The government will award up to 38.8 billion yen to 16 “space startups.”List of selected companies for lunar landers, debris countermeasures, etc.

In Japan, the government has begun full-scale efforts to foster space startups. The total amount of funds invested is a huge amount of 38.76 billion yen.

A typical company receiving grants is iSpace, which attempted to land on the moon in April 2023, and received up to 12 billion yen. Interstellar Technologies, a private rocket developer known for being founded by Takafumi Horie, and SPACE WALKER, a venture from the Tokyo University of Science that develops reusable winged rockets, each have 2 billion yen (up to 140 million yen in stages). billion yen)——.

These budgets are based on the framework of the “Small and Medium Enterprise Innovation Creation Promotion Project (SBIR Phase 3)” by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.16 space startups were selected as targets..

Considering that the total amount of funding for domestic space ventures in 2022 will be 34.5 billion yen, we can see the magnitude of the impact that this government grant will have on the industry.

The selected businesses include notable space ventures. Let’s take a look at the selected companies in each business area and the maximum grant amount.

ispace received 12 billion yen.Developing a new lunar lander

iSpace, which attempted to land on the moon in April 2023, will receive up to 12 billion yen in SBIR from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. According to the Nomura Research Institute, which supports SBIR, iSpace was the only company to apply for the public theme of “Development and operational demonstration of a lunar lander.”

In parallel with the new lander “APEX 1.0 Lander” being developed mainly by its American subsidiary, ispace will use subsidies to develop a new lunar lander “Series 3 Lander (tentative name)” led by its Japanese headquarters. .

At a question-and-answer session for the media held on October 23, CEO Takeshi Hakamada explained that operating two landers will be an important pillar of the business.

The APEX1.0 lander, which is currently under development in the United States, will incorporate the requirements of NASA, which is leading the Artemis program, and the American government, and will provide transportation services mainly to the American market. On the other hand, the Series 3 Lander will be developed for markets outside the United States, with the aim of capturing demand.

CEO Hakamada

“We believe that our company is far ahead in this kind of development (with an eye on markets outside the United States), and we believe that this strategy is important as a competitive advantage for our business.”

I said.

A total of 16 selected companies

There are other notable ventures besides ispace. Below is a summary of the business theme, company name, maximum grant amount, and company overview.

◯Project theme: Development and demonstration of private rockets (adopted by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology)

Interstellar Technologies (upper limit on grant amount: 2 billion yen)

A company founded by businessman Takafumi Horie, also known as “Horiemon.” The sounding rocket “Shift to Space Quality MOMO3” launched in May 2019 became the first private company in Japan to reach outer space. Then, in July 2021, two sounding rockets reached outer space in succession. Currently, we are developing a small rocket called “ZERO” for inserting satellites into orbit.

SPACE WALKER (upper limit of grant amount 2 billion yen)

A venture from Tokyo University of Science. He is working on the development of winged reusable rockets, based on the research and development of spacecraft carried out by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology’s Space Science Institute (currently JAXA Space Science Institute) and the National Space Development Agency (NASDA). . He is also developing, manufacturing, and selling next-generation composite tanks by repurposing lightweight technology. A flight demonstration to provide a small satellite launch service is scheduled to be conducted in 2027.

Future space transportation system (upper limit of grant amount 2 billion yen)

A startup aiming to develop a reusable space transport vehicle. Since its founding in May 2022, the company has been conducting joint research with Muroran Institute of Technology, Tokyo University of Science, and Chiba Institute of Technology, and has entered into partnerships with IHI, IHI Aerospace, Shimizu Corporation, and others.

Space One (upper limit on grant amount: 320 million yen)

A venture established with investment from Canon Electronics, IHI Aerospace, Shimizu Corporation, and Development Bank of Japan. Currently developing a small rocket called “Kairos”. The first Kairos was scheduled to launch in February 2023, but the launch was postponed due to difficulties in procuring parts from overseas due to the global logistics disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

◯Project theme: Technology development and demonstration necessary for space debris reduction (adopted by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology)

Astroscale (upper limit on grant amount: 2.69 billion yen)

The world’s first private space debris removal technology demonstration satellite “ELSA-d” was launched in March 2021 and successfully captured simulated debris. The core technologies necessary for space debris removal, including rendezvous technology, were demonstrated.

JAXA was selected for Phase I of the “CRD2” program, which promotes the creation of a space debris countermeasure market in collaboration with private businesses, and has developed the commercial debris removal demonstration satellite “ADRAS-J.” It plans to approach the upper stage of the H-IIA rocket that remains in orbit and take images of the movement, damage, and deterioration of debris that has been left for a long time.

Pale Blue (upper limit on grant amount: 1.58 billion yen)

A venture from the University of Tokyo. Hydrazine and xenon, which are used as propellants in conventional satellites, have issues such as being highly toxic and expensive to handle, so Pale Blue has developed a “water engine” that uses water as a propellant. It has a track record of being installed on the microsatellite “EYE” launched by the Sony Group as part of the “STAR SPHERE Project”.

BULL (upper limit on grant amount: 1.47 billion yen)

A startup founded in November 2022 by Kyoji Uto, who was the manager of the space debris diffusion prevention device development at ALE, which develops artificial shooting stars. In July 2023, we took over the assets related to ALE’s space debris countermeasures business, and began joint demonstrations with JAXA to commercialize space debris diffusion prevention devices. In October 2023, it was certified as a Teikyo University startup.

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has selected the above-mentioned ispace for the “Development and Operational Demonstration of Lunar Lander (Lander).” In addition, the following eight companies have been selected.

◯Business theme: Satellite remote sensing business advancement demonstration (adopted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)

Synspective (upper limit on grant amount: 4.1 billion yen)

The company launched its own small SAR satellite that applied the results of the Cabinet Office’s Innovative Research and Development Promotion Program (ImPACT), sells the observed data, and provides solutions for assessing flood damage and analyzing ground deformation. In March 2022, the company raised 11.9 billion yen in the Series B round, bringing the total amount raised to 22.8 billion yen.

Arc Edge Space (upper limit on grant amount: 3.5 billion yen)

A startup from the University of Tokyo that plans, develops, and operates microsatellites, and proposes communication and earth observation services. It was applied as a consortium with Genesia, AstraSens, Bank of Mitsubishi UFJ, Skymatics, Tokyo Institute of Technology, and others, and was selected.

QPS Institute (upper limit on grant amount: 4.1 billion yen)

A venture from Kyushu University. The company is building a constellation of small SAR satellites, aiming to realize a “near-real-time data provision service” that can observe most specific areas around the world at an average interval of 10 minutes.

New Space Intelligence (upper limit on grant amount: 1.5 billion yen)

A startup founded by members of Yamaguchi University and the Asian Institute of Technology (Thailand), who have specialized knowledge in satellite remote sensing, AI technology, and image processing. We are developing a “satellite data pipeline” that automates the series of processes involved in using satellite data and provides data according to user needs.

sustainacraft (upper limit on grant amount: 430 million yen)

A startup that provides a service to evaluate the effectiveness of nature conservation projects by combining satellite remote sensing technology and causal inference technology. We are conducting joint research with the National Institute for Environmental Studies and Hitotsubashi University to create carbon credits.

Tenchijin (upper limit on grant amount: 430 million yen)

A JAXA-originated venture established by JAXA staff and members with knowledge of agricultural IoT. Utilizing satellite data, we offer a service for local governments that manages the risk of water pipe leakage, and a service that uses satellite data to comprehensively analyze information such as weather and topography to identify suitable areas for cultivating crops. We provide search services, etc. In December 2022, it was announced that it had received investment from JAXA.

LocationMind (upper limit on grant amount: 280 million yen)

Startup from the University of Tokyo. We conduct location information analysis using location big data and IoT devices, human flow prediction, and consulting. Selected together with IHI and Arcedge Space for the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO)’s “Economic Security Important Technology Development Program/Development and Demonstration of Marine Situational Awareness Technology Using Communication Satellite Constellations for Ships” .

Sagri (upper limit on grant amount: 360 million yen)

Overview: Utilizing satellite data and AI technology, the company offers apps such as Sagri, which helps agricultural producers streamline field management, and Detaba, an app that streamlines cropping surveys.