In response to a request from a certified support body for management innovation, etc., the Organization for Small and Medium Enterprises and Regional Innovation, JAPAN is to carry out work of cooperation necessary for the implementation of support work for management innovation, etc., such as the dispatch of experts.

①The competent minister may, as specified by order of the competent ministry, certify, upon application and for each business field, a person that carries out the work prescribed in the following paragraph (hereinafter referred to as "business-field management capacity improvement promotion work") in a business field for which business-field guidelines have been established, and that is found to conform to the business-field guidelines, as a person that carries out business-field management capacity improvement promotion work.

②A person that has received the certification referred to in the preceding paragraph (hereinafter referred to as a "certified business-field management capacity improvement promotion body") is to carry out the following work:

③A person who seeks to obtain the certification referred to in paragraph (1) must submit to the competent minister a written application stating the following matters, as specified by order of the competent ministry.

④A certified business-field management capacity improvement promotion body must notify the competent minister to that effect without delay when there is a change in the matters set out in items (i) and (ii) of the preceding paragraph, and in advance when it intends to make a change in the matters set out in item (iii), (a) through (c) of that paragraph (excluding minor changes specified by order of the competent ministry).

In response to a request from a certified business-field management capacity improvement promotion body, the Organization for Small and Medium Enterprises and Regional Innovation, JAPAN is to carry out work of cooperation necessary for the implementation of business-field management capacity improvement promotion work, such as the dispatch of experts.

In order to develop and improve the abilities of workers employed by specified business operators, etc. that intend to carry out management capacity improvement, the government may provide necessary subsidies and assistance, as a capacity development project under Article 63 of the Employment Insurance Act (Act No. 116 of 1974), to a certified business-field management capacity improvement promotion body (limited to the case where it carries out, among the work set out in Article 39, paragraph (2), item (i), the work relating to the improvement of workers' knowledge and skills).

The provisions of Articles 32 through 36 apply mutatis mutandis to a certified business-field management capacity improvement promotion body. In this case, the phrase "support work for management innovation, etc." in Article 32, item (iii) and Article 35 is deemed to be replaced with "business-field management capacity improvement promotion work", and the phrase "basic policy" in that Article is deemed to be replaced with "business-field guidelines".

①The Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry may, as specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, certify, upon application, a person that carries on a business belonging to the software industry or the information processing service industry and has advanced knowledge and experience regarding information processing, and that carries out the work prescribed in the following paragraph (hereinafter referred to as "information processing support work") and is found to conform to the basic policy, as a person that carries out information processing support work.

②A person that has received the certification referred to in the preceding paragraph (hereinafter referred to as a "certified information processing support body") is to provide guidance, advice, provision of information and other support regarding information processing, relating to methods of performing information processing (including ensuring cybersecurity (meaning cybersecurity prescribed in Article 2 of the Basic Act on Cybersecurity (Act No. 104 of 2014); the same applies in Article 45)) for small and medium-sized enterprises, etc. that intend to improve their management efficiency to a considerable degree.

③A person who seeks to obtain the certification referred to in paragraph (1) must, as specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, submit to the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry a written application stating the following matters:

④A certified information processing support body must notify the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry to that effect without delay when there is a change in the matters set out in items (i) and (ii) of the preceding paragraph, and in advance when it intends to make a change in the matters set out in item (iii), (a) through (c) of that paragraph (excluding minor changes specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry).

With respect to a general incorporated association (limited to one in which small and medium-sized enterprises hold one-half or more of the voting rights at its general meeting of members) that has received certification under the provisions of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article or a general incorporated foundation (limited to one for which one-half or more of the value of the property contributed at its establishment was contributed by small and medium-sized enterprises), that has received a guarantee of obligations prescribed in Article 3, paragraph (1) or Article 3-2, paragraph (1) of the Small and Medium-sized Enterprise Credit Insurance Act concerning funds necessary for the implementation of information processing support work (hereinafter in this Article referred to as a "certified general incorporated association, etc."), the provisions of Articles 3 and 3-2 and Articles 4 through 8 of that Act apply by deeming the certified general incorporated association, etc. to be a small and medium-sized enterprise under Article 2, paragraph (1) of that Act. In this case, the term "borrowing" in these provisions is deemed to be replaced with "borrowing of funds necessary for the implementation of information processing support work prescribed in Article 43, paragraph (1) of the Act on Strengthening the Management of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, etc. conducted by a certified general incorporated association, etc. prescribed in Article 44 of that Act".

In response to a request from a certified information processing support body, the Innovation Platform Agency, Japan is to carry out work of provision of information regarding ensuring cybersecurity in the implementation of its information processing support work, and other necessary cooperation.

In response to a request from a certified information processing support body, the Organization for Small and Medium Enterprises and Regional Innovation, JAPAN is to carry out work of cooperation necessary for the implementation of information processing support work, such as the dispatch of experts.

The provisions of Articles 32 through 36 apply mutatis mutandis to a certified information processing support body. In this case, the phrase "support work for management innovation, etc." in Article 32, item (iii) and Article 35 is deemed to be replaced with "information processing support work"; the phrase "order of the competent ministry" in Article 32, item (iii) and Article 34 is deemed to be replaced with "Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry"; the phrase "five years" in Article 33, paragraph (1) is deemed to be replaced with "three years"; and the phrase "competent minister" in the provisions of Articles 34 through 36 is deemed to be replaced with "Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry".

The State is to endeavor to comprehensively promote necessary measures, such as the training of human resources through collaboration between small and medium-sized enterprises, etc. and universities, colleges of technology, etc., appropriate protection and utilization of intellectual property, and improvement of trade practices concerning the handling of the results of research and development, in order to strengthen management through research and development concerning the technologies of small and medium-sized enterprises, etc.