1. Support by the Three Types of SME Support Centers

  2. Support by Commerce and Industry Associations and Chambers of Commerce and Industry

It is becoming a critical issue to improve the support system for SMEs so as to provide them with appropriate advice on solutions to their managerial issues and the smooth acquisition of management resources, by attentively responding to their diversified needs.

Therefore, the Small and Medium Enterprises Agency has improved the three types of SME Support Centers: Prefectural SME Support Centers, Regional SME Support Centers, and SME / Venture Business Support Centers. These three Centers, in collaboration with the present SME support institutions such as Commerce and Industry Associations and Chambers of Commerce and Industry, serve as one-stop service counters to provide information concerning SME support strategies, etc. and implement support projects such as over-the-counter consultation service, dispatch of experts, etc.

In addition, to support the overall management activities of small-scale enterprises, the State provides traveling guidance, guidance at service counters, training seminars, etc. at Commerce and Industry Associations and Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

(1) Regional SME Support Centers

The Regional SME Support Center is established at 251 locations in each broader municipal area of the country as a familiar support center for small-scale enterprises that plan to start up business or implement business innovation, and where they can easily discuss their various concerns, and be provided with over-the-counter consultation, diverse information, etc.

a)Over-the-counter consultation

Specialized coordinators of the Centers provide a consultation service at the counter concerning issues on start-up and business innovation, including finance and marketing.

b)Consultation with experts such as legal advisers

The Centers provide an over-the-counter consultation service by lawyers, licensed tax accountants, etc. to small-scale enterprises that expect to receive expert advice about legal, accounting, and tax matters.

c)Expert dispatch project

Concerning management issues which need a more expert approach than coordinators can provide, the Centers dispatch experts as required to provide appropriate advice.

d)Provide information

The Centers conduct one-stop provision of information about support systems of the State and prefectures, marketing, technical trends, etc.

e)Holding of workshops, etc.

The Center holds workshops and seminars on education / dissemination for start-ups and business innovation and subjects based on local needs.

(2) Prefectural SME Support Centers

The Prefectural SME Support Centers are established at 54 locations in prefectures as centers of the implementation system of the SME support projects, which are conducted by prefectural governments (including Cabinet Order-specified cities) under the Small and Medium Enterprise Support Law to support smooth implementation of business resources such as human resources, technology, and information in response to the diversified needs of SMEs. The Centers implement various projects such as over-the-counter consultation services, provision of information, dispatch of experts, and evaluation of business feasibility.

a)Over-the-counter consultation project

The Center provides an over-the-counter consultation service for various issues on management of SMEs by using experts such as small and medium enterprise management consultants and lawyers, and those who have experience in corporate management.

b)Information provision project (seminars and others)

The Center holds seminars and the like to solve managerial issues of SMEs and improve their management quality.

c)Transaction information provision project

In order to respond to the diversified types of transactions of SMEs, the Center collects and provides information on order reception and placement as well as on products, and also provides information for improving trade conditions.

d)Human resource development project (training)

The Center holds practical training for the acquisition of knowledge and know-how on management methods, technologies, etc. for SMEs and their employees.

e)Expert dispatch project

The Center dispatches experts in the private sector such as small and medium enterprise management consultants, licensed tax accountants, and CPAs, to support SMEs in solving their individual and specific managerial issues.

f)Project feasibility evaluation committee

The Center examines and evaluates the feasibility of projects from various aspects such as their potential, their stage of technology, their original expertise, etc., according to requests from SMEs.

(3) SME / Venture Business Support Centers

SME / Venture Business Support Centers are established at eight locations of the country to support SMEs considering the public offering of stock, and provide financial and technical assistance and high-level consulting services on management, finance, and legal matters.

The Centers also support the activities of the Prefectural SME Support Centers and the Regional SME Support Centers as the core of the SME support system in regional blocks.

a)Over-the-counter consultation project

The Centers provide an over-the-counter consultation service given by experienced experts for management and technical matters, and hold traveling consultation sessions in accordance with various events.

b)Expert dispatch project

The Centers provide appropriate advice according to the level of development in companies through the long-term and continuous dispatch of experts in management, technology, finance, legal affairs, etc. for difficult and specialized management issues of both SMEs that aim at introduction of stock and other SMEs.

c)Incubator manager dispatch project

The Centers dispatch incubator managers to organizations and other groups that have incubation functions to provide intellectual support to tenant enterprises including drafting of business plans, expansion of sales channels, and patent strategies.

d)Various seminar projects

The Center holds various seminars and workshops on specific subjects such as management strategies and business plans for SMEs that aim at start-up or business innovation.

(4) Collaboration and Cooperation among the Three Types of SME Support Centers by JASMEC

JASMEC provides a one-stop service that enables easy and speedy acquisition through the Internet of the information needed by SMEs and SME Support staff by improving the portal site (SME business support search site: J-Net21) that facilitates a comprehensive service including provision of various information and searches. JASMEC also promotes collaboration and cooperation for SME support systems by planning sharing of the information among the three types of SME Support Centers.