The 7th IP BASE AWARD: A Celebration of Startups and Intellectual Property

The Japan Patent Office is excited to announce the commencement of applications for the 7th IP BASE AWARD, a prestigious event that recognizes outstanding contributions in the field of intellectual property (IP) by startups and their supporters. This year, the theme focuses on creating a robust domestic startup IP ecosystem, seeking to highlight individuals and organizations that have significantly advanced this goal through exemplary practices in IP utilization and support.

Application Details

The application window is open from August 28, 2025, to November 12, 2025, for self-nominations, while third-party nominations can be submitted until November 5, 2025. Interested parties can register via dedicated online forms:

It's important to note that a maximum of three nominations per category is allowed for third-party submissions. Additionally, any supplementary materials can be sent directly to the organizing committee via email at [email protected].

Award Categories

Startup Category

- Eligibility: Open to startups that are privately held and have been established for less than 10 years, particularly those engaged in strategic IP acquisition and utilization.
- Selection Method: The evaluation process includes document screening followed by a pitch competition for top-selected candidates scheduled for March 3, 2026.

Startup Supporter Category

- Eligibility: This category recognizes individuals and organizations who contribute to the enhancement of the startup IP ecosystem through their support, including patent attorneys, lawyers, venture capitalists, accelerators, and academic representatives.
- Selection Method: Evaluation will be based solely on submitted documents without a pitch component.

Award Types

The awards cater to various categories, including:

- Grand Prize: One winner from the startup category and up to two from the supporter category.
- Encouragement Prize: Multiple awards may be granted in both categories.
- Audience Award: Established by public voting during the pitch event for the startup category.

Ceremony and Pitch Event

The awards ceremony, including the pitch presentations for finalists, will take place on March 3, 2026, at the JID 2026 by ASCII STARTUP venue in Tokyo’s Shiodome district. Attendees and viewers will get the chance to vote for recipients of the Audience Award, adding an engaging participatory element to the ceremony.

Judging Committee

The distinguished judging panel is headed by Masahiro Samejima, a prominent attorney and partner at Uchida & Samejima Law Office. Other committee members include:

- Toru Akaura: Managing Partner, Incubate Fund
- Yukiko Kato: Executive Officer and Head of CVC Division, SBI Investment
- Hiroshi Kawan: Corporate Executive at KDDI, specializing in IP strategy
- Hiroshi Morita: Principal Partner, Morita & Otani Patent Office

More About the IP BASE AWARD

Since its inception in 2019, the IP BASE AWARD has been committed to increasing the number of entrepreneurs adept at leveraging intellectual property. To date, it has recognized over 30 startups and their supporters. The growing significance of IP utilization in the startup landscape has highlighted the need for an active IP ecosystem, thus encouraging vibrant IP activities and support initiatives.

About IP BASE

In response to startups expressing uncertainties about intellectual property, the Japan Patent Office launched the IP BASE portal in December 2018. This community hub aims to provide essential knowledge about IP strategy, support measures, and event updates while facilitating connections between startups and IP professionals. More about this initiative can be found on the official site: IP BASE.

As applications for the 7th IP BASE AWARD unfold, this event promises to be a vital recognition of innovation and support within Japan’s evolving startup environment.