The EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation is currently accepting applications to the call for…
This webpage includes an introduction to the Invest in EU Hub, details of the new call for Strategic Projects under the Critical Raw Materials Act and a disclaimer.
ABOUT THE "INVEST IN EU HUB"
The "Invest in EU Hub" was launched in 2024, to promote Japanese investments in the EU. It will ‘signpost’ potential Japanese investors and other stakeholders to relevant sources of information and resources at EU-level and in EU27 member-states.
The "Invest in EU Hub" aim is to provide information to Japanese investors and stakeholders about key EU-level investment opportunities available to non-EU investors (such as under the Critical Raw Materials Act or under the Net Zero Industry Act or "NZIA"), including through webinars and responding to inquiries. These opportunities take the form of programmes supported or co-financed by the European Commission, the European Investment Bank or other EU-level institutions. For additional information, click on the links provided or approach the relevant contact point indicated.
Most information will be given primarily in Japanese, so please look at the Japanese webpage to access it.
NEW CALL FOR STRATEGIC PROJECTS UNDER THE CRITICAL RAW MATERIALS ACT
On 24 May 2024, the EU's Critical Raw Materials Act ("CRM Act") entered into force. It ensures a secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials that underpin the green and digital transformations by strengthening all stages of the EU critical raw materials value chain, diversifying imports, improving monitoring and mitigation of disruption risks to the supply of CRM and improving circularity and sustainability. To do this, it sets priorities and objectives to strengthen the EU's CRM supply chains, includes measures to improve circularity and ensure an efficient use of CRM, boost preparedness and the mitigation of supply risks and establishes a CRM board to coordinate these actions and discuss the EU's strategic partnerships with third countries.
In a four-pronged approach, the CRM Act:
- Incentivises the extraction of raw materials in EU territory aiming for at least 10% of the EU's annual consumption of strategic raw materials to come from EU-extracted ores, minerals or concentrates by 2030, and
- Boosts the EU processing capacity so that, by 2030, at least 40% of the EU's annual consumption of the materials is produced in the EU, and
- Grows the EU's recycling capabilities so that, by 2030, at least 25% of the EU's annual consumption is produced through recycling, and
- Reduces dependency on single third-country suppliers of any raw material, setting a target that no single non-EU country accounts for more than 65% of the EU's annual consumption of that strategic raw material.
On 25 September 2025, the EU announced a call for Strategic Projects to build strategic raw material capabilities along the whole value chain both within and outside the EU27.
These projects will benefit from:
- co-ordinated financial guidance,
- support to facilitate off-take agreements, and
- accelerated permitting procedures in the EU (within 27 months for extraction projects or within 15 months for processing or recycling projects).
To boost access to finance, Strategic Projects can benefit from EU funding and may - where private investment is insufficient - also benefit from member state support in the form of guarantees, loans or equity and quasi-equity investments even when that constitutes State aid. Under the EU Global Gateway initiative funding is also possible for Strategic Projects based outside the EU.
Are Japanese entities able to apply?
Yes, project promoters from Japan and other third countries can apply for the status of strategic project provided they fulfil the eligibility criteria defined in the Regulation. In particular, the project needs to contribute meaningfully to the security of the EU’s supply of strategic raw materials.
| A Japanese-owned company leads one of the projects selected as a ‘strategic project’ under the first call in 2024. Under the BAM4EVER project in France, Tokai COBEX Savoie – a French subsidiary of a Japanese company – aims to establish a graphite battery anode material production facility. |
Under the 2023 Administrative Arrangement on Cooperation in Critical Raw Materials Supply Chains agreed between DG GROW and the Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC), the EU is actively looking to reinforce its cooperation with Japan on CRM issues. This will be achieved through sharing information and deepening their understandings in key areas, particularly in supply chain risk management, innovation, and recycling and circularity frameworks and through exchanging information on projects and relevant support instruments.
What are the key criteria that projects must meet?
- Make a 'meaningful contribution' to achieving the CRM Act's 2030 benchmarks set to diversify the strategic raw materials value chain by setting minimum levels for extraction, processing, recycling and proportion supplied by a single third country.
- Address at least one of the 17 strategic raw materials listed in Annex I of the Act.
- Already be – or become – technically feasible within a reasonable timeframe and show expected production volumes.
- Be sustainably implementable, minimising environmental impacts and socially adverse impacts.
- (For projects in the EU – Have cross-border benefits beyond the member state concerned.)
The assessment process will consider the technical, financial and ESG-related aspects of the project as well as its UNFC classification.
What is the timeline?
Applications must be submitted no later than 8 PM JST (12 PM CET) on 15 January 2026. The call for applications will stay permanently open with occasional cut-off dates.
More information
The Call for Strategic Projects website includes the Application Form, a Guide for Applicants, FAQ on Strategic Projects, a link to a webinar with more information, and details of previously approved strategic projects.
DISCLAIMER
The EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation is not involved in any way in the calls / proposals promoted on this webpage (i.e., it has no role in accepting or processing questions or offers submitted in relation to a call). The contents of this webpage are made available for general information and non-commercial purposes only. It does not claim to be comprehensive or up to date and is not intended to provide legal or other advice. No person should rely on the contents of this webpage without first obtaining advice from a qualified professional person.
If you have questions about the 'Invest in EU Hub' as opposed to the calls or other proposals featured on this webpage please email: simon@eu-japan.eu.
