The Science and Technology Promotion Foundation of Ibaraki

What The Science and Technology Promotion Foundation of Ibaraki does

The Science and Technology Promotion Foundation of Ibaraki (一般財団法人 茨城県科学技術振興財団, i-step) is a general incorporated foundation established on October 30, 1989, headquartered inside the Tsukuba International Conference Center in Tsukuba Science City, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. The foundation promotes basic and creative science and technology R&D, supports innovative companies, and contributes to regional economic development in Ibaraki Prefecture. Its core activities are science promotion rather than technology commercialization, with no proprietary technology products. It is governed by a board led by Nobel laureate Leo Esaki (Physics, 1973), who has served as Chairman (理事長) since 1998.

The foundation's product portfolio is organized into five categories. Award programs include the flagship Leo Esaki Prize (¥10 million, sponsored by Sekisho Corporation, for nano science/nanotechnology research since 2004), the Tsukuba Prize (¥5 million, for world-class Ibaraki researchers), and the Tsukuba Encouragement Prize (¥1 million, for applied research and researchers under 40). Researcher exchange is supported via the Tsukuba Science Academy and the Epochal Tsukuba International Conference Hall. Public engagement programs include the Tsukuba Science Tour (access to ~50 research institutions such as JAXA, KEK, NIMS, AIST, University of Tsukuba), Science Tour Bus, Science Cafe, and Science Casting for middle and high school students. On behalf of Ibaraki Prefecture, the foundation administers the Strategic Sector New Product Development Promotion Subsidy for SMEs in strategic technology sectors.

Revenue is not publicly disclosed and the foundation does not charge fees for most programs. Funding is derived from public sources (Ibaraki Prefecture government), foundation endowments, and corporate sponsorship. The foundation's endowment structure includes ¥35.4 million in basic property, a ¥117 million Science and Technology Promotion Fund, and a ¥152 million R&D Encouragement Fund. Customer segments include Japanese researchers (primarily), students and general public, and SMEs in Ibaraki Prefecture pursuing innovation in strategic technology sectors. Award prize money, conference venue operations, and government-disbursed SME subsidies form the principal economic flows.

Name

The Science and Technology Promotion Foundation of Ibaraki

Legal name

一般財団法人 茨城県科学技術振興財団

Website

https://i-step.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Science and Technology Promotion Foundation of Ibaraki (i-step) is a 1989-established non-profit foundation based in Tsukuba Science City, Japan, that promotes science and technology by administering research awards (Leo Esaki Prize, Tsukuba Prize), coordinating science tours across ~50 research institutions, and managing Ibaraki Prefecture's SME innovation subsidies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Science and Technology Promotion Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAKAI

Research & Science Grantmaking Foundations

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Philanthropy, Foundations & Grantmaking

SECONDARYBPAGAKAK

Education Grantmaking Foundations

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Philanthropy, Foundations & Grantmaking

SECONDARYEDADAHAC

Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts

Education/Education Administration, Accreditation & Policy/Education Funding, Grants & Financial Aid Administration

Keywords

• Science awards programs
• Research grant administration
• Public science outreach
• Conference venue management
• SME innovation subsidies

Headquarters

HQ city

Tsukuba

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Science Promotion and Administration Services: The foundation operates as a general incorporated foundation (一般財団法人) providing science and technology promotion services. Revenue is derived from public funding, foundation endowments, and sponsorship arrangements. Core funding includes basic property of 35,400 thousand yen, a Science and Technology Promotion Fund of 117,000 thousand yen, and an R&D Encouragement Fund of 152,082 thousand yen. The foundation administers subsidy programs on behalf of Ibaraki Prefecture (e.g., the Strategic Sector New Product Development Promotion Subsidy) and receives corporate sponsorship for award programs (e.g., Leo Esaki Prize co-sponsored by Sekisho Corporation).

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The foundation is a general incorporated nonprofit that promotes science and technology in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. It administers prestigious research awards (Leo Esaki Prize, Tsukuba Prize, Tsukuba Encouragement Prize), runs researcher exchange and public science engagement programs (Tsukuba Science Academy, Tsukuba Science Tour, Science Cafe, Science Casting), manages the Tsukuba International Conference Hall (Epochal Tsukuba), and operates the Strategic Sector New Product Development Subsidy program on behalf of Ibaraki Prefecture to support SMEs.

Product overview

The Science and Technology Promotion Foundation of Ibaraki (i-step) operates a portfolio of science promotion programs centered around the Tsukuba Science City area. Core offerings include research awards: the Leo Esaki Prize for nano science/nanotechnology (¥10M), and the Tsukuba Prize/Tsukuba Encouragement Prize for local researchers (¥5M/¥1M). The foundation manages the Tsukuba Science Academy for researcher exchange, and operates tourism services including the Tsukuba Science Tour and Science Tour Bus, providing access to approximately 50 research institutions. Additional programs include science cafe events, the Epochal conference venue management, and the Strategic Sector New Product Development Subsidy supporting SMEs in strategic technology sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Leo Esaki Prize (江崎玲於奈賞)
• Tsukuba Prize and Tsukuba Encouragement Prize (つくば賞・つくば奨励賞)
• Tsukuba Science Academy (つくばサイエンス・アカデミー)
• Tsukuba Science Tour (つくばサイエンスツアー)
• Tsukuba Science Tour Bus (つくばサイエンスツアーバス)
• Epochal Tsukuba International Conference Hall Management (つくば国際会議場)
• Tsukuba Science Cafe (つくばサイエンスカフェ)
• Science Casting (サイエンスキャスティング)
• Strategic Sector New Product Development Subsidy (戦略分野新製品開発促進事業補助金)
• Ibaraki Next-Generation Energy Park (茨城県次世代エネルギーパーク)

Quantifiable outcome

• One Nobel laureate (Kitagawa Susumu) was a past Leo Esaki Prize winner (2013, 10th award) who subsequently won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry (2025), demonstrating the prize's predictive value for research excellence.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.

• Sekisho Corporation (関彰商事株式会社)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerSekisho Corporation (Sekisho) serves as the co-sponsor of the Leo Esaki Prize, providing sponsorship funding for the 10 million yen prize. Sekisho has been a consistent sponsor since the prize's inception in 2004. The company is headquartered in Ibaraki Prefecture, demonstrating local corporate commitment to science promotion.
• Ibaraki Prefecture (茨城県)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIbaraki Prefecture co-organizes the Leo Esaki Prize and is a key partner in science promotion activities. The prefecture also entrusts the foundation with administering the Strategic Sector New Product Development Promotion Subsidy program, representing a major delegated government function.
• Tsukuba Science Academy (つくばサイエンス・アカデミー)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Tsukuba Science Academy is a co-organizer of the Leo Esaki Prize and the broader science promotion platform hosted at the Tsukuba International Conference Center. The academy was founded in 2000 by Leo Esaki and operates under the foundation, promoting researcher networking and science exchange.
• Tsukuba City (つくば市)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTsukuba City co-organizes the Tsukuba Prize and supports science tour and science education programs. The city is home to Tsukuba Science City where the foundation operates.
• JAXA (宇宙航空研究開発機構)supportingTechnology or IntegrationJAXA is a supporting member of the Tsukuba Science Tour Office, providing access to the JAXA Space Dome and space-related research facilities for science tours and public education programs.
• KEK (高エネルギー加速器研究機構)supportingTechnology or IntegrationKEK (High Energy Accelerator Research Organization) is a supporting member of the Tsukuba Science Tour Office, opening its facilities for science tours including the KEK Communication Plaza with a VR 360-degree tour.
• NIMS / National Institute for Materials Science (物質・材料研究機構)supportingTechnology or IntegrationNIMS is a key research institution in Tsukuba Science City and frequently featured in the foundation's award programs (many Tsukuba Prize and Leo Esaki Prize winners are affiliated with NIMS). It is also a supporting member of the Tsukuba Science Tour.
• AIST / National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (産業技術総合研究所)supportingTechnology or IntegrationAIST is a supporting member of the Tsukuba Science Tour Office and a major national research institute in Tsukuba Science City with multiple research facilities open for science tours.
• University of Tsukuba (筑波大学)supportingTechnology or IntegrationUniversity of Tsukuba is a key university in Tsukuba Science City and a partner in the foundation's award programs, hosting the Leo Esaki Prize committee chairman Leo Esaki as former university president. The university gallery is open for science tours.
• Ibaraki Prefecture Next-Generation Energy Park Promotion Council (茨城県次世代エネルギーパーク推進協議会)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe foundation participates in the Ibaraki Next-Generation Energy Park initiative, promoting renewable energy education and tours of energy-related facilities across three areas of Ibaraki Prefecture.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Nippon Foundation: One of Japan's largest private nonprofit foundations, running numerous science, education, and social programs including research grants. Comparable as a major Japanese grantmaking foundation, though operating at significantly larger scale with broader scope.
• JSPS (Japan Society for the Promotion of Science): Japan's primary government-affiliated science funding agency, administering major research grants including the KAKENHI program. Comparable as a science-promotion/grantmaking body, though state-affiliated and far larger in scale.
• Toray Science Foundation: Corporate foundation (sponsored by Toray Industries) that awards science and technology grants, research grants, and the Toray Science Foundation Prize to researchers in Japan. Comparable as a Japanese science grantmaking foundation, particularly in its corporate-sponsorship and prize-giving model.
• Japan Prize Foundation: Operates the Japan Prize, one of Japan's most prestigious international awards in science and technology. Comparable as a Japanese nonprofit foundation running science recognition programs with government and corporate backing, but at a much larger national/international scale.
• Inamori Foundation (Kyoto Prize): Japan's most prestigious science and culture prize foundation, awarding the ¥100M Kyoto Prize annually. Directly comparable as a Japanese science-promotion foundation running prestigious research awards with Nobel-tier aspirations, but at a much larger national scale than the Ibaraki foundation.
• Toyota Foundation: Corporate foundation of Toyota Motor that funds research and science programs including international collaboration grants. Comparable as a Japanese corporate-affiliated science grantmaking foundation.
• Sasakawa Foundation (Nippon Foundation affiliated): Operates the Sasakawa Prize and runs research/science programs. Comparable as a Japanese science-promotion foundation with government and diplomatic ties, but with more international scope.

Emerging players

• Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings Foundation: German-based nonprofit organizing annual meetings between Nobel laureates and young scientists. Comparable in its science-promotion and researcher-engagement mission, and the Leo Esaki Prize's Nobel-laureate committee resembles Lindau's laureates-led model.
• Kavli Foundation: US-based foundation funding basic research through Kavli Institutes and Kavli Prizes in astrophysics, nanoscience, neuroscience, and theoretical physics. Comparable in its focus on nanoscience/quantum-adjacent research areas and prize-driven model, though at vastly larger scale and global reach.

Regional players

• Hamamatsu Foundation for Science and Technology Promotion: Regional Japanese science-promotion foundation serving Shizuoka Prefecture with grants and awards for researchers. Most directly comparable as a regional Japanese science grantmaking foundation similar in scale and structure to the Ibaraki foundation, but operating in a different prefecture.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/tsukuba_sto
• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=HosBNbQddm8
• Facebookfacebook.com/つくばサイエンスツアーオフィス-一般

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Science and Technology Promotion Foundation of Ibaraki