table of contents
May [General] Newsletter
New IP focusSelection of support areas
The Japan Patent Office, the National Center for Industrial Property Information and Training (INPIT), the Japan Patent Attorneys Association, the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency have formed the Intellectual Property Management Support Network to strengthen and enhance support for intellectual property management for small and medium-sized enterprises and work to improve the earning power of local regions.
In connection with the aforementioned "Intellectual Property Management Support Network," the Japan Patent Office has launched the "Intellectual Property Management Support Model Region Creation Project" from fiscal year 2024. This "Intellectual Property Management Support Model Region Creation Project" is an initiative that selects specific regions, strengthens cooperation between the aforementioned "Intellectual Property Management Support Network" and support networks that integrate local governments and regional support organizations in those regions, and provides comprehensive support to small and medium-sized enterprises through that support network, aiming to promote the sustainable use of intellectual property in those regions.
Specifically, business producers will be dispatched to the selected regions by companies commissioned by the JPO, and the producer teams formed by these business producers will provide the support outlined below.
- Strengthening regional intellectual property management support networks
- Support for local small and medium-sized enterprises
- Raising awareness and promoting intellectual property awareness in the region
This time, three new regions - Aichi Prefecture, Yamaguchi Prefecture and Kumamoto City - have been selected as target regions for the "Intellectual Property Management Support Model Region Creation Project" in fiscal year 2025. Aomori Prefecture, Ishikawa Prefecture and Kobe City were selected in fiscal year 2024, and the above support is scheduled to continue in fiscal year 2025.
It is expected that the creation of new innovations from these six regions will accelerate and the number of companies making effective use of intellectual property will increase in the future.
Selection of recipients of the Intellectual Property Achievement Award and the Prime Minister's Letter of Appreciation
Every year, the Intellectual Property Rights System Merit Award is given to individuals who have contributed to the development and dissemination/publication of the intellectual property rights system, and the Intellectual Property Rights System Utilization Excellence Award is given to companies that have made effective use of the intellectual property rights system and contributed to its smooth operation and development.
In addition to the above awards, the following awards will also be given in 2025:
- "Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Award" and "Director-General of Export and International Affairs Bureau Award": These awards are given to companies and other entities that have effectively protected and utilized intellectual property rights and other intellectual property in the agriculture, forestry, fisheries and food sectors, and have achieved outstanding results in the development of business management.
- "Osaka-Kansai Expo Special Award": This award is given to companies that are using intellectual property to foster momentum for the 2025 World Expo in Japan and are working on initiatives that are highly compatible with the Expo's theme, "Designing a Future Society for Our Lives."
- "Letter of Appreciation from the Prime Minister": Awarded to companies that have made outstanding contributions to the spread and development of the industrial property rights system, and to companies that have made outstanding contributions to the development of local economies by utilizing the system.
The recipients of the Prime Minister's Letter of Appreciation from the above-mentioned awards are as shown in the table below.
The author of the book "The Greatest Hits in the World" Popularization and development Special Merit Company | Asahi Kasei Corporation [Tokyo] |
NTT Docomo, Inc. [Tokyo] | |
Bridgestone Corporation [Tokyo] | |
The author of the book "The Greatest Hits in the World" Special Dissemination and Development Achievement Companies (regional category) | Imabari Towel Industrial Association [Ehime Prefecture] |
Satake Corporation [Hiroshima Prefecture] | |
Fukui Ware-Hen Kogyo Co., Ltd. [Fukui Prefecture] |
For other recipients of the award, please refer to the METI website at the address below. It is expected that these recipients will be attracting attention in the intellectual property industry in the future.
Japan Patent Office website:https://www.jpo.go.jp/news/koho/tizai_koro/2025_tizai_kourou.html
Announcement of outline of the Japan Patent Office-related budget for fiscal year 2025 (Patent Special Account)
The Japan Patent Office has published an outline of its fiscal 2025 budget (special patent account). In this budget, a large amount is allocated to the initiatives shown in 1. and 2. below. Therefore, it is predicted that these initiatives will be given priority in fiscal 2025.
Ensuring the world's fastest and highest quality screening system
(1) Securing the necessary screening capabilities and internal organization
- Securing the necessary budget for smooth examination, such as prior art searches (patents) and distinctiveness searches (trademarks) [expansion]
- Establishing a system for introducing accelerated examination for start-ups in design examinations (increasing allowances for part-time staff) [New]
(2) Information system renewal and system operation
- Steady implementation of current system operations and planned system renewal (continued)
Supporting the use of intellectual property to create innovation and strengthen management capabilities
(1) Strengthening support for utilizing intellectual property to connect excellent technologies and ideas to market acquisition and further growth
- Support for the creation of IP strategies for startups by dispatching IP experts to venture capital firms (expansion)
- Building intellectual property strategies for innovative research and development at universities and national projects (expansion/INPIT grant)
- Support for the formulation of intellectual property strategies when restructuring business for medium-sized companies actively investing in Japan (New/INPIT Grant)
- Support for small and medium-sized enterprises and startups to acquire rights overseas (Continued/Partial INPIT Grant)
- Research into intellectual property systems in various countries and regions with a view to acquiring new markets overseas and support for the development of systems in developing countries (ongoing)
(2) Expanding the base of the intellectual property ecosystem through one-stop support and information dissemination for local small and medium-sized enterprises
- Establishing consultation desks for intellectual property support in 47 prefectures (expansion/INPIT grant)
- Creating model regions where local governments and regional support organizations work together to support intellectual property management (expansion)
- Promoting business feasibility evaluation of small and medium-sized enterprises by regional financial institutions using intellectual property as a starting point [Continued]
- Promoting intellectual property utilization measures by regional economic and industrial bureaus and industrial support organizations / Holding awareness-raising events for regional small and medium-sized enterprises (ongoing)
- Raising awareness of intellectual property among various players through disseminating information on solving social issues through the use of intellectual property [expansion]
Newsletter translated into English
Selection of New IP Priority Support Areas
The Japan Patent Office, the National Center for Industrial Property Information and Training (INPIT), the Japan Patent Attorneys Association, and the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry have formed the “IP Management Support Network” to strengthen and enhance intellectual property management support for small and medium enterprises, etc. and to improve local earning power.
In connection with the above-mentioned “IP Management Support Network”, the JPO started the “Project for Creation of IP Management Support Model Regions” in 2024. network.
Specifically, project producers will be dispatched to the selected region from a contractor commissioned by the JPO, and a producer team formed by the project producers will provide the following support:
- Strengthening of the regional IP management support network
- Accompanying support for small and medium-sized enterprises in the region
- Improvement and promotion of IP mindset in the region
Aichi Prefecture, Yamaguchi Prefecture, and Kumamoto City have been newly selected as target regions for the “Project for Creation of IP Management Support Model Regions” in 2025. Aomori Prefecture, Ishikawa Prefecture, and Kobe City were selected in 2024, and the noted support will continue in 2025.
It is expected that the creation of new innovations from the six regions mentioned above will accelerate and that more companies will make effective use of intellectual property in the future.
Recipients of “Intellectual Property Achievement Awards” and “Letters of Appreciation from Prime Minister” Announced
Every year, the “Award for Contribution to the Intellectual Property Rights System” is given to individuals who have contributed to the development and dissemination of the intellectual property rights system, and the “Award for Outstanding Corporation Using the Intellectual Property Rights System” is given to companies that have made effective use of the intellectual property rights system and contributed to its smooth operation and development.
In addition to the mentioned awards, the following awards have also been given in 2025:
- The “Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Award” and the “Export and International Affairs Bureau Director-General Award” for companies that have effectively protected and utilized intellectual property rights in the fields of agriculture, forestry, fisheries and food and other intellectual property, and have achieved outstanding results in the development of business management.
- The “Osaka-Kansai Expo Special Award” is awarded to companies that have used intellectual property to create momentum for the 2025 Japan International Expo and that are highly compatible with the theme of the Expo, “Designing Future Society for Our Lives.”
- The “Letter of Appreciation from the Prime Minister” is awarded to companies, etc. that have made extremely significant contributions to the dissemination and development of the industrial property rights system, as well as to companies, etc. that have made extremely significant contributions to the development of the regional economy through the use of the system.
The recipients of the Prime Minister's Letter of Appreciation mentioned above are as listed in the table below.
Industrial Property Rights System Promotion and Development Special Achievement Company | Asahi Kasei Corporation [Tokyo] |
NTT DOCOMO, INC. [Tokyo] | |
Bridgestone Corporation [Tokyo] | |
Industrial Property Rights System Promotion and Development Special Achievement Company (Regional Category) | IMABARI TOWEL INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATION [Ehime Prefecture] |
Satake Corporation [Hiroshima Prefecture] | |
Fukui Tateami Co., Ltd. [Fukui Prefecture] |
For information on the recipients of other awards, please refer to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's website at the address below. It is believed that these award recipients will gain attention in the intellectual property industry in the future.
JPO website: https://www.jpo.go.jp/news/koho/tizai_koro/2025_tizai_kourou.html
Outline of 2025 JPO Related Budget (Patent Special Account) Published
The JPO has released a summary of JPO Related Budget (Patent Special Account) for 2025. A large portion of the budget has been allocated for the initiatives listed in 1. and 2. below. Therefore, it is expected that the JPO will place a high priority on these efforts in 2025.
Ensuring the world's fastest and highest quality examination system
(1) Ensuring the necessary examination capacity and agency structure
- Securing the budget necessary for carrying out smooth examinations, such as prior art searches (patents), distinctiveness searches (trademarks), etc. [Expansion]
- Securing a system to introduce accelerated examination for start-ups in design examination (increased part-time staff allowance) [New]
(2) Information system renewal and system operation
- Steady implementation of immediate system operation and planned system renewal [Ongoing]
Support for utilization of intellectual property to create innovation and strengthen management capabilities
(1) Support for utilization of intellectual property that connects superior technologies and ideas to the capture of markets and further growth
- Support for the establishment of IP strategies for startups by dispatching IP experts to venture capital firms [Expansion]
- Development of IP strategies for innovative R&D at universities, national projects, etc. [Expansion/INPIT grant]
- Support for medium-sized companies proactive in domestic investment to formulate IP strategies at the time of business restructuring [New/INPIT grant]
- Support for acquisition of IP rights overseas by small, medium, and start-up companies [Ongoing / Partially funded by INPIT grant]
- Survey of IP systems in other countries and regions and support for developing countries to improve their systems in order to capture overseas markets [Ongoing]
(2) Expansion of the basis of the IP ecosystem through one-stop support and information dissemination to local SMEs
- Establishment of consultation offices for intellectual property support in the 47 prefectures [Expansion/INPIT grant]
- Creation of model regions where local governments and local support organizations, etc. work together to support IP management.
- Promotion of business feasibility assessments of SMEs by regional financial institutions using IP as a starting point.
- Promotion of IP utilization measures by regional Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry bureaus and industrial support organizations / hosting awareness-raising events for local SMEs [Ongoing]
- Raising awareness of intellectual property among various players through the dissemination of information on solving social issues through the utilization of intellectual property [Expansion]