Join our Innovation Business Mission in Japan and exhibit for free at the Innovation Leaders Summit (“ILS”) 2024 in Toranomon Hills, Tokyo.

Are you running a business that applies cutting-edge technologies in areas such as new materials, renewable energy, SDGs, electronics, space, digital health and so forth? Would you like to present your technologies and products to potential partners and clients from Japan and beyond? If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you. This December, join us for an exclusive showcase of your business during the Innovation Mission in Japan. Don't miss out on this great networking opportunity! 

ABOUT THE MISSION

Mission participants will exhibit and participate in the Innovation Leaders Summit (“ILS”) 2024 in Toranomon Hills, one of Tokyo’s most iconic business venues. This mission has the purpose of establishing new business contacts in Japan and opening up opportunities for future cooperation. This four-day mission, from December 2nd to 5th, is an excellent opportunity to engage with Japanese business partners. At a joint EU-Japan Centre booth in the exhibition area, individual posters will be provided based on the materials from mission participants, and Centre staff and professional interpreters will help promote mission participants’ products, technologies and assure maximum exposure with visitors of the exhibition. Networking events throughout the mission will increase the opportunities to connect with potential business partners and clients.

Prior to the mission, a briefing webinar will be organised with all mission participants to prepare for the mission. Mission participants will also be engaged with potential partners prior to the mission by benefitting from the matchmaking platform managed by ILS’s organizers.

For more information on the ILS, please consult the official website here.

SCHEDULE

OBJECTIVES

• Explore partnering opportunities with Japanese 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 European country associated to the Single Market Programme, SME Pillar (***), , specialized in cutting-edge technologies in various industries. Specifically, we strongly encourage applications from companies that are involved in :

(*) 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 Collaboration Platform (https://clustercollaboration.eu/). Registration on that platform is free of charge.

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

ELIGIBILITY

The applicant must:

• Work for a legal entity located in the European Union or a 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
• Relevance for the trade fair

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 in the ILS 2024 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
• Participation in pitch and networking sessions
• Access to online partnering tool from ILS

COSTS

Mission participants are responsible for covering:

• Flight and other travel expenses to Tokyo and the trade fair venue
• Accommodation in Tokyo
• 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.