Join our matchmaking event and meet Japanese companies at the Kawasaki International Eco-Tech Fair 2024 in Kawasaki. The deadline to apply is 17 September 2024 at midnight (Tokyo time).

Do you work for an EU company already established in Japan or in other Asian countries? Does your company develop solutions or runs projects related to waste and water management, renewable energy or other areas related to the environment? Are you looking to partner with Japanese companies in Southeast Asia?

If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you. This November, join us for an exclusive matchmaking event with Japanese companies and representatives of Cambodia and the Philippines (Cebu City). This matchmaking event is an excellent opportunity to engage with Japanese business partners on joint projects in Southeast Asia. Don’t miss out on this unique networking opportunity!

ABOUT THE EVENT

The 17th Kawasaki International Eco-Tech Fair will take place at Culttz Kawasaki. The trade fair aims at promoting solutions in various fields such as waste and water management, renewable energy and other green technologies.

The EU-Japan Centre, in partnership with Kawasaki City and UNIDO ITPO Tokyo will organise a 3-day matchmaking event at the trade fair to connect EU and Japanese companies for possible joint projects Southeast Asia.

The event will include:

• a booth tour and a networking reception on 13th November,
• a pitching session and a matchmaking session on 14th November,
• a company visit on 15th November (in Kawasaki, outside the trade fair).

The purpose of this event is to connect EU participants with Japanese companies to discuss joint projects in Southeast Asia. Representatives of Cambodia and the Philippines (Cebu City) will also be there to present business opportunities in their countries.

The EU-Japan Centre’s staff and professional interpreters will help promote the participants’ products, services and technologies throughout the event. In addition, the EU-Japan Centre will have a small booth at the trade fair where promotional materials of the selected EU companies will be displayed to ensure maximum exposure with visitors and other exhibitors. The EU-Japan Centre will have a staff member at the booth while the participants take part in the matchmaking event.

The EU-Japan Centre is working in partnership with Kawasaki City – the organiser of the trade fair – and UNIDO ITPO Tokyo to organise the matchmaking event.

SCHEDULE

OBJECTIVES

• Explore partnering opportunities with Japanese companies for possible joint projects in Southeast Asia
• Meet and network with potential business partners
• Gain valuable insights and knowledge about business opportunities in Southeast Asia, specifically in Cambodia and the Philippines

PARTICIPANT PROFILE

We are looking for applicants working for EU companies that have experience in Southeast Asia, and in particular in Cambodia and the Philippines. Experience in Japan or with Japanese business partners is also a plus.

Therefore, this call for applications targets individuals working in the Japanese or other Asian subsidiaries of companies headquartered in the European Union (*). Applicants from the European headquarters are also eligible if their profile is relevant for this event.

Specifically, we are looking for applicants working at companies involved in:

• Resource management and resource recycling
• Waste management
• Circular economy
• Renewable energy
• Environmental solutions
• Water treatment and water management
• Other green solutions
• Consulting on projects related to the above fields in Southeast Asia
• Project management in Southeast Asia

We strongly encourage applications from EU companies:

• with expertise in investing or doing business in the Philippines (in particular Cebu) or in Cambodia.
• with experience in the above two markets and which can share best practices or wish to partner with Japanese companies in the future in these markets.

ELIGIBILITY

Applicants must:

• Work for a legal entity headquartered in the European Union or a country associated with the Single Market Programme, SME Pillar (*). Applicants working at a Japanese or Asian subsidiary of an EU company are eligible.
• Have a managerial position within their company
• Be able to participate in the entire programme
• Have a good command of English (recommended level B2 or higher) or Japanese
• Have proven experience in the industry

(*) Companies headquartered in European countries associated to the Single Market Programme, SME Pillar are also eligible. Please check the status of your country here - are eligible the countries taking part in "SMP COSME" and "Competitiveness of SMEs".

SELECTION

The EU-Japan Centre will evaluate applicants based on the following selection criteria:

• Company's strategy and experience regarding Japan and Southeast Asia
• Company’s motivation to work with Japanese partners in Southeast Asia
• Innovative aspects of the product/technology/service offered by the company
• Relevance for the trade fair

The EU-Japan Centre will select up to 5 companies.

WHAT DO WE OFFER?

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

• Booth tour and networking reception
• Participation in the pitching and matchmaking sessions
• Support by the EU-Japan Centre staff and professional interpreters throughout the matchmaking event
• Access to the trade fair’s online matching system
• Translation of poster and company profile and printing of the poster for the trade fair
• Exhibition booth serviced by the EU-Japan Centre’s staff and where the companies’ promotional materials will be displayed
• A one-day company visit

COSTS

Participants are responsible for covering the following expenses:

• Flight and other travel expenses to the event venue in Kawasaki
• Accommodation
• Other living expenses in Japan such as meals (except for the networking reception on 13th November and networking lunch on 15th November which are covered by the EU-Japan Centre and its partners)

DEPOSIT

Participants who have been selected for the matchmaking event are required to pay a deposit of ¥160,000 (a deposit in euros can also be considered) to secure their spot in the matchmaking event. After a brief post-event report is submitted, the deposit will be refunded. Before applying, please ensure that you are committed, as cancelling after confirming your participation will result in a forfeiture of the deposit.