The mission of the EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation is:

• to promote all forms of industrial, trade and investment cooperation between Japan and the EU;
• to strengthen the technological capabilities and the competitiveness of the European and Japanese industrial systems.

The EU-Japan Centre is committed to developing its activities to follow as closely as possible the priorities of the Japanese and EU Authorities and the needs of industry. Its activities are continuously reviewed so as to respond to the changing needs of industry in both regions.

Services offered by the EU-Japan Centre

The EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation follows the priorities fixed by the Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW) and the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade & Industry (METI).

It manages policy-related and business support activities such as managerial training courses, cluster missions, information seminars, researches, student placement programmes, a business forum, an info & help desk, as well as various other services all designed to help bring European and Japanese businesses together.

TRAINING SCHEMES FOR EU EXECUTIVES

• Get Ready for Japan (training programme, in Japan)
• World Class Manufacturing-mission (52nd edition)
• World Class Manufacturing-mission (51st edition)
• Lean in Europe (physical company visits in the EU focussing on operational excellence and improvement activities)
• Lean Café (sharing of ideas and best practices through occasional webinars on lean issues)
• Lean Masterclass : Getting things done (series of 8 recorded video lectures available for download)

BUSINESS MISSIONS IN JAPAN 

• Digital mission
• Nanotech mission
• Biotech mission
• Green mission

INTERNSHIP SCHEMES FOR EU AND JAPANESE COMPANIES

• Vulcanus in Japan (1-year internship in Japan for EU students & host companies in Japan)
• Vulcanus in Europe (1-year internship in the EU for Japanese students & EU host companies)

PARTNERSHIP SUPPORTS (for SMEs only)

• Enterprise Europe Network (EU Network to support SMEs internationalization)
• EU Food 2 Japan (Support for EU SMEs producers of organic food seeking to export their products to Japan)

INTELLIGENCE SUPPORTS

• EU Business in Japan (information on Japan)
• Tax and Public Procurement (helpdesk for European SMEs)
• EPA Helpdesk (understanding the EU-Japan free trade agreement)
• Information desk (business inquiries)

OTHER SERVICES (for SMEs only)

• Step in Japan (logistical support in Japan)
• Keys to Japan (business plan drafting support service for European SMEs)