m. – Monday, September 28, 2026, 5:00 p.m. | Applications Now Open (Final Call for This Fiscal Year) |
Key Dates for the 4th Call for Proposals: Application Deadline: Monday, September 28, 2026, at 5:00 PM / Selection and Announcement: Around late November 2026 (scheduled; notification via jGrants) / Project Completion Deadline: Friday, March 26, 2027. Please note that expenses incurred before the grant is approved are not eligible for funding; therefore, please be cautious with projects where priority periods (12 months for patents; 6 months for designs and trademarks) or PCT national phase entry deadlines fall before late November.
[Interim Procedure Grant]
April 1, 2026 (Wed) – December 14, 2026 (Mon) (Applications accepted year-round)
*Deadline for completion of subsidized projects for the 4th Call for Applications: Friday, March 26, 2027. All expenses must be paid in full, and the final report must be submitted within 30 days or by the above date, whichever comes first.
Eligible and Ineligible Expenses
Eligible expenses are limited to those for which a contract (purchase order) was entered into after the grant award decision, and for which acceptance and payment were completed within the project implementation period.
[Eligible Expenses]
| Expense Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Fees paid to foreign patent offices, etc. | Fees payable to the receiving office, fees for domestic conversion procedures (excluding the portion for conversion to Japan), fees for application comments, fees for procedural amendments, and fees required to request examination of an application, etc. |
| Agent Fees | Fees for domestic agents (patent attorneys), fees for local agents (generally assuming one agent per country), fees for certification procedures by a certifying officer, fees for preparing powers of attorney, etc. |
| Translation Fees | Costs associated with translating application documents |
| Bank fees, etc. | Bank transfer fees and remittance fees (allocated on a pro rata basis if combined with applications not eligible for subsidies) |
[Expenses Not Eligible for Subsidy]
- Costs associated with preparing grant application and reporting documents
- Stamp duty, overseas value-added tax (VAT), service tax, etc.
- Fees payable to the Japan Patent Office (e.g., Madrid Protocol national office fees, priority certificate issuance fees, etc.)
- Prior art search costs
- Official fees for the international phase of international applications (e.g., international application fees, fees for requests for preliminary examination)
- Registration fees and registration taxes
- Agent fees corresponding to the above
Note: Please calculate eligible expenses after excluding consumption tax in advance. For foreign currencies, convert to yen using the domestic commercial bank TTS rate on the date of payment.
Eligibility Requirements (Criteria for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises)
Eligibility is limited to entities with their head office in Japan that meet any of the following criteria:
(1) Small and medium-sized enterprises
| Industry | Capital | Number of Employees (Full-time) |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing, Construction, Transportation | 300 million yen or less | 300 or fewer |
| Wholesale | 100 million yen or less | 100 or fewer employees |
| Service industry (excluding software, information processing services, and lodging) | 50 million yen or less | 100 or fewer employees |
| Retail | 50 million yen or less | 50 or fewer employees |
| Rubber products manufacturing (*) | 300 million yen or less | 900 or fewer employees |
| Software Industry or Information Processing Services Industry | 300 million yen or less | 300 or fewer employees |
| Hotel industry | 50 million yen or less | 200 or fewer employees |
| Other industries | 300 million yen or less | 300 or fewer employees |
*Excluding manufacturers of tires and tubes for automobiles or aircraft, and manufacturers of industrial belts
(2) Start-up-Specific Corporations
Corporations with capital of 300 million yen or less that, as of the date of application, have not been in existence for more than 10 years.
(3) Research and Testing Institutions, etc.
Research staff at universities, colleges of technology, Inter-University Research Institutes Corporation, and independent administrative agencies or national research and development corporations that conduct research-related activities.
(4) Licensees, etc.
A person who has been granted a license or similar right by an applicant falling under (1) through (3) above and who bears part or all of the expenses related to the application.
Excluded: Deemed Large Enterprises Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in which a single large enterprise owns at least one-half of the total number of
issued shares or the total capital, or in which a large enterprise owns at least two-thirds, are deemed “large enterprises” and are ineligible for subsidies.
How to Apply and the Process After Submission
Applications must be submitted electronically via jGrants (the Government Grant Electronic Application System).
Preparations (Important): You must obtain a G-Biz ID Prime account. Since it takes approximately 1 to 2 weeks to issue an account, please allow plenty of time to prepare.
G-Biz ID Registration Site: https://gbiz-id.go.jp/top/
Key Points for Application
- As a general rule, only one application is permitted per company (or individual). If you have multiple projects, please submit them as a single application.
- If you wish to receive bonus points for wage increases, you must submit a separate written pledge.
- The system may become congested just before the application deadline, which may result in error messages. Please submit your application well in advance.
- If your application qualifies for bonus points (e.g., a plan for a wage increase of 2.5% or more; certification under programs such as J-Innovation HUB, Regional Future Leading Companies, or the 10,000 New Exporters Support Program; Eruboshi, Kurumin, or Youth Yell certification; or selection for an INPIT support project), please attach the supporting documents when applying.
- By using the jGrants proxy application feature, a patent attorney can review the application details in advance before the applicant submits it.
Process After Submission
- Application Submission → Electronic Application via jGrants
- Review → Document review by the INPIT Secretariat
- Selection and Grant Approval → Notification via jGrants (no separate grant application procedure required)
- Project Implementation → Execution of application procedures (orders and payments made after the grant decision)
- Performance Report → Submit within 30 days after payment is completed
- Final Payment Request → Submit an invoice after the grant amount is finalized → Transfer to bank account
- Report on Intellectual Property Rights Status → Submit annually by March 31 following the completion of the subsidized project
Estimated Duration (Based on Our Firm’s Experience): In past cases, the process from application submission to the selection decision has taken approximately three and a half months. Since the preparatory period—including obtaining a G-Biz ID Prime account (approximately 1–2 weeks)—must be factored in, we recommend allowing ample time in your application schedule.The announcement of selections for the 4th Call for Applications (deadline: September 28) is scheduled for late November 2026.
Important Notes
Prohibition on Duplicate Applications
Applications that have already been submitted and approved as eligible for funding under other grant programs (such as JETRO’s Support Program for Overseas Applications and Infringement Countermeasures by Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, or intellectual property-related grant programs offered by local governments) are not eligible to apply for this grant.
Notes Regarding Economic Security
Applications containing inventions that fall under the “non-disclosure of patent applications” system stipulated in the Economic Security Promotion Act are not eligible for this grant.
Main Obligations of Grant Recipients
- Obligation to organize and retain supporting documents for five years following the completion of the grant project
- Obligation to submit a report on the status of rights acquisition (including examination results and registration status for all eligible applications)
- Prior approval from INPIT is required for changes in the allocation of expenses or the suspension of the project, etc.
- Recipients who received bonus points for wage increases are obligated to report the status of those wage increases
Contact Information
INPIT Overseas Application Grant
Secretariat Phone: 03-3502-5424
Email:
info@gaikoku.inpit.go.jp受付時間: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, national holidays, and the year-end/New Year period)
Official Website:https://www.inpit.go.jp/shien/gaikoku/index.html
Past Support Projects
At EVORIX Intellectual Property Firm, we have assisted numerous clients—regardless of industry or company size—with their applications for foreign patent application grants. To date, we have a proven track record of supporting clients across a wide range of industries, including the following:
Food and Beverage/Restaurant Industry
Golf Equipment Manufacturers
IT and Software Companies
Hardware and Metal Processing Manufacturers
Apparel and Fashion
Steel manufacturers
Electrical Control Equipment Manufacturers
Bedding Manufacturers
Chemical and Materials Manufacturers
Proven Track Record Across a Wide Range of Industries and Fields: We have extensive experience supporting applications through regional offices, including the Osaka Industrial Promotion Bureau. In the most recent call for proposals, every project our firm supported was approved (a 100% approval rate), resulting in successful acquisition of grants.We support our clients’ overseas expansion with our solid expertise and proven track record in all types of foreign patent, design, and trademark applications.
The Japan Patent Office’s compendium of examples of foreign application grants features case studies from various companies. Please feel free to refer to it.
Our Firm’s Application Filing Fees
At the intellectual property firm EVORIX, we offer application agency services for the INPIT Foreign Application Grant at the following rates.
FLAT FEE / Fixed Fee
INPIT Foreign Filing Subsidy Application Handling Fee
50,000 yen (excluding tax)
Comprehensive service covering the preparation of application documents, support for electronic submissions via jGrants, and the preparation of the post-award performance report
Included in the fee:
Preparation of the complete set of application documents, jGrants application support, and preparation of the performance report after approval
Not included
:
Fees for representing you in the foreign application itself (Japan Patent Office fees, local agent fees, translation fees, etc., will be quoted separately)
100% Approval Rate in the Previous Round: In the most recent call for applications, all cases supported by our firm were approved. We are confident in the quality of our application documents and the soundness of our filing strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to frequently asked questions regarding the INPIT Foreign Filing Grant.
Q : What is the INPIT Foreign Application Grant?
Q Who is eligible to apply?
Q : What are the subsidy rate and maximum amount?
Q : Which countries and regions are eligible?
Q : How much is your firm’s application filing fee?
Q : How long does it take from application to approval?
Q : Can this grant be combined with other grants?
Q : What happens if my application is not approved?
Q : Are PCT, Madrid Protocol, and Hague Protocol applications eligible?
Q Is it possible to start with just a consultation?
Free Consultation on INPIT Foreign Application Subsidies
Our firm provides representation for applications for foreign filing subsidies. We offer comprehensive support, from preparing application documents and consulting on filing strategies to representing clients in various international filings, including PCT, Madrid Protocol, and Hague System applications.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us. We also invite you to view the profiles of the patent attorneys assigned to your case.
Business Hours: Weekdays 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM