Japan IPA

Japan IPA MITOU Program (Information-technology Promotion Agency) is a prestigious government-funded initiative launched in 2000 that discovers and develops exceptional IT talent in Japan. The program has produced over 2,300 creators and 452 Super Creators (as of 2025) who have gone on to lead innovations in technology, startups, and research.

The MITOU IT Program provides talented developers under 25 with intensive mentorship from distinguished Project Managers, research funding up to 3 million yen per project, and connections to a powerful ecosystem of innovators. Projects focus on cutting-edge areas including AI/ML, robotics, quantum computing, AR/VR, and open source development.

For ZHC builders, MITOU offers non-dilutive funding, world-class mentorship from luminaries like Yukihiro Matsumoto (Ruby creator), and the prestige of joining Japan's elite community of IT innovators. The program is unique in allowing creators to retain full intellectual property rights while receiving government support. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) backs this initiative to create new added value for Japan's economy through technological innovation.

MITOU IT Program

• Age: Under 25 years old
• Residency: Must reside in Japan during program period (approx. 9 months)
• Status: Individuals or small teams (not legal entities)
• Skills: Exceptional IT talent with innovative ideas and technical abilities
• Focus: Novel software, AI/ML, robotics, developer tools, open source projects
• Language: Applications accepted in Japanese or English

Program Variants

MITOU Advanced Program (All ages, 8 months)

• Focus on commercialization and business development
• Business advisors in addition to technical mentors
• For projects ready to become products/businesses
• Funding commensurate with development results
• Applications opened December 2024 for FY2025

MITOU Target Program (All ages, 9-18 months)

• Highly specialized emerging technologies
• Current themes: Quantum computing, Reservoir computing
• Deep technical expertise required
• Maximum 18 months duration

ZHC-Specific Fit

Excellent for:

• Young developers under 25 with breakthrough ideas
• Novel AI/ML applications and tools
• Robotics and hardware-software integration
• Developer productivity and infrastructure tools
• Open source projects with social impact
• Quantum computing applications
• AR/VR and spatial computing innovations
• Healthcare technology innovations
• Agricultural technology and drones
• Security and systems programming

Poor fit if:

• Over 25 years old (use MITOU Advanced instead)
• Cannot relocate to Japan for 9 months
• Purely business-focused without deep technical innovation
• Incremental improvements to existing products

Application Process

Step	Timeline	Details
Call for proposals	Annual (December-March)	Applications typically open December-March
Application submission	Deadline varies	Detailed project proposal, technical plan, personal statement
Preliminary screening	4-6 weeks	Committee review of written applications
Second screening	Mid-May to early June	Presentations and interviews with Project Managers
Acceptance notification	Early to mid-June	Successful applicants notified
Individual PM interviews	June-July	Match creators with appropriate Project Managers
Project period	9 months (Oct-June)	Development with PM mentorship and monthly meetings
Final presentations	June-July	Present completed projects to judges
Super Creator nomination	Post-completion	Exceptional projects nominated by PMs (typically 50-70% of creators)

Application Components

• Project proposal (Japanese or English): Technical approach, innovation, feasibility
• Personal statement: Background, motivation, why you're the right person
• Portfolio: Previous work, GitHub, publications, demonstrations
• Team composition (if applicable): Roles and qualifications
• Development plan: Timeline, milestones, resource requirements
• Budget request: Detailed breakdown of how funds will be used

Selection Criteria

1. Originality (Unchartedness): Novel ideas that push technical boundaries
2. Technical excellence: Deep understanding and strong capabilities
3. Feasibility: Realistic plan given timeframe and resources
4. Impact potential: Broader significance beyond immediate project
5. Creator potential: Ability to become future IT leader

Tips for Strong Applications

• Demonstrate technical depth with concrete implementation details
• Show clear innovation beyond existing solutions
• Include working prototypes or proof-of-concepts when possible
• Research and reference PM backgrounds to find best fit
• Explain why this project requires intensive support
• Be specific about what you'll build in 9 months
• Emphasize the societal or technical impact
• Show your track record through GitHub, publications, or past projects