SICS

What SICS does

SICS (株式会社西条産業情報支援センター / Saijo Industry & Information Center for Support) is a privately held Japanese corporation founded in 1999 and headquartered inside the SAIJO BASE facility in Saijo City, Ehime Prefecture. The organization operates as a quasi-governmental SME support body commissioned by Saijo City government to deliver a comprehensive menu of ten service categories: startup/entrepreneurship support, business strategy formulation, sales and marketing, manufacturing support, HR and recruitment, ICT/digitalization advisory, town revitalization, subsidy application assistance, vacant property consulting, and DX/GX promotion. It also maintains the G-SICS corporate membership network, organizes job fairs for local high school and university students (42-43 employers per event), runs an online recruitment video channel (LOVE SAIJO お仕事研究チャンネル), and operates the Saijo City SDGs Promotion Council as secretariat.

SICS does not develop proprietary technology products. Its core capabilities are consulting methodologies, support coordination frameworks, and a physical hub (SAIJO BASE, opened July 1, 2022) where it delivers services in-person and via dispatched external experts under a structured flow: initial consultation → site visit → proposal → implementation. The organization operates a Business Succession Hotline in partnership with BatonZ (M&A matching platform), and coordinates with founding SDGs Council partners including NTT West Shikoku, Iyo Bank, and Ehime Bank.

Revenue is derived primarily from public-sector commissioned contracts with Saijo City and Ehime Prefecture (managed services model), supplemented by G-SICS annual membership fees (subscription, amount not publicly disclosed), and select paid seminars and events. Its go-to-market is sales-led through direct outreach, municipal administrative channels, and partner referrals rather than commercial marketing. Distribution is concentrated in Saijo City and Ehime Prefecture, with no international footprint.

Name

SICS

Legal name

株式会社西条産業情報支援センター

Website

https://saijo-sics.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SICS is a quasi-governmental SME support organization commissioned by Saijo City, Ehime Prefecture, Japan. It delivers ten categories of consulting and coordination services to local businesses, operates the G-SICS membership network, and runs job fairs and DX/GX promotion programs from the SAIJO BASE facility.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

SME Business Support Services

NAICS

Other Similar Organizations (except Business, Professional, Labor, and Political Organizations) (81399)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Technical Enablement & Adoption Services (Change Management, Adoption, Champions) (BPAEANAC)

Keywords

• SME business support
• Regional economic development
• DX and GX consulting
• Startup and entrepreneurship support
• HR and recruitment services

Headquarters

HQ city

Saijo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Public-Sector Funded Support Services: SICS operates as a commissioned service provider under government contracts with Saijo City and Ehime Prefecture. It receives public funding to deliver SME support programs including DX promotion, GX (green transformation), startup support, recruitment facilitation, and regional revitalization initiatives. Revenue is derived from municipal and prefectural委托 contracts rather than direct client fees.
2. G-SICS Membership Services: SICS operates a corporate membership network (G-SICS) with annual membership fees. Members receive access to networking events, support programs, information sharing, and preferential access to SICS-organized events such as job fairs, seminars, and business matching activities.
3. Seminar and Event Services: SICS organizes and hosts paid or free seminars, workshops, and training programs for local businesses on topics including marketing, HR, DX, GX, and business succession. Some events are free (sponsored by government), while others (such as the 西条人事部 水の会 dining交流会) charge participant fees (e.g., ¥5,000 per person).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

SICS is a quasi-governmental SME support organization that delivers ten categories of consulting and advisory services to local businesses in Saijo City, Ehime Prefecture, including startup/entrepreneurship support, business strategy, sales/marketing, manufacturing, HR/recruitment, ICT/digitalization, town revitalization, subsidies, vacant property consulting, and DX/GX promotion. It also operates the G-SICS membership network and serves as the commissioned implementer of regional programs such as the SDGs Future Cities initiative.

Product overview

SICS (西条産業情報支援センター) is a business support organization serving companies in Saijo City, Ehime Prefecture, Japan. Rather than offering a traditional software product portfolio, SICS provides a comprehensive suite of 10 professional consulting and support service categories delivered through its physical facility (SAIJO BASE) and its G-SICS membership network. The services cover business strategy, ICT/DX/GX promotion, HR and recruitment, sales and marketing, manufacturing support, startup support, regional revitalization, and subsidy application assistance. The G-SICS membership program provides regional businesses with collective access to these support services and networking opportunities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• G-SICS Membership Network (G-SICS) An annual membership network for businesses in Saijo City that provides shared access to SICS's support menu, networking events, seminars, business matching activities, and preferential engagement with SICS's 10 support categories. Members include local SMEs and companies.
• Comprehensive SME Support Services (10 Categories) Comprehensive consulting and support services organized across 10 categories: startup/entrepreneurship support, business strategy formulation, sales/marketing, manufacturing support, HR/recruitment, ICT/digitalization, town revitalization, subsidy application, vacant property consulting, and DX/GX promotion. Delivered to local businesses in Saijo City through in-person consulting, on-site visits, and seminars.
• Local Job Fair and Recruitment Platform Annual job fairs for high school and university students, online job channels (LOVE SAIJO お仕事研究チャンネル), and the 西条市企業ガイド recruitment portal connecting local Saijo City employers with students and job seekers.
• SAIJO BASE (西条市ひと・夢・未来創造拠点複合施設) Multi-purpose complex facility serving as SICS's physical headquarters and the operational hub for all SME support activities. The facility houses seminar rooms, co-working spaces, meeting rooms, and SICS coordination offices, providing the physical infrastructure for SICS's consulting delivery, networking events, and co-located municipal services.
• Saijo City SDGs Future Cities Regional Promotion Program Commissioned implementation of the Saijo City SDGs Future Cities initiative, including establishing the Saijo City SDGs Promotion Council (January 2022) and coordinating regional sustainability programs with corporate partners NTT West Shikoku, Iyo Bank, and Ehime Bank.
• Business Succession Hotline (事業承継ホットライン) Consultation service and M&A matching platform addressing business succession concerns for SME owners, including family-internal succession and third-party succession. Co-operated with BatonZ to connect local business owners with potential successors nationwide.
• DX/GX Promotion Support (DX・GX推進事業) Specialized advisory services for local businesses pursuing digital transformation (DX) and green transformation (GX/decarbonization), delivered by dedicated DX/GX coordinators funded by Saijo City programs. Includes digital tool selection, decarbonization pathway planning, and subsidy application support.
• 西条人事部 水の会 (Saijo HR Mizunokai Networking) Cross-industry networking group and regular dining交流会 for HR professionals at local Saijo City companies, providing peer networking, HR best-practice sharing, and talent recruitment collaboration.

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• NTT四国・伊予銀行・愛媛銀行 (NTT West Shikoku, Iyo Bank, Ehime Bank)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 January 2022These three companies are founding partners of the 西条市SDGs推進協議会, established through an 'Inclusive Partnership Agreement for SDGs Future Cities Promotion' with Saijo City and SICS. They participate as corporate partners supporting the city's sustainability initiatives and regional economic development.
• 西条市 (Saijo City)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSaijo City is SICS's primary commissioning client and strategic partner. SICS implements the city's SME support programs, DX/GX promotion initiatives, and regional development projects. In October 2021, SICS was selected via public proposal to implement the city's SDGs Future Cities regional promotion program. The relationship is central to SICS's mission and operations, with the city providing both mandate and funding for core programs.
• 西条商工会議所 (Saijo Chamber of Commerce and Industry)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a key partner in SICS's support network. The Chamber collaborates on SME support programs, joint events, and regional economic initiatives. The relationship enables cross-referral of business support clients and co-hosting of seminars and business matching events.
• 公益財団法人はえめ産業振興財団 (Ehime Industrial Promotion Foundation)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a key support organization in SICS's network. The Foundation provides regional industry promotion services across Ehime Prefecture, including the よろず支援拠点 (multi-problem consultation counter), and partners with SICS on business support seminars and initiatives.
• 公益財団法人えひめ東予産業創造センター (TICC Ehime)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a key support organization in SICS's network. TICC Ehime focuses on new industry creation and technology development in the Toyo region, and collaborates with SICS on programs like the 'Technology Seeds Exhibition' matching local SMEs with large manufacturers.
• 西条市SDGs推進協議会 (Saijo City SDGs Promotion Council)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstablished in January 2022 with SICS as a founding member and secretariat. The Council coordinates Saijo City's SDGs Future Cities initiative with partner companies, organizations, and the municipal government. Founding partners include NTT West Shikoku, Iyo Bank, and Ehime Bank, with Ehime University Vice President Nishimura as Council Chairman. SICS's representative Ochi serves as a Director.
• 周桑商工会 (Shuso Chamber of Commerce)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a key partner in SICS's support network. Collaborates on SME support, joint events, and regional economic initiatives in the Shuso district of Saijo City.
• 一般財団法人四国産業・技術振興センター (Tri-Step)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a support organization in SICS's network. Tri-Step provides technology and industry development support in the Shikoku region.
• （一社）リズカーレ (Risocale)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a support organization in SICS's network. Risocale focuses on community and social welfare initiatives and collaborates on specific projects such as the 西条市食のまち構想 (Food Town Concept) initiative.
• 株式会社バトンズ (BatonZ)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSICS partnered with BatonZ, a business succession M&A matching platform, to establish the 事業継承ホットライン (Business Succession Hotline) and co-host succession planning seminars. This partnership addresses the critical issue of SME succession in the region by connecting business owners with potential successors nationwide through BatonZ's online matching platform.
• 西条市市民活動支援センター (Saijo Citizens Activity Support Center)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a support organization in SICS's network. Provides community and civic activity support services in Saijo City.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Organization for Small & Medium Enterprises and Regional Innovation (SMRJ / 中小企業基盤整備機構): National Japanese policy implementation body delivering SME support, startup incubation, and regional economic development programs. Comparable to SICS in core SME support mandate but operates at national scale with significantly broader scope and resources.

Direct peers

• Ehime Industrial Promotion Foundation: Public-interest foundation providing regional industry promotion and SME support across Ehime Prefecture. Directly comparable to SICS in mandate, geographic scope within Ehime, and service menu including business consultation, subsidies, and DX advisory.
• TICC Ehime (えひめ東予産業創造センター): Regional industrial promotion organization focusing on new industry creation in the Toyo region of Ehime Prefecture. Direct peer of SICS in geographic scope and SME support mandate, listed as a key partner in SICS's network and collaborating on technology matching programs.
• Saijo Chamber of Commerce and Industry: Local chamber of commerce providing business support, networking, and consultation services to Saijo City SMEs. Directly comparable peer in geographic scope and SME support offerings, with overlapping member base; SICS lists this organization as a core partner.

Emerging players

• BatonZ: Business succession M&A matching platform partnered with SICS for the 事業承継ホットライン. Comparable in addressing SME succession pain points, but operating as a commercial SaaS platform rather than a public-sector support body, representing both a partner and a potential competitive alternative.

Regional players

• Sapporo Industrial Promotion Foundation (さっぽろ産業振興財団): Regional SME support and industrial promotion organization based in Sapporo. Comparable in mission (public-interest SME support) and structure but serving Hokkaido rather than Ehime Prefecture; similar role of coordinating government programs and providing business consultation.
• Osaka Business Development Agency (大阪産業局): Regional economic development organization supporting SME growth in the Osaka metropolitan area. Comparable in mission and service delivery model to SICS, but operating in a much larger urban geography with broader commercial funding base.
• Yokohama SME Support Network (横浜市中小企業支援ネットワーク): Municipal-level SME support coordination structure serving Yokohama City. Comparable to SICS in its role as a coordinating hub between government programs and local businesses, though operating in a larger urban context.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/sics1999

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SICS