JETRO Organized Demo Day for “1st EIC-JETRO Europe Innovation Challenge” with EIC

On Tuesday, 7^th October 2025, JETRO hosted the Demo Day event regarding “EIC-JETRO Europe Innovation Challenge” at its headquarters in Tokyo. This event was organized in collaboration with the European Innovation Council (EIC), Europe’s largest deep tech support organization, to promote partnerships between five Japanese companies (Challenge owners), namely JX Advanced Metals Corporation, Shimizu Corporation, Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. (DNP), NEC Corporation and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd, and selected 25 EIC-backed startups (EIC beneficiaries).

This initiative was a part of the cooperation program adopted during the 30th Japan-EU Regular Summit on 23^rd of July, under the “Japan-EU Competitiveness Alliance.” It also marks the first time that EIC’s corporate challenge programme (EIC Corporate Partnership Programme) will be held outside the EU.

Under this program, five Japanese corporates presented their challenges in advance to a diverse group of deep tech startups supported by EIC (EIC beneficiaries). After a joint selection process, 25 startups were chosen, and EIC has provided technical support to help them develop proposals addressing these challenges.

At the opening session of the Demo Day, Mr. Takuya Fukumoto, Deputy Director-General for Innovation Policy of the Innovation and Environment Policy Bureau, expressed his expectations and excitement to this tailor-made matching event aimed at creating and scaling up startups through Japan-EU collaboration, especially at the timely manner as follow-up action of the agreement on the “Japan-EU Competitiveness Alliance”. Also, from Delegation of the European Union to Japan, H.E. Ambassador Jean-Eric Paquet delivered his opening remarks highlighting the indispensability of strengthening EU-Japan collaboration.

(Photo) Remarks from Mr. Fukumoto, METI

 

After the remarks session, five Japanese corporates presented their challenges, followed by EIC beneficial startups’ solution pitches to propose concrete business alliances. Following the presentations, there were individual business meetings held to explore potential collaborations.

Europe is a leading innovation hub, combining world-class basic and applied research capabilities with a strong environment for startup creation and growth. However, the fragmented and diverse nature of innovation ecosystems across different countries and regions has made it difficult for Japanese companies to identify suitable partners.

Including this event, JETRO has established a collaborative framework with EIC, leveraging its open innovation business platform “J-Bridge.” This enables JETRO to introduce high-quality startups supported by EIC to Japanese companies, regardless of their location within Europe. EIC plays a key role in identifying, developing, and scaling breakthrough innovations under the EU’s research and innovation program “Horizon Europe”, providing grants and investments to approximately 3,000 European startups and scale-ups.

Going forward, JETRO will continue to actively strengthen ties with EIC and other European institutions to foster diverse business alliances between Japan and the EU.

(Photo) Group photo among Japanese corporates and EIC beneficial startups