FY 2024
Tokyo Financial Award“Sustainability Category”
Application Guidelines for Companies
1.

Program Objectives
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) aims to become an "Innovation andFinancial Hub in Asia" for realizing a sustainable society. To this end, the TMG ispromoting initiatives to realize an advanced sustainable financial city and a city where
globally active start-ups are created, taking advantage of the “Special Zones for Finance andAsset Management Business," designated in June 2024.
The Tokyo Financial Award is held to recognize initiatives that create innovation in thefinancial sector and contribute to the realization of a sustainable society through the powerof finance.
The application guidelines are for the “Sustainability Category” of the Tokyo Financial
Award aimed at calling for projects on both the investment side and the business side that
contribute to the promotion of sustainable finance.

2.

Target Companies
The target companies are those that fulfill all the conditions set out hereunder:(1)

Being a business that meets each of the following categories.
Investment

Financial businesses (including fintech businesses) thatSubcategory

contribute to the realization of a sustainable society throughengaging in a wide range financial activities including, but notlimited to investments, lending, etc.

Business Subcategory

Businesses (including financial businesses) that contribute to
the realization of a sustainable society through the use ofsustainable finance (including, but not limited tosustainability-linked loan, sustainable fund, and a wide rangeof financing methods including VC investments)

It is possible to apply for both subcategories, but if the award is given, only one of thesubcategories will be awarded.
It is possible to apply for the Tokyo Financial Awards "Financial Innovation Category",
which is also open for submissions, but if the award is given, it will be given in one ofthe categories.
(2)

The companies shall comply with “7. Terms of Participation,” as described in these1Guidelines.
(3)

There has been no punishment, revocation of permits, etc., payment of money, etc. inviolation of laws and regulations, and there is no risk of receiving such punishment at
this time in its home country or global laws and regulations outside of its home country,
including global trade laws, etc.

(4)

There is no delinquency in taxes levied on the corporation and social insurance
premiums payable by the corporation in its home country or any country of operation.

(5)

The companies should not have violated any contract or agreement with a public body
(Governments, local governments, and those related organizations) in its home country
or any country of operation.

(6)

The companies should not and will not be considered a threat to public safety orwelfare.

(7)

The companies should not be one whose purpose of business is political, or religious,
including electoral activities.

(8)

The companies shall not be an Organized Crime Group (an Organized Crime Group asstipulated in item (ii) of Article 2 of the Tokyo Metropolitan Ordinance for Eliminating
Organized Crime Groups (Tokyo Metropolitan Government Ordinance No. 54 of
2011; hereinafter referred to as “Organized Crime Elimination Ordinance”)), and must
not have an Organized Crime Group Member, etc. (a member of an Organized Crime
Group as stipulated in item (iii) of Article 2 of the Organized Crime Elimination
Ordinance, or someone related to an Organized Crime Group as stipulated in item (iv)of the same Article) among the representatives, executives, employees, or othermembers of the corporation.

3. Screening Process
A screening panel will be established to carry out the following.
(1) First-stage Screening: The judging panel will evaluate and select companies (aroundten Japanese and foreign companies) in the following subcategories: Investment
Subcategory (financial businesses, including fintech businesses, which contribute to therealization of a sustainable society through engaging in a wide range of financial
activities including, but not limited to, investments, lending, etc.); and Business
Subcategory (businesses, including financial businesses, which contribute to therealization of a sustainable society through the use of sustainable finance (including,but not limited to sustainability-linked loan, sustainable fund, and a wide range offinancing methods including VC investments))(2) Final Screening: Among the companies selected in (1), the judging panel will selectaround three businesses that are implementing especially outstanding measures.

2Among them, one business that is particularly outstanding in its green financeinitiatives will be selected to receive the "Governor's Special Prize for Green Finance."(3) Judging Criteria
Evaluation Items
Understanding of the Tokyo

Description (Additional information)
Financial Award’s objectives

Does the proposed initiative utilize the powerof finance and help realize a sustainablesociety?

Is the content consistent with the initiatives
being solicited?

Uniqueness of the initiative

Does the proposed initiative have originality?

Outcome of the initiative

Are there clear results from the proposed
initiative?

Social impactIs the scope of impact wide enough?

International competitiveness

Is the proposal relevant to an area or initiativethat is internationally recognized?

Compatibility with the TMG’

initiatives

Are the benefits of the proposed initiative easy
to understand for Tokyo residents?

Does the initiative contribute to the growth ofbusinesses in Tokyo (e.g., use of emerging
asset management companies)?

4. Number of Winners
Around three businesses
5. Award Ceremony
Companies selected through the screening process (described above in section 3) will
receive their awards from the TMG at an award ceremony to be held in after February 2025.
6. Program Schedule, etc.
The following schedule is tentative and subject to change without notice.
(1)

Submission of applications (June 25 – September 30, 2024)(2)

First-stage screening (October - November 2024)(3)

Final screening (December 2024 – January 2025)(4)Award Ceremony (announcement of winners) (After February 2025)

7. Terms of Participation
The companies passing the first-stage screening shall comply with the following (1) and3

(3). Additionally, the companies selected for the award are required to comply with (2) aswell.
*(1) and (2) may be conducted online (TBA).
(1)

Participation in the final screening session and delivery of a presentation
Selected companies are required to participate in the final screening session to be heldin Tokyo (December 2024 – January 2025) and to deliver a presentation on the financial
activities including, but not limited to investments, lending, etc. contributing to realizing asustainable society as well as the initiatives that utilize sustainable finance (including, but
not limited to sustainability-linked loan, sustainable fund, and a wide range of financing
methods including VC investments) to contribute to realizing a sustainable society.
(2)

Participation in the award ceremony
The person in charge is required to participate in the ceremony and communicate

each content externally.
(3)

Others・If a selected company is found to have violated any of the items listed above insection 2, or found to be engaged in activities deemed by the TMG as inappropriate
for a participant of the Award and subsequently, cannot offer the TMG a valid
explanation, their selection as a winner and award may be revoked even after theaward ceremony.
・Selected companies shall agree to cooperate in providing any necessary information
for screening or answers to questions, etc., to ensure that the screening processproceeds smoothly.
・Selected companies shall pay for their own international travel costs,accommodation costs, travel costs within Japan, meal costs and all other relatedcosts.
・Selected Companies shall agree to have their information (company name, businessoverview, etc.) made public on the TMG’s website.

8. Points to Keep in Mind when Applying(1) Handling of personal data submitted upon application
Program applicants shall agree to the following:
・Personal data submitted in an application form will only be provided to and used by
the TMG and the Tokyo Financial Award Secretariat only for the purposes of theTokyo Financial Award.
・Applicants shall obtain consent for the above use from the individuals whose
personal information they have entered in the application form. In addition, theapplicants for the program shall be deemed to have agreed that the personal4

information entered in the application form will be provided to the TMG and theSecretariat within the scope of the above-mentioned purposes of use upon
submission of the application for the program.
・Part of the information registered in a language other than Japanese upon application
shall be sent to Google and temporarily stored in order to be translated into Japaneseby the Secretariat on behalf of the TMG using the Google Translate tool.
*When using Google Translate to translate portions of data submitted byprogram applicants, Google will temporarily store the inputted texts on theirservers in order to send back the requested translation.
*Generally, the stored texts will be deleted after a few hours. However,depending on the status of Google’s systems, texts may be stored for a longer
period.
*For details on Google’s data security measures, please refer to the following
site:(https://www.google.com/about/datacenters/inside/datasecurity/index.html?hl=ja）(2) Submitting the personal data of individuals residing in the EU
In addition to the conditions above, residents of EU countries shall also agree to thefollowing terms before applying to the program:・Submitted personal data will be sent and stored in a server located in Japan. Japan
has received an adequacy decision by the European Commission and the personal
data of applicants will be securely stored to the TMG and the Secretariat.
 Portions of data submitted by program applicants will be translated into Japanesewith the Google Translation tool. In this case, inputted data will be sent to Google
and stored temporarily on their servers. Google protects the security of data inaccordance with the security measures established for its cloud services.
(https://www.google.com/about/datacenters/inside/datasecurity/index.html?hl=ja）
・The data subjects may request access to their personal data, correction of inaccurate
personal data, or restrictions on data processing of their personal data.
9. Application for the Award
Companies that wish to apply for the award should access the application form on theTokyo Financial Award website and fill in the necessary information and confirm
application by the application deadline.
(1)

Application procedure:・Access the application form for from the website of the Tokyo Financial Award.

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（For the Investment Subcategory, please click here.）（For the Business Subcategory, please click here.）・Complete all required fields in the application form on a company basis.
* Up to 2 activities can be registered in each subcategory.
・Confirm all fields are correct before submission.
(2)

Deadline for submission:
11:59 p.m., Monday, September 30, 2024 (Japan Standard Time)(3)

Selection process, etc.
After the application deadline, the screening panel will strictly select businesses forawards, which will be announced at an awards ceremony in after February 2025.
Businesses that pass the first-stage screening will be notified individually. The selection
process will not be made public, and no inquiries will be responded to.
For questions concerning the Tokyo Financial Award, contact“2024 Tokyo Financial Award” Secretariat attfa@jp.ey.com

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