Starting from fiscal 2017, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology will set up a subsidy program to support pioneering research that is expected to blossom into new industries. It will select about 50 unprecedented research subjects with a focus on innovative ideas rather than results and provide  30 million yen a year for each subject. Those with the potential for producing successful results will receive an additional 300 to 400 million yen a year. The ministry aims to build an environment that encourages researchers to undertake unique research without fear of failure and to nurture the seeds of innovative industries. (Abridged)