Lending activities through the Development Bank of Japan began in 1995 and continued throughout a period of at least ten years, during which time it is reported (Relecura, 2015) that 260 companies benefitted from IP-backed loans totaling JPY 16 billion. Its primary target could therefore be said to be addressing information asymmetry, though this form of support also has the effect of driving down transaction costs associated with the assessment of intangible assets. The scheme is led by the Japan Patent Office (JPO) and was developed in discussion with the country’s Financial Service Agency, and is targeted specifically at SMEs as defined in Japanese law.