Applications for the 2024 edition are now closed.

Join our Digital Business Mission in Japan during the Smart Manufacturing Summit 2024 in Aichi prefecture, the industrial capital of Japan!

 OBJECTIVES

• Explore partnering opportunities with Japanese digital and ICT companies
• Meet and network with potential business partners in Japan
• Create new business opportunities and partnerships with Japanese companies
• Gain valuable insights and knowledge about the Japanese market to become more competitive on a global scale as an SME
• Prepare the ground for practical cluster cooperation with Japanese counterparts as a cluster

PARTICIPANT PROFILE

This call for applications targets individuals working for SMEs (*) (small and medium enterprises, start-ups) or Clusters (**) from the European Union, or a country associated to the Single Market Programme, SME Pillar (***), active in the following sectors:

We target participants in the following sectors:

-Connected Manufacturing
-Advanced Technologies and Materials
-Digital Ecosystems
-New Energies
-Sustainable Manufacturing
-Smart mobilities

ELIGIBILITY

The applicant must:

• Work for a legal entity located in the European Union or a European country associated with the Single Market Programme, SME Pillar (***)
• Be supported by their employer through a signed letter (in case they do not belong to senior management)
• Be able to participate in the entire programme
• Have a good command of English (recommended level B2 or higher)
• Have proven experience in the industry

SELECTION

The Centre will evaluate applicants based on the following primary selection criteria:

• Company's strategy regarding Japan
• Innovative aspects of the product/technology/service offered by the company
• Applicant's professional and educational background

The mission will welcome 12 companies.

WHAT DO WE OFFER?

The EU-Japan Centre will cover the expenses for one representative per selected company/cluster for: 

• Individual display stand in the joint EU-Japan Centre booth at the exhibition
• Support by EU-Japan Centre staff and professional interpreters at the joint EU-Japan Centre booth
• Translation of poster and company profile, as well as printing of the poster for the exhibition

COSTS

Mission participants are responsible for covering:

• Flight and other travel expenses to / from Japan
• Accommodation
• Other living expenses in Japan, including local transportation and meals

DEPOSIT

Participants who have been selected for the mission are required to pay a deposit of €1000 to secure their spot in the mission. After a brief post-event report is submitted, the deposit will be refunded. Before applying, please ensure you are committed, as cancelling after confirming your participation will result in a forfeiture of the deposit.

(*) Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are companies that meet the standard criteria set by the European Commission to be classified as SMEs.

(**) Clusters are those who are registered in the European Cluster Cooperation Platform (http://www.clustercollaboration.eu. Registration on that platform is free of charge.

(***) Please check the status of your country here.

THE DIGITAL SECTOR IN JAPAN

Looking for information about the digital sector in Japan?

Visit the dedicated pages in our EU Business in Japan related content:

Free membership registration.