Japan's government plans to oblige manufacturers of what it classifies as "critical products," such as semiconductors, to take stricter steps to prevent information leaks when they seek government subsidies.

The subsidy program is aimed at financially helping the producers of such products to acquire necessary equipment and to build facilities.

The government has designated as "specified critical products" items that it considers essential to people's daily lives and which require efforts to secure a stable supply.

The government is concerned about the leakage of knowhow and expertise to other countries.

It plans to ask companies to create new information management systems as a condition for receiving subsidies for semiconductors, batteries and advanced electronic parts.

The government wants such companies to give only a limited group of personnel access to critical technologies. Officials also say the companies should have non-disclosure agreements with business partners and take appropriate steps when they bring their technologies out of the country.

Government officials say they are studying the measures taken by other countries. The officials say the US government bans joint research and information provision with companies that are concerned about information leakage when it provides subsidies for technologies and products related to national security.
The government demands a subsidy recipient return the money if it fails to abide by the rules, they say.