JETRO Events and Programs

U.S.-Japan Clean Tech Symposium 2010

On February 18, 2010, JETRO, Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and U.S. Department of State hosted the "U.S.-Japan Clean Tech Symposium 2010" in San Francisco. The event started as a program under the U.S.-Japan Investment Initiative formulated in June 2001. It is an annual seminar jointly hosted by the Japanese and U.S. governments with the purpose of promoting investment between the two countries.

Held at the Nikko Hotel in San Francisco, California, the event hosted nearly 250 attendees who heard representatives of government, companies, venture capital, and media discuss government policies, current trends in clean tech, and the opportunities for clean tech companies in Japan and the U.S.

Key points arising from the event's speeches and panel discussions included:

  1. It is essential for U.S. and Japan, which have advanced technologies, to tackle global challenges in the environmental sector.
  2. While Japan has cutting-edge technologies, its weakness has been in incubating technologies into businesses. On the other hand, the U.S. is adept in incubation, whereas many of the technologies exist outside the U.S. Therefore, if both countries work together, significant business opportunities exist including in the markets of third countries.
  3. For the clean tech business, government and private partnership is essential for growth.

Information desks were set up by Japanese local governments in the event foyer to provide information on business environments and opportunities in Japanese regions.

Outline

Date and Time February 18 (Thu), 2010, Symposium: 13:30 - 17:30
Venue Hotel Nikko San Francisco
Organizers JETRO, METI, U.S. Department of State
Theme Partnering with Japanese Companies is Essential for Clean Tech
Program

Opening Remarks

  • Kurt Tong, U.S. Senior Official, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), U.S. Department of State
  • Atsuo Shibota, Director-General, Trade and Economic Cooperation Bureau, METI

Panel Discussion 1: Japan Session
Current developments in marketable clean technologies in Japan and what Japanese companies are looking for when working with U.S. companies.
Moderator:Naoyuki Hasegawa, Chief Executive Director, JETRO San Francisco

Speakers:

  • Yasuyo Yamazaki, President, Sun-Based Economy Association (SBEA)
  • Tsuyoshi Hoshina, Chief Technology Officer, Nihon Unisys, Ltd.
  • Peter M. Fannon, Vice President of Corporate & Government Affairs, Panasonic Corp. of North America
  • Masazumi Ishii, Managing Director, AZCA, Inc.

What's Now in Clean Tech
U.S. journalists discussed the latest technologies and trends.
Moderator: Naoyuki Hasegawa, Chief Executive Director, JETRO San Francisco

Speakers:

  • Michael Kanellos, Editor in Chief, Greentech Media
  • Rob Schmitz, Los Angeles Bureau Chief, KQED
  • Phil Keys, US Correspondent, Nikkei Electronics

Panel Discussion 2: U.S. Companies Session
Views on the Japanese market and overseas market development by U.S. clean tech companies.
Moderator: Michael Kanellos, Editor in Chief, Greentech Media

Speakers:

  • Vijay Parmar, Vice President of Business Development, GainSpan
  • Jeff Smidt, Vice President & General Manager of Global Energy Business, Underwriters Laboratories (UL)
  • Jit Bhattacharya, Chief Executive Officer, Mission Motors

Closing Remarks

  • Hiroaki Ishii, Executive Vice President, JETRO

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