Programmes organised by the Centre
HRTP : Human Resources Training Programme
Next session:
13/05/2013 - 07/06/2013
or 14/06/2013 (5th week is optional)
Application deadline: passed
HRTP-Japan Industry Insight is a 4/5-week training programme in Japan helping EU companies take full advantage of Japanese business opportunities and provides an in-depth approach to examine Japanese industrial structure, business practices and management through lectures, field trips and individual company visits. It is the opportunity of a lifetime to experience and understand Japan's cultural and economic elements that account for its business and technological achievements.
WCM : World Class Manufacturing
01/07/2013 - 05/07/2013
Application deadline: passed
11/11/2013 - 15/11/2013
Application deadline: 10/06/2013
WCM (World Class Manufacturing) is an intensive 5/8-day mission in Japan about improvement of productivity, assisting managers and executives from EU companies to acquire a better understanding of how Japanese companies continually eliminate costs from their manufacturing. To analyse key Japanese business practices & manufacturing methods: 'KAIZEN' (incremental improvement), 'JIT' (Just in Time), 'TQC' (Total Quality Control) and 'TQM' (Total Quality Management). Includes visits to some of the world's most advanced factories.
Bio Japan Cluster Mission : Matchmaking mission in Japan for EU Cluster managers and their SMEs members
Next session:
07/10/2013 - 11/10/2013
Application deadline: 30/05/2013
Within the framework of the European Commission (DG-ENTR) new policy aimed at promoting SME internationalisation through Clusters, and the Centre’s current mission to promote and support EU-Japan Cluster cooperation, the Centre will organise a cluster match-making mission in Japan.
This mission aims to support cluster organisations and their SME members in their efforts to access global value chains and develop strategic worldwide partnerships and business cooperation.
The mission will give European SMEs the opportunity to enter the Japanese market and establish technology or business partnerships and therefore increase their innovation capacity and make them more competitive on the global scale. The mission shall also contribute to improve the cooperation strategies between EU and Japanese clusters.
The mission targeting the Biotechnology sector will be organised in the fringes of “BioJapan 2013” Expo in Yokohama in October 2013 (http://www.ics-expo.jp/biojapan/).
DBP : Distribution & Business Practices
DBP (Distribution & Business Practices) in Japan is a 5/8-day mission in Japan helping European companies to gain a practical understanding of the Japanese distribution system. To learn about the Japanese way of achieving customer satisfaction and thus to acquire practical tools useful for building an effective marketing strategy for the Japanese / Asian markets. To understand how existing distribution chains (from manufacturers to retailers) successfully adjust their strategy to develop segmentation and product differentiation in the Japanese market.
FDI : Foreign Direct Investment
FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) in Japan is a 5-day mission in Japan helping EU participants to gain know-how about the practical means of structuring and implementing an investment plan in Japan by examining existing case studies of Foreign Direct Investments in Japan. To provide a hands-on understanding how EU firms can benefit from Japan's FDI policy for starting or growing business in Japan by acquiring local assets.
More information on FDI activities
HRTP : Human Resources Training Programme
Next session: to be confirmed
HRTP-Japan Industry Insight is a 4/5-week training programme in Japan helping EU companies take full advantage of Japanese business opportunities and provides an in-depth approach to examine Japanese industrial structure, business practices and management through lectures, field trips and individual company visits. It is the opportunity of a lifetime to experience and understand Japan's cultural and economic elements that account for its business and technological achievements.
Cluster Support Mission : Matchmaking mission to Japan for EU Green Materials and Clean Technologies clusters
Next session: to be confirmed
Targeted sector: Green Materials and Clean Technologies
Schedule: 12 to 15 November 2012 (Tokyo, Japan)
WCM in Europe : Productivity Improvement Course toward World Class Manufacturing
Next session: to be confirmed
5-day "World Class Manufacturing" training programme taking place in Europe.
The October 2009 session was organized in Alsace, France with the support of JMA Consultant Inc, Japan (JMAC) and the European Centre for Japanese Studies (CEEJA).
Other European programmes for Japan
EUGP : EU Gateway Programme
The EU Gateway Programme opens up opportunities for European companies to develop their business in Japan and Korea by offering them the possibility of participating in one-week business events in these target markets.
With support provided at every step of the way, EU companies benefit from being coached by a team of dedicated and experienced professionals in the business etiquette of these dynamic markets.
More information (external website)
ETP : Executive Training Programme
The Executive Training Programme (ETP) is a European Commission funded programme that provides European companies with the business, language and cultural training necessary for success in the Japanese and Korean markets. The ETP strengthens the presence of EU companies in Korea and Japan as well as the cultural and business links between those countries and the EU.
The ETP involves a three-week intensive training course in the UK on the culture, history and civil society of Japan or Korea which is conducted in London. This is followed by 30 weeks business and language training in Japan or Korea and, finally, 12 weeks internship in a Japanese or Korean company.
More information (external website)
IEJ : International Educators to Japan Programme
The International Educators to Japan (IEJ) program was initially established to express appreciation for the support of local schoolteachers to Japanese expatriate children and later on, it has been expanded to foster a better understanding of Japan.
The programme enables international educators to meet and interact with Japanese people, and experience unique aspects of Japanese nature, culture, history and techonology. The main events of the program are school visits and the home stay. Demonstration lessons and interaction with Japanese teachers and students foster educational exchange, and home staying provides opportunities to know about Japanese lifestyle.
Coordinators in Japan are Institute for International Studies and Training (IIST).
Contact info:
EU-Japan Centre
Tel: +32 (0)2 282 00 40
Fax: +32 (0)2 282 00 45
E-mail: click here
More information (external website)



