Space Business Mission in Japan 2025: call for applications

Are you a European business specialising in lunar or deep space exploration, satellite equipment, upstream or ground-based space-related technologies and downstream applications? Would you like to present your solutions to potential partners and clients from Japan? If so, the EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation (hereinafter, the Centre) has an exciting opportunity for you to explore the Japanese market, connect and exhibit at our Space Business Mission in Japan in January 2025. 

Selected applicants will enjoy a dedicated space on the EU-Japan Centre’s booth, at no cost¹. Translation of the companies’ profiles and English-Japanese interpreters on-site are also part of the package. Finally, the centre’s will organise extra B2B activities before the fair itself, to maximise your visibility with Japanese companies.

ABOUT THE MISSION

The Centre’s Space Business Mission in Japan will exhibit at the International Space Industry Exhibition (ISIEX) open from 29 to 31 January 2025 in Tokyo. ISIEX intends to offer hybrid business matching opportunities for companies involved in the space-related tech. for robots, lunar exploration, rocket development + manufacturing, launch infrastructure, satellite utilisation, and other downstream space-related services. 

The Centre offers 12 EU space-related SMEs the opportunity to exhibit in-person at ISIEX 2025. Selected participants will have the opportunity to connect with Japanese business partners and showcase their solutions during the 3-day exhibition. At the Centre’s joint booth, mission participants will have their promotion material translated in Japanese-language posters, ensuring their products and technologies are effectively communicated to the Japanese visitors. 

Moreover, the mission will include professional interpreters to ensure that participants feel confident and well-supported throughout the event.  

Before travelling to Japan, mission participants will receive detailed information about the schedule and Japanese business etiquette through a webinar, in order to ensure better preparation ahead of the business mission. 

SCHEDULE

OBJECTIVES

• Explore and create partnering opportunities with Japanese companies. 

• Gain valuable insights and knowledge about the Japanese market. 

• 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 country associated with the Single Market Programme, SME Pillar (***), specialised in: 

• lunar exploration, deep space exploration, lunar development  

• rocket manufacturing, rocket launch infrastructure 

• satellite manufacturing and communication equipment, satellite utilisation business  

• on-orbit space-related services  

• space life support (clothing, food, housing) 

• other space-related services; or space-related organisations and academia 

(*) 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 Cooperation Platform (http://www.clustercollaboration.eu). Registration on that platform is free of charge. 

(***) Please check the status of your country here. Eligibles are EFTA countries and countries that have signed an agreement to participate in the Competitiveness of SMEs strand.

ELIGIBILITY

The applicant must:

• work for a Cluster or an SME based in the European Union, or in a country associated with the Single Market Programme (SMP), SME Pillar (***); the headquarters of the company must be located in an EU/SMP country
• 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; a representation in the same trade fair in other ways (in a stand-alone booth or as part of a national/regional pavilion) is not permitted
• have a good command of English (recommended level B2 or higher)

Applicants may be declined if they have previously cancelled their participation or were absent during part of a prior mission without a valid reason, or have in any other way acted contrary to the guidelines of the mission and/or disobeyed the instructions of Centre staff.

Companies or clusters that are not relevant to the sector-specific business mission will be rejected.

Companies and individuals are allowed to participate multiple times.

SELECTION

The Centre will evaluate applicants based on the following primary selection criteria:  

• Strategy and potential regarding Japan
• Relevance for the topic of the mission and the targeted fair
• Professional background of the applicant

Priority will be given to new applicants. Applicants applying again for the same mission can be selected if they can convincingly explain why another participation would be beneficial for their business with Japan.

The mission will welcome 12 companies. 

WHAT DO WE OFFER?

¹The 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 International Space Industry 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 

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. 

Don't miss out on this great networking opportunity! 

SUBMISSION 

Please submit your application by clicking the Apply button at the top of this page

TIMELINE

Call opening: September 2, 2024 

Deadline:  November 24, 2024