The Japanese government, under the Cabinet Office, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology(MEXT), and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) have set aside a budget estimated at 6.7 billion USD over 10 years for private companies and universities to work on technology development for up to 10 years. This fund will support satellite, transportation, exploration, etc.

Prerequisites:

• Identify and build relationships with ministries likely to be using or requiring space exploration technologies

• Lead agency & budget

• Procurement pathway

• Partner support as neede

Cost:

• Ballpark: USD 50k–250k  

• Includes: inter-ministerial consultations and workshops, mapping of existing funding mechanisms and grant programs, financial/legal review of eligibility and access, documentation and reporting, dissemination of opportunities

Timeframe:

• Overall: 6–18 mo

• Phase: scoping & stakeholder mapping (2–4 mo), review of funding instruments & eligibility (3–6 mo), inter-ministerial alignment & reporting (3–6 mo), integration into national space programme planning (3–6 mo)

Pros:

• Success Rate Increase - Increases the likelihood of securing adequate financial support for space projects.

• Provides foreseeability for industry - Long term

Considerations:

• Prioritisation - Necessary to understand the nation's priorities and needs to determine which activities to fund.

• Timeline - Prioritising activities may require significant consideration and time.