INPIT has opened the third round this year of its foreign-filing subsidy, a nationwide program that covers part of the cost of securing intellectual-property rights overseas. The application window opened on June 8 and runs through June 29. Support is set at one-half of eligible costs, capped at ¥3 million. The portal also lists a target size of 300 employees or fewer and says multiple applications are not allowed.
The funding is tightly aimed. It is designed to help applicants obtain overseas rights for inventions, utility models, designs and trademarks, with the stated goal of promoting rights acquisition abroad and helping applicants build an international intellectual-property strategy.
Eligible applicants are SMEs and research institutions. The program page also links the subsidy to use cases such as starting new businesses and expanding sales channels overseas, making it a practical support tool for organizations taking technology and brands abroad.
The caveat is scale. The notice outlines the program terms, but it does not disclose expected uptake or award volume. It also explicitly tells applicants to consult the full public guidelines for detailed conditions and expense coverage, so the finer print still matters.