Chairman's Message

Following the two oil crises of the 1970s, NEDO was established in 1980 to promote the development and introduction of new energy technologies. Since then, NEDO has become one of the largest public research and development management organizations in Japan, and it works with the government to implement economic and industrial policies. In this capacity, NEDO undertakes research, development and demonstration activities to carry out the two basic missions of addressing energy and global environmental problems and enhancing industrial technology by integrating the combined efforts of industry, academia, and government.

NEDO’s Fifth Five-Year Plan began in April 2023. NEDO is carrying out the plan with a focus on the three pillars of creating innovation through research and development management, fostering technology-based startups, and strengthening and accumulating technology intelligence that contributes to policy making and research and development management.

First, as a specific effort to create innovation through research and development management, NEDO is striving to enhance management functions through the project manager system and further strengthen its management capabilities. These efforts are expected to maximize research and development outcomes and allow NEDO to respond quickly to changes that occur due to innovations around the world, thus promoting practical applications by businesses. Second, in order to foster technology-based startups, NEDO has developed a system to provide consistent support from the seed phase to practical application. NEDO’s activities include giving assistance to discover startups capable of bringing about innovation, thereby creating new industries. NEDO is also contributing to the establishment of a startup ecosystem through cooperation with other public organizations. Third, NEDO is strengthening and accumulating technology intelligence that contributes to policy making and research and development management, which will lead to the cultivation and practical use of innovation in the future. In addition to providing the evidence necessary for policy making, technology strategies utilizing Japan’s competitive advantages are being formulated by anticipating innovation trends faster and more accurately than in other countries. NEDO is then planning and carrying out industry-academia-government collaborative projects.

NEDO is also implementing eight funding projects, including the Green Innovation Fund, to achieve policy goals such as revitalizing industrial technology, promoting innovation, achieving carbon neutrality, and ensuring economic security. In this manner, NEDO strives to meet greater expectations and shoulder its responsibilities to usher in a sustainable society. NEDO also remains committed to supporting the energy and environmental policies of Japan and playing a leading role in Japan’s innovation policy.

NEDO intends to enhance its role as an innovation accelerator that promotes the practical application of project results and to contribute even further to the resolution of social issues.