#Japan #Tokyo #FemTech #Women's Health

Empowering Women through Femtech Initiatives

As the number of working women continues to rise, there is an increasing need for solutions that address unique challenges faced by women, particularly in the realm of health. This growing awareness has led to heightened interest in femtech, a field dedicated to developing technologies and products tailored specifically for women's needs.

To accelerate the realization of a society where women can thrive, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, in partnership with the Tokyo Small and Medium Enterprise Promotion Corporation, is launching a funding program to support the development and improvement of products and services that tackle health issues for women. Recently, they announced the selection of eight projects for the fiscal year 2023 that will receive financial assistance.

Selected Supported Projects

The following initiatives were chosen to receive funding, categorized by the company name in alphabetical order:

1. Kisei Co., Ltd. (Toshima Ward)

Project: Development of postpartum healing meals and a delivery system
The company aims to create a delivery system for postpartum meals, based on traditional herbal recipes tailored to various recovery stages. Users can easily order their meals through a smartphone app, with features to manage meal history and propose menus that enhance health and prevent postpartum depression.

2. Cloud Sense Inc. (Suginami Ward)

Project: Improvements for home use fetal and maternal monitoring
This project intends to enhance the existing cloud-based fetal monitoring system, allowing pregnant women to monitor their baby's condition from home.

3. Combi Corporation (Taito Ward)

Project: PMS improvement foods through circadian rhythm regulation
The focus is on improving a functional food ingredient named 'Nemunosu,' derived from the bark of the Persian silk tree, which may normalize circadian rhythms and enhance sleep quality while removing compounds linked to menstrual pain.

4. Silk Research Institute Co., Ltd. (Koto Ward)

Project: Menstrual pads with sensing technology
This initiative involves embedding a sensing device into menstrual pads to measure disease-related factors in menstrual fluid, enabling early detection of potential health risks.

5. SympaFit Inc. (Bunkyo Ward)

Project: Early prediction and prevention system for postpartum depression
The aim is to develop a model for predicting postpartum depression risk by integrating continuous data on blood sugar levels and heart rate variability, linked to clinical assessments.

6. PharmaX Co., Ltd. (Bunkyo Ward)

Project: AI-based self-care support system for women
Using AI for body type analysis and food image processing, this web service will support women in daily 'herbal self-care' through dietary recommendations.

7. Yoneda Co., Ltd. (Ota Ward)

Project: Innovative menstrual products addressing discomfort
Developing advanced menstrual products that utilize cutting-edge technologies to mitigate common issues like moisture, irritation, and anxiety about leakage, making menstrual management stress-free.

8. Wako Co., Ltd. (Sumida Ward)

Project: Sustainable sanitary products using washi paper
This project aims to innovate sanitary shorts that leverage the unique properties of washi paper to provide odor control, moisture management, and comfort.

Overview of the Grant Program

The funding opportunity is part of a broader initiative focused on resolving women's health challenges in various themes such as menstruation, pregnancy, postpartum care, menopause, and gynecological diseases. Eligible applicants include SMEs based in Tokyo and individuals planning to establish businesses in the area.

Grant Details

• - Funding Period: From February 1, 2024, to October 31, 2025.
• - Maximum Grant Amount: Up to 20 million yen.
• - Coverage Rate: Up to two-thirds of eligible expenses.
• - Eligible Costs: Various costs including raw materials, machinery, outsourcing, expert guidance, patent application fees, direct personnel expenses, exhibition participation, and advertising costs.

For more detailed information, please refer to the Tokyo Small and Medium Enterprise Promotion Corporation website.

This initiative aligns with the Tokyo 2050 Strategy, specifically targeting women's empowerment and supporting career development. For any inquiries regarding the program, you can contact:

• - General inquiries: Tokyo Metropolitan Industrial Labor Bureau, Business Support Section at 03-5320-4694.
• - Regarding grants: Tokyo Small and Medium Enterprise Promotion Corporation at 03-3251-7894.