Following the June 2023 B2B meetings in Prague with IHI-aerospace board members, reported in this newsletter, the Czech space industry had another visit from Japan, namely by the Associate Administrative Director of the JAXA International Relations Department and two colleagues. The Czech-JAXA Day, which the Czech Space Alliance (CSA) organised for him, consisted of meeting the de facto Czech national space agency (the Coordination Board for Space Activities of the Minister of Transport), followed by a get-to-know-each-other event at the premises of Japanese owned CSA member Rigaku. This included presentations of the industry and the academic community, which also showcased their intensive space cooperation with Japanese universities and presented very interesting projects. In November, IHI Aerospace also participated in the annual Czech Space Week. This year, further events with Japan follow. The June 2024 bi-annual 7th Prague Space Security Conference by the “Prague Security Studies Institute” has welcomed the Director General of the National Space Policy Secretariat of the Japanese Cabinet Office, Executive Fellow of MELCO, high-level delegation of IHI Aerospace and others. The week of 17 June, 12 EU SMEs participated in the mission of the EU PIMAP4Sustainability project to the Manufacturing World Tokyo 2024 exhibition. The Czech participation by MGM COMPRO, Iguassu Software Systems, ONE 3D. ČERMÁK Aero, and Space Manic was coordinated by the Czech Aerospace Cluster (CAC), while CAC and the Czech Space Alliance prepared specific B2B events with Japanese aerospace companies.

The final Japanese event so far this year will be the Japan International Aerospace Exhibition 2024 with a substantial Czech national stand. The stand, sponsored by the Czech Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Industry and Trade is coordinated by the Czech Embassy in Tokyo in cooperation with the Czechinvest office in Tokyo. CSA and CAC are supporting the preparation and planning B2B events and foresee another Czech space seminar (as the one in 2018, which included a talk by JAXA astronaut) at the Embassy. The Czech aerospace industry has participated at all Japan Aerospace exhibitions since 2008, in cooperation with Czechinvest, Czech Space Alliance and the Czech Embassy. In 2008, there was only one representative of CSA, but the number has grown continuously and this time at least 15 companies and three associations are expected to take part.

For all its activities in Japan, CSA systematically receives excellent support from the EU Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation, which over the years provided CSA with wealth of knowhow and invaluable experience – both by organising on-site events and trainings, online seminars, as well as providing advice in individual cases. CSA keen initiative and dedicated interest earned it also a nomination by the EU-Japan Centre to become a member of the high-level EU-Japan Business Round Table (BRT). The participation in Japanese events is above all to look for business opportunities with the highly advanced Japanese aerospace companies. But meetings in Japan are also an excellent opportunity to learn about, and enjoy, the fascinating culture and exquisite hospitality.

Source: Czech Space Alliance

Meeting between JAXA delegation with the Czech Ministry of Transport with Dr. Kobera, head of the Czech space department

Published: June 2024