Main Initiatives
Startup Support
MUFG has used the group functions to provide various support for domestic and overseas startups corresponding to their growth stage and collaborated to develop new services.
Consequently, the total facility line, including through investment in Asian digital companies and fund origination by Mars Growth Capital, has expanded to approximately ¥900 billion.
In Japan, 2022 marked the first year of startup creation, with the government’s announcement of the Startup Development Five-year Plan, which increased attention.
Against this backdrop, we will accelerate various support for startups’ value enhancement, such as business matching, leveraging MUFG’s domestic and international networks, creating new business expansion opportunities through overseas expansion support, and providing financial support.
MUFG will support new startups that tackle industrial development and drive social and environmental progress. As a target for these activities, MUFG has raised the market cap of startups supported up to ¥20 trillion by FY2026.
In Japan, the MUFG group mainly provides services that require specialist expertise, including investment by the venture capital Mitsubishi UFJ Capital, loan by the Bank, stock transfer agency services and DX support with MUFG FUNDOOR (stock and business management platform) by the Trust Bank, and IPO support by MUMSS.
These efforts have been recognized, and MUFG ranked the highest among financial services groups out of about 150 companies in the evaluation in the “Startup Friendly Scoring 2023” released by the Japan Business Federation (Keidanren).
This scheme aims to change the behavior of large companies, which make up a vital part of the startup ecosystem. MUFG also received the highest “A-rank” in funding provision.
Contributing to Development and Solutions in the Space Industry
The market scale of the space industry is 56 trillion yen in 2023 and will be 90 trillion yen(note) in 2030, making it one of the fastest growing industries in the world.
The utilization of satellite-based communications, location data, and earth observation data is expected to expand in more wide-ranging fields and to contribute to solutions to a variety of social issues.
The Bank engages in business co-creation investments that will contribute to the creation of new businesses and the achievement of sustainability in space. By providing knowledge and know-how concerning comprehensive financial services along with the wide-ranging network of the Bank, we will support the advancement of the space industry.
- Estimate by Mitsubishi UFJ Research and Consulting Co., Ltd.
Support for Regional Revitalization
MUIC Kansai
As an initiative to tackle challenges in the tourism industry and revitalize the Kansai economy, in February 2021, MUFG opened MUIC Kansai in Osaka, a membership-based innovation center.
The core function of MUIC Kansai is "problem-solving programs" aimed at fostering innovation. Focusing on tourism and inbound travel to Japan, the facility provides a platform that brings together large member corporations and startups to identify social issues, conduct proof-of-concept experiments, and implement the solutions in society in an integrated manner. Since its inception, MUIC Kansai has generated numerous unique business ideas and has garnered attention from various media outlets.
Initially, MUIC Kansai was intended to wrap up its operations in April 2025, coinciding with Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai. However, in view of expectations for the event to offer opportunities for social implementation of diverse technological seeds (the legacy of hosting the World Expo), we have decided to extend the project beyond the Expo and expand the theme from tourism to related domains.
Moving forward, we aim to establish a more comprehensive support system for startups and become a hub for the Kansai startup ecosystem. Additionally, we plan to expand the model for resolving social issues through collaboration between large corporations and startups nationwide, contributing to society as one of the platforms for implementing the Expo’s legacy.
ES CON FIELD HOKKAIDO
The Bank and Fighters Sports & Entertainment Co., Ltd. (hereinafter "Fighters") have signed a partnership agreement in 2023 aimed at co-creating a business that combines finance with sports.
Fighters is a company that engages in the development and operation of HOKKAIDO BALLPARK F VILLAGE, the core of which is the new ES CON FIELD HOKKAIDO stadium that opened in March 2023. Centered on that core, we are promoting sustainable urban development that combines lodging facilities, commercial spaces, agricultural learning facilities, Certified Childcare Centers, residences, and more.
The Bank is taking part in new urban development and new business creation with a focus on sports at ES CON FIELD HOKKAIDO. Symbolizing this, the Bank obtained naming rights for the interview room and christened it "MUFG Co-Creation Room." While serving as a hub for the local community and varied stakeholders, the Bank is advancing MUFG's aim of the social implementation of innovation and the resolution of social issues through sports.
ALL JAPAN Tourist Area Regeneration/Revitalization Fund
Invigorating the domestic tourism industry is positioned as one of Japan's critical economic policies and is deemed key to facilitating regional revitalization. Moreover, it is seen as an essential growth strategy as the nation strives toward a GDP target of ¥600 trillion. With the number of visitors from overseas growing, the industry is seeing the creation of new and varied market demand and its potential is expanding. However, on the business front, the industry is faced with a number of challenges, including a shortage of accommodation due to an aging and insufficient supply of facilities, the graying of facility operators and a pressing need for management succession planning. Regional businesses are also being called upon to develop new sightseeing resources and meet increasingly diverse tourist needs.
To help the industry take on these challenges, the ALL JAPAN Tourist Area Regeneration/Revitalization Fund was instituted in April 2018. The first domestic private fund of its kind, this megafund is uniquely designed to facilitate investment that transcends regional boundaries. Alongside other leading business corporations representing various industries, MUFG will collaborate with regional financial institutions to operate the fund, thereby promoting a thriving tourism industry and invigorated regional economies in all 47 prefectures nationwide. By doing so MUFG will actively contribute to Japan's industrial development and economic growth.
The number of investment projects totaled 37 (15 real estate investments and 22 venture investments). Some of these projects are listed below.
We established a second fund in June 2023. We invited JTB Corporation as a new sponsor and strengthened the fund's solution functions. We will continue to be active as a platform for the tourism industry and for regional revitalization.
