BEYOND MAKERS PROGRAM

Co-creating Innovation with
Japanese Manufacturers
and Australian Startups

Program Overview

Beyond Makers Program is a structured initiative that pairs world-class Japanese manufacturing SMEs with high-potential Australian deep tech, hardware, and digital transformation startups. Across online preparation, in-country visits, and co-creation sprints in both countries, you will explore real manufacturing challenges, develop joint solutions, and build pathways into Japan market.

*This program is supported by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (learn more here)

Close-up view of a graphics card being manufactured or tested, with electronic components visible on the circuit board.

Why Japan

Japan plays a dual role for startups:
an ecosystem for co-creation, piloting, and manufacturing — and a market that validates global readiness.

It is where advanced technology becomes production-ready, where prototypes become industrial products, and where quality translates into global credibility.

It is a product creation engine.

Japan offers unmatched product infrastructure such as:

  • World-class precision engineering
    Tolerances, reliability, and performance at industrial scale

  • Deep materials science
    Advanced surfaces, composites, and manufacturing materials

  • Advanced manufacturing ecosystems
    From prototyping to production, tightly integrated

  • Industrial-grade quality control
    Built for safety-critical and regulated industries

  • Long-term partner culture
    Relationships designed for decades, not pilot projects

  • Global credibility
    Especially in hardware, medtech, robotics, and industrial systems

Why Beyond Makers Program

Beyond Makers Program goes beyond sponsorships and mentoring.

You will be directly connected to Japan’s product creation engine and gain the following benefits:

  • One-stop support across your journey
    From Technology → Engineering → Prototyping → Manufacturing → Commercialisation → Market Access

  • A subsidized flight to Japan
    To meet key industry players and build long-term professional relationships

  • A favorable AUD/JPY exchange rates
    Enabling high-quality production at greater cost efficiency

  • Japan as a trusted global partner
    Strengthen your long-term growth and international positioning

Program Structure

The program is delivered in three structured stages, with the goal of progressing toward MoU signing and the start of a PoC project with a Japanese partner.

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MODULE 1

Japanese SMEs visit to Australia

  • Online Sessions: June ~ August 2026

    • Proof of Concept (PoC) projects and partnership structures.

    • Mentoring by experts wil be provided for planning.

    • 1 on 1 meeting with the matched pair to facilitate collaboration.

    • Hands-on support by management team to facilitate communication.

  • Weekly 2 hours~

    • Outside of scheduled activities, most of the time commitments will be influenced by the real project you co-design and deliver with your Japanese partner.

    • The estimated hours per week ranges from 2 hours and above, however, it can be planned and managed between the two partipating parties.

MODULE 2

Online MoU/PoC Planning

  • Pre-Departure Orientation for Japanese SMEs: April 2026

    • Program overview, cultural preparation, networking, and pre-pitch.

    Australia Visit: Monday, May 18th ~ Friday, May 22nd

    • Reverse-pitch

    • Co-creation sprint workshops

    • Ecosystem immersion

    • One-on-one matching sessions

    • Reverse pitch events with Japanese SMEs

    • Co-creation sprint workshops

    • One-on-one matching sessions

    • Collaborative solution development

    • Preliminary partnership planning

  • ~5 days (1-Day Workshop + Optional Site Visits) + Travel

    • The module consists of a 1-day, intensive in-person workshop, with additional site visits offered primarily for Japanese SMEs.

    • Startups may join these visits optionally, depending on interest and availability.

    • Overall time commitment can be managed to minimise extended stays in Sydney, especially for participants travelling from outside the city.

    • Hence, joint reflection & PoC consolidation on DAY5 will be held online & in-person.

MODULE 3

Australian Startups visit to Japan

  • Pre-Departure Orientation for Australian Startups: August 2026

    • Understanding the Japanese culture and manufacturing landscape.

    Japan Visit: September 2026 TBD

    • Factory and facility tours with partner SMEs

    • Joint technical workshops

    • Prototype development planning

    • Market entry / MoU sessions

    • Factory and facility tours

    • Joint technical workshops

    • MoU signing ceremonies

    • Investor engagement sessions

    • Prototype development planning

    • Market entry strategy sessions

  • 5 days + Travel

    • Activities include on-site co-creation, manufacturer visits, alignment workshops for MoU and PoC, and business meetings/company visits in Japan.

    • Additionally, you will expore the Japanese business culture and understand the ecosystem through live-interacations.

    • The visit will include a MoU annoucement and a signing ceremony.

Opportunities may extend to PoC execution, certification support, and manufacturing scale up depending on collaboration outcomes. Schedule and activities of the visit are subject to change.

What you can expect

    • Direct introductions to high precision Japanese manufacturing SMEs with deep technical capability, supporting prototype refinement or PoC deployment with improved quality and scalability.

    • Most importantly, you will be working with one of the world’s most trusted manufacturing partners.

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    • Guidance across product readiness, integration constraints, and Japanese business practice ensures smooth communication and sustained progress throughout collaboration.

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    • The program supports exploration of joint business structures and market strategies aligned with Japan’s industrial priorities and long term commercial value.

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    • Startups are matched with committed partners to align engineering requirements, manufacturability and deployment plans, with a clear pathway toward MoU and pilot project implementation.

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    • Access to factory environments, industrial networks, and prospective customers and investors helps validate feasibility, adoption and commercial models directly in the market.

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    • Collaboration with world class Japanese partners builds market credibility and creates pathways into broader APAC and global opportunities.

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Selected Companies

Learn more about the selected companies here.

Japanese Manufacturing SMEs

Australian Startups

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You will be
collaborating with…

High-quality Japanese manufacturers that support key Japanese industries such as automotive, energy, construction and industrial machinery.

  • Ōta City in Tokyo is one of Japan’s most important manufacturing hubs, home to thousands of highly specialized small and medium-sized manufacturers with world-class precision, prototyping, and production capabilities. It has a long track record of successful collaboration with startups and global innovators, making it a proven model for co-creation between advanced manufacturing expertise and cutting-edge technology.

    Click here to search profiles of companies in Ōta City

  • Examples:

    • Proprietary motor technology

    • Advanced surface treatment technology

    • Precision metalworking

    • Mold design and manufacturing technology

    • Mechanical structure design associated with R&D

    • Transition from small-lot prototyping to mass production

  • Click here to view examples of collaborations between startups and manufacturing companies in Ōta City.

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Collaboration Pathways

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Category A: Prototype co-development with Japanese SMEs

For hardware and advanced manufacturing startups requiring precision engineering, production grade prototyping or validation of manufacturability and quality.

    • Medtech devices

    • Sensors and electronics

    • Robotics and mobility

    • Industrial and energy technologies

    • Defense related technologies

    • Semiconductor related technologies

    • Advanced material applications

    • Beyond 3D-printing stage and looking to prototype or scale hardware using Japan’s high-precision, quality-certified manufacturing.

    • Open to conducting PoCs or pilot production in Japan as a pathway to market entry.

    • Focus area (but not limited to): Deep Tech, MedTech & Bio Engineering, Advanced Manufacturing, CleanTech & Energy Systems, University Spinouts

Goal: Co-develop and validate a working industrial prototype with a Japanese SME, aiming for PoC and scaled production.

Application closed for Category A
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Category B: Deployment of digital transformation solutions for Japanese SMEs

For startups offering industrial software or digital systems that solve operational problems inside factories or industrial workflows.

    • Predictive maintenance

    • Quality automation and defect detection

    • Energy and resource optimisation

    • Smart logistics and workflow digitalisation

    • Safety and productivity analytics

    • Inbound process optimisation in manufacturing

    • You have real deployments and paying industrial customers or will be deployable soon.

    • You want to rapidly launch a PoC or commercial pilot in Japan.

Goal: Deploy a PoC or early commercial project in Japan.

Application closed for Category B

*If unsure which category applies, choose the closest fit and our team will assist.

Timeline


Stage 1. Pre-Registration and Application

DEC 20th, 2025 - JAN 31st 2026

  • Pre-registration open

FEB 2nd - MAR 20th 2026

  • Online application open

  • Online information session
    (details below)


Stage 2. Interviews and Selection

MAR 20th - APRIL 3rd 2026

  • Shortlisted startups invited to an online interview

MID APRIL 2026

  • 15 selected startups announced

*The number of startups selected may change. A detailed onboarding schedule will be provided to selected applicants.


Stage 3. Matching and Preparation

APRIL 2026

  • Understand each other's business and challenges through online pitch and get-to-know sessions

APRIL - MAY 2026

  • Online kick-off

  • Module 1: Pre-Departure Orientation

Selection Criteria

15 startups will be selected to participate in Module 1. Based on the outcome of the workshop, a total of 6 to 8 startups will be selected across Category A & B to participate in Module 2 & 3.

Applications are evaluated on:

Product or service fit with Japanese SME needs
Aligns with Japanese SME capabilities or addresses a specific industrial challenge.

1.

Team capability and PoC execution capacity
Capable of managing a pilot and maintaining collaboration momentum with Japanese partners.

2.

Innovation value with Japan relevance
Technology aligns with Japan’s industrial priorities and market needs.

3.

Feasible within the program period
Pilot or prototype progress can be achieved during the program.

4.

Commercial traction and scale potential
A scalable business model with signs of market validation.

5.

Transparent and compliant operations
Low risk regarding IP, data handling and regulatory alignment.

6.

ARE YOU QUALIFIED?

The program is open to Australian startups with strong alignment to Japanese industrial needs. 

  • The program is open to Australian startups that meet the following criteria:

    • Stage:
      Pre-seed to Series A stage and beyond, typically ranging from late research to early prototype, prototype to MVP, or MVP to production-ready.

    • Product Readiness:
      A well-defined proof-of-concept theme aimed at:

      • research and development

      • prototyping and testing

      • manufacturing translation

      • regulatory or certification pathways (e.g. JET / ISO / CE)

    • Product Characteristics:
      Startups should have products with:

      • a physical product component

      • engineering complexity

      • clear prototyping and manufacturing needs

      • manufacturing dependency and quality criticality

      • defensible intellectual property

    • Japan Intent:
      A clear intention to pursue collaboration opportunities with Japanese companies, customers, or investors for market entry and business growth in Japan.

    • Operational Flexibility:
      Openness to exploring longer-term Japan-based operations as a potential outcome of successful collaboration (not required).

    • Relevance to Japanese SMEs
      Clear use cases aligned with Japanese manufacturing needs and priorities

    • Execution & Collaboration Readiness
      Team capability, responsiveness, and ability to work in a structured PoC environment

    • Technical or Deployment Feasibility
      Realistic scope, timeline, and requirements suitable for SME collaboration

    • Commercial Potential
      Viable business model and long-term potential in Japan

    • IP, Risk & Transparency
      Clear IP position, willingness to sign NDAs early, and no unresolved compliance risks

  • This program involves both online and in person components. Participants should expect:

    • Participation in online sessions and on-site engagements throughout the program period.

    • Regular online meetings with Japanese partner.

    • Timely communication, responsiveness, and readiness to engage in structured PoC processes, including early NDA execution where required.

    • Technical or commercial preparation ahead of factory engagement.

Supported by

Made possible by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government

Selected and funded by the TOKYO SUTEAM initiative.

Learn more here

Travel and accommodation are covered to enable focused discussions and collaboration activities in Japan.

There are no program participation fees.