Complete Guide: FY2026 INPIT Foreign Filing Subsidy (Round 1) — 50% Support for Overseas Patent & Trademark Filings Including Translation Costs

Acima Corp.
3 days ago
4 min read

— 50% Cost Reduction for Overseas Patent & Trademark Filings. Translation Costs Included.

Acima Corporation Explains Everything You Need to Know

※This article is based on information available as of December 3, 2025.For the latest updates, always refer to the official INPIT

website:https://www.inpit.go.jp/kokusai/gaikokusyutsugan.html

On December 1, 2025, INPIT (the National Center for Industrial Property Information and Training, Japan) officially announced the launch of the “FY2026 INPIT Foreign Filing Subsidy Program (Round 1).”

This subsidy covers 50% of the costs required for SMEs, startups, universities, and research institutions to obtain patents, designs, or trademarks in foreign jurisdictions.

This year marks a major operational change: the program has been fully transferred from the Japan Patent Office (JPO) to INPIT, leading to significant improvements such as:

increased number of application rounds,
clearer schedules,
and enhanced applicant convenience.

It is no exaggeration to say that this is one of the most critical subsidies for Japanese companies expanding overseas.

Acima Corporation supports global IP strategies by providing:

patent translation,
trademark translation,
foreign filing translations, and
office-action/response translations in 65 languages.

This guide explains the subsidy in a clear, executive-friendly format and outlines practical strategies to maximize its benefits.

1. What Is the INPIT Foreign Filing Subsidy?

The program subsidizes half of the expenses companies incur when filing patents, design registrations, or trademarks abroad.

🎯 Program Objectives

Strengthen competitive advantage through early IP acquisition in overseas markets
Accelerate international expansion of Japanese companies
Reduce the risk of imitation and technology leakage
Support the IP activities of SMEs and startups

For startups, overseas patents are often core drivers of corporate valuation and play a crucial role in investor assessments.

2. What Costs Are Covered?

A key highlight of this program is that translation costs are eligible.

Since accurate translations are essential for successful foreign filings, and patent specifications often span tens of pages, translation costs can easily exceed ¥300,000–¥1,000,000.

With this subsidy, half of that expense can be funded.

Examples of covered costs:

Official filing fees
Local agent/attorney fees
Translation costs (specifications, claims, descriptions, goods/services lists for trademarks)
Examination request fees
Responses to office actions(Office-action costs may fall under a separate “intermediate subsidy.”)

This means that most major costs associated with foreign IP filings are eligible, substantially reducing the financial burden on companies.

3. Subsidy Amounts and Rates

Subsidy Rate:

50% (1/2 of eligible expenses)

Maximum Amount per Filing

Patent: up to ¥1.5 million
Utility Model: up to ¥600,000
Design: up to ¥600,000
Trademark: up to ¥600,000
“Preemptive trademark filings”: up to ¥300,000

Maximum Amount per Applicant (per year)

SMEs / research institutions (excluding universities): ¥3 million
Universities and related institutions: No upper limit

Applicants may choose any translation company or local agent they prefer.

4. Application Period (FY2026 Round 1) — Important Date Note

Although this subsidy is part of the FY2026 program,the application window occurs in December 2025 (FY2025 in the Western calendar).

This often causes confusion, so please take special care with dates.

📌 Application Period (FY2026 Round 1)

December 1, 2025 (Mon) → December 22, 2025 (Mon), 17:00 JST (Wareki notation: Reiwa 7, December 1–22)

5. FY2026 Application Schedule (Planned)

According to INPIT, the four planned rounds are:

Round	Application Period (Planned)
Round 1	Dec 1–22, 2025 (Mon–Mon)
Round 2	Mar 2–23, 2026 (Mon–Mon)
Round 3	Jun 8–29, 2026 (Mon–Mon)
Round 4	Sep 7–28, 2026 (Mon–Mon)

Having four rounds per year allows companies to align the subsidy with:

product launches,
overseas market entry,
fundraising cycles,
and internal development roadmaps.

6. How to Apply (Online Only)

Applications must be submitted through jGrants, Japan’s national electronic subsidy application system.

▶ jGrantshttps://www.jgrants-portal.go.jp/

Because translation cost estimates are required, translation preparation and subsidy application must be done in parallel.

Acima can prepare subsidy-compliant quotations the same day.

7. Three Strategies to Maximize the Subsidy

① Poor Translation = Expensive Mistakes

Common pitfalls in patent translation include:

terminology inconsistencies
technical misunderstanding
incorrect claim interpretation

These can easily lead to office actions, which means:

more time → more money → more risks.

Acima mitigates these risks by ensuring:

translators with technical backgrounds
native linguistic review
consolidated terminology management

② Country Selection Is a Key Translation Strategy

Requirements vary significantly by jurisdiction:

USPTO (United States)
EPO (Europe)
CNIPA (China)
ASEAN countries

With over 18 years of cross-jurisdiction translation experience, Acima can advise from the early stage of deciding which countries to file in.

③ Align the Subsidy Schedule with Product & Funding Roadmaps

Optimal timing can be achieved by integrating the subsidy with:

product release milestones
mass-production plans
overseas distribution strategy
other subsidies (e.g., manufacturing subsidies)

This approach can dramatically reduce overall expansion costs.

8. Why Companies Choose Acima Corporation

(1) 65-Language Coverage

From English and Chinese to European, Middle Eastern, and ASEAN languages—wide global coverage.

(2) Expert Patent & Trademark Translators

Our team includes specialists familiar with:

AI, semiconductors, chemistry, machinery, materials science, biotech, medical devices, IT, and more.

(3) Fast, Subsidy-Compliant Documentation

Same-day quotations for subsidy applications
Translations optimized to each country’s requirements
Strict confidentiality and robust security framework

Conclusion:

Subsidy × High-Quality Translation = The Most Powerful Path to Global IP Protection

The INPIT Foreign Filing Subsidy represents a major opportunity for Japanese companies seeking to secure IP rights overseas.

With translation costs subsidized up to 50%, companies are accelerating their patent and trademark filings much earlier than before.

Acima provides integrated support combining:

translation,
application preparation,
and multi-country IP strategy planning.

Contact for the INPIT Foreign Filing Subsidy Program

For any questions regarding the INPIT Foreign Filing Subsidy, please contact the official program office:

INPIT Foreign Filing Subsidy Office📞 Tel: +81-3-3502-5424✉️ Email: info@gaikoku.inpit.go.jp🕒 Office Hours: 10:00–17:00 JST(Closed on weekends, public holidays, and December 29–January 3)