Selected for the FY2024 NEDO SBIR Promotion Program
Fuseki Inc. is pleased to announce that it has been selected for Phase 1 of the FY2024 "SBIR Promotion Program" (End-to-End Type), managed by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). The selected R&D project is titled "Proof of Concept and Feasibility Study for a Deep Space Constellation Accelerating Commercial Asteroid Exploration."
Project Overview
Project Title:
Deeptech Startup Support Fund / SBIR Promotion Program / Phase 1: Proof of Concept and Feasibility Study for a Deep Space Constellation Accelerating Commercial Asteroid Exploration
Scope of Work:
Conduct a proof of concept (PoC) and feasibility study (FS) for a deep space constellation designed to process, analyze, and sell data, as well as provide ancillary services for asteroid resource exploration.
Background & Context:
In recent years, advances in telescope technology have led to a sharp increase in the number of discovered asteroids. As a result, demand for asteroid resource exploration and planetary defense has surfaced. Leveraging our proprietary core technologies—orbital design, microsatellite technology, and flyby control technology—we have developed a system capable of efficiently reconnoitering asteroids. This SBIR project serves to execute the proof of concept and feasibility study for this system.
Objectives & Impact:
By transitioning Japan’s world-class asteroid exploration expertise (demonstrated by missions like Hayabusa) to the commercial sector, we aim to pioneer the next frontier of the space industry. Furthermore, agile and continuous development of microsatellite technology will enhance overall technical capabilities across the domestic space sector.
Commercialization:
Because the primary bottleneck in commercializing asteroid resource exploration is "access to data," our business model focuses on processing, analyzing, and selling data, along with providing ancillary services to asteroid exploration companies as our target customers.
About the NEDO SBIR Promotion Program
This program is part of the Japanese version of the SBIR (Small/Startup Business Innovation Research) system, coordinated across ministries by the Cabinet Office. Based on the "Guidelines for the Provision of Designated Subsidies" established under the Act on Strengthening Science, Technology, and Innovation Creation, the program aims to accelerate R&D by research-oriented startups and facilitate the smooth societal implementation of their results to solve increasingly diverse social challenges.
The designated subsidies under the Japanese SBIR system provide tailored support based on the startup's stage of development. This initiative supports Phase 1 and Phase 2:
Phase 1: Conduct Proof of Concept (PoC) and Feasibility Studies (FS).
Phase 2: Businesses that have completed PoC and FS execute R&D aimed at practical application.
Phase 1 Scheme
Duration: Within 1 year (in principle)
Funding Type: Fixed amount grant (100% funded by NEDO)
Maximum Grant Amount: 20 million yen
Phase 2 Scheme
Duration: Within 2 years (in principle)
Funding Type: Subsidized grant (Up to 2/3 funded by NEDO)
Maximum Grant Amount: 100 million yen (NEDO portion)
▼ About the NEDO SBIR Promotion Program (Japanese)
