Accelerate Innovation and Startup Collaboration | TOKYO PAS FY23 01 03

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Accelerate Innovation and Startup Collaboration (TOKYO PAS FY23 01 03)

1) What is the name of this grant opportunity?

The opportunity is titled "Accelerate Innovation and Startup Collaboration".

2) What is the Funding Opportunity Number?

The Funding Opportunity Number is TOKYO PAS FY23 01 03.

3) Which government agency is offering this grant?

This is a discretionary funding program offered by the U.S. Department of State, through U.S. Mission to Japan, specifically the U.S. Embassy Tokyo Public Affairs Section.

4) What is the main purpose of the program?

The program is designed to support an exchange initiative that strengthens U.S.-Japan collaboration around innovation, with a particular emphasis on priority areas tied to critical and emerging technologies.

5) What type of activities is the funding intended to support?

The funding is meant to help an organization plan and run structured exchanges that bring together stakeholders from the U.S. and Japan to share expertise, build relationships, and advance cooperative work.

6) Who are the expected participants or stakeholders in the exchange?

The opportunity describes bringing together stakeholders such as entrepreneurs, startup ecosystem leaders, researchers, and other innovation-focused participants from both countries.

7) What thematic areas does this grant fall under?

The listing places the program within activity areas that include Business and Commerce and Science and Technology and other Research and Development.

8) Is this intended to be a general cultural exchange program?

No. The positioning and description indicate the project is expected to be more than a general cultural exchange and should connect directly to innovation outcomes, startup collaboration, and technology-focused cooperation aligned with shared U.S.-Japan interests.

9) What kind of project scope does the award size suggest?

With a maximum award of $70,000, the description suggests a focused, targeted scope such as convenings, workshops, site visits, speaker programming, or other exchange-related components that can be delivered within a modest budget.

10) What type of funding instrument will be used?

The grant uses a standard grant funding instrument.

11) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to two categories:

• Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
• Nonprofit organizations that hold 501(c)(3) status with the IRS (excluding higher education institutions in that nonprofit category description)

12) Are for-profit organizations eligible to apply?

The information provided lists only public/state-controlled institutions of higher education and IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofits as eligible applicants. No for-profit eligibility is described.

13) How many awards does the opportunity anticipate making?

The opportunity anticipates making a single award, meaning one organization is expected to be selected to implement the exchange program.

14) What is the maximum award amount?

The maximum award amount (ceiling) is $70,000.

15) When was the opportunity created?

The listing indicates the opportunity was created on December 21, 2022.

16) What was the original application deadline?

The original application deadline shown in the listing is February 19, 2023.

17) What is the geographic or bilateral focus of the program?

The exchange is designed to strengthen U.S.-Japan collaboration and ties, specifically by facilitating engagement between innovation ecosystems in both countries.

18) What is the core expected outcome of the funded project?

The central purpose is to strengthen bilateral ties by creating a program that facilitates real engagement between the U.S. and Japan innovation ecosystems and accelerates collaboration in technology-forward sectors, particularly those connected to critical and emerging technologies.