New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) · AI · Instrument: Prize
GENIAC-PRIZE 2026
GENIAC-PRIZE 2026 is a contest run by NEDO under its prize-money utilization program, offering up to 630 million yen in prizes for generative AI development and deployment. Theme 1, worth 600 million yen, covers AI-driven business process reform to address labor shortages among essential workers, and is open to Japan-registered corporations and organizations that use AI, who must use a domestic foundation model. Theme 2, worth 30 million yen, is a student contest to develop an open foundation model for training physical AI developers, for Japanese nationals aged 12 to 29 in recognized schools, with about 17 team leader slots, 340 to 510 member slots and about 400 million yen of GPU compute provided free. Entries were accepted from May 29 to September 30, 2026 and are now closed. Theme 1 proposals and demo videos are due November 30, 2026, Theme 2 final review runs to March 2027, the awards ceremony is set for March 29, 2027 and prize payments are planned around May 2027.
Who can apply
- Eligibility
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- Location
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- Funding
Theme 2 entries: student physical AI foundation model
30 million yen in prizes
geniac-prize.nedo.go.jp
Funding classification
- Instrument
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- Capital form
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- Allocation method
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- Selection
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Round history
| Round | Window | Size | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Theme 1 entries: essential-worker labor shortage | May 29, 2026 to September 30, 2026Closed | 600 million yen in prizes | geniac-prize.nedo.go.jp |
| Theme 2 entries: student physical AI foundation model | From May 29, 2026Closed | 30 million yen in prizes | geniac-prize.nedo.go.jp |
Past rounds stay on the page, so you can see how often this program opens.
Funding evidence
Detailed funding records are not yet recorded for this program.
Read the program’s recorded facts and sourcesSources
Awards
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