Session dates: 13 - 16 October 2026

Are you running a business that specialises in digital technologies — such as AI, cybersecurity, IoT? Would you like to develop business in Japan and beyond?
This autumn, the EU-Japan Centre invites European companies and clusters to apply to the Digital Solutions Business Mission 2026. The mission includes participation to CEATEC 2026, one of Asia's leading digital technology exhibitions. 
Join the mission and showcase your business in Japan!

ABOUT THE MISSION

The Digital Solutions Business Mission offers a unique entry point into the Japanese market. Mission participants will exhibit and take part in CEATEC 2026, held at Makuhari Messe near Tokyo — Japan's largest and most recognised trade fair focused on digital innovation. The 2025 edition attracted nearly 100.000 attendees, 810 exhibiting companies and organisations, and provided 222 conference sessions, underlining its scale and relevance as a meeting point for the global digital industry.

This 4-day mission offers:

• Exhibition space under the joint EU-Japan Centre booth at CEATEC 2026
• Tailored, 1-to-1 meetings with Japanese counterparts, pre-arranged with the EU-Japan Centre’s support 
• Networking and pitching opportunities with Japanese and international stakeholders

Number of Participants: Up to 16

SERVICES OFFERED BEFORE THE MISSION

Before travelling to Japan, participants will be provided with 2 online training modules to prepare for the mission. The sessions are currently scheduled in the morning of 14 and 15 of September (TBC). Details of the agenda for each day of training will be communicated in due course.

PLANNED SCHEDULE

OBJECTIVES

• Help EU companies initiate and develop connections in Japan
• Support EU companies with identifying potential partners for future business / innovation partnerships
• Offer first hand exposure and promotion of EU companies’ technologies and services to prospective clients in Japan
• Support EU firms with actionable insights into the Japanese Digital ecosystem and markets, IP regulation, Public Procurement Opportunities and R&D landscape

PARTICIPANT PROFILE

This call for applications targets individuals working for companies, including both SMEs (*) and large companies, or clusters (**) from the European Union or a country associated with the Single Market Programme, SME Pillar (***), active in advanced digital technologies with clear industrial applications.

The mission focuses on companies offering mature, demonstrable and integration-ready solutions that address concrete operational challenges in industry, infrastructure and the automotive/mobility sector. Priority will be given to companies aligned with the following profiles:

• Industrial IoT and edge solutions, including predictive maintenance, real-time data processing, and machine connectivity;
• Industrial cybersecurity, covering protection of industrial networks, connected devices, and critical infrastructure;
• Industrial engineering software, including simulation, digital twins, and production optimisation tools; and
• Applied AI solutions addressing specific use cases such as quality inspection, logistics optimisation, or energy efficiency.

Applicants are expected to present a clear use case, proven or pilot deployment experience, and a strong capacity to integrate into existing industrial environments. 

(*) 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 Collaboration Platform (https://clustercollaboration.eu/). Registration on that platform is free of charge.

(***) Please check the status of your country here.

ELIGIBILITY

The applicant must:

SELECTION

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

• strategy and potential of their company/cluster regarding Japan
• relevance of their company/cluster for the topic of the mission and the targeted fair
• professional background of the applicant

The mission will accommodate a maximum of 16 participants. Other applicants who score at or above the average will be placed on a waitlist and ranked according to their scores. Only one application per company/cluster will be considered.

Please note that once selected, the applicant will be regarded as a participant in the business mission. Any changes to the participating employee from the selected company/cluster must be discussed with and approved by the EU-Japan Centre.

WHAT DO WE PROVIDE?

For all mission participants, the EU-Japan Centre will provide:

• Two online business and market training modules scheduled prior to the mission
• Entrance fees for events and trade fair in the scope of the mission
• A standardised display stand in the shared booth of the EU-Japan Centre
• Assistance by EU-Japan Centre staff (such as for promotion, B2B meetings)
• Professional interpreters at the joint EU-Japan Centre booth and at the trade fair
• Translation of the poster and the company/cluster profile, as well as printing of the poster for the exhibition
• Tailored 1-to-1 meetings with Japanese counterparts (arranged by the EU-Japan Centre)
• Custom-built IP-related advice and Public Procurement Tender Scan (on-demand)
• Hotel accommodation, arranged by the EU-Japan Centre, from Monday 12 October (before the start of the mission) to Friday 16 October (check-out morning). All selected participants will be provided with the same room type.

WHAT DO PARTICIPANTS NEED TO COVER?

All Mission participants are responsible for covering:

• Flight and other travel expenses to the starting point of the mission in Japan and after mission completed
• Living expenses in Japan including local transportation and meals.
   

PARTICIPATION FEE

To secure their spot, all selected participants must pay a €1.000 deposit. This deposit will be refunded upon successful completion of full mission participation and submission of the questionnaires. 

Large companies (non-SMEs/non-Clusters), must also pay a non-refundable contribution fee of €2.500 to secure their spot in the mission. 
 

PENALTIES

In practice, the following penalties apply:

• Last-minute cancellations made after confirming participation may result in the forfeiture of the participation fee. However, a refund is possible in cases of force majeure, such as natural disasters or other unforeseeable circumstances beyond the participant's control.
• Failure to attend the mission (at the EU-Japan Centre booth or mandatory mission events): for each day that a participant will be absent without a valid reason, between 200 and 250 EUR will be deducted (200 EUR for a 5-day mission, 250 EUR for a 4-day mission).

Please submit your application by 18/06/2026
Any questions?  contact m.reali@eu-japan.eu

*The organisation of the Digital Solutions Business Mission is pending the receipt of an EU grant for the activities of the EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation for the period covering cycle 2026-2028 of the programme. Please therefore note that this call is subject to the award and signature of an EU Grant Agreement and may therefore be adjusted/cancelled if needed.