About our partners

The Institute for Regional Collaboration in Japan (IRC) is an association created in 2021 in Tokyo by the Kitamaebune organization’s authorities in order to develop the network of the Japanese local Governments.
Kitamaebune organization was an association born during the Edo Period in Japan. it was the 1st network of Japanese prefectures with a commercial objective. In 2017, the  association has been recreated and currently regroups 48 members from 16 prefectures of Japan.

It aims to revitalize the regions of Japan in conjunction with the private sector. The IRC is developing the work and the objectives of the Kitamaebune organization.

Ibaraki Prefecture, located to the northeast of Tokyo, is home to Tsukuba City, one of the nation's leading science hubs.

Tsukuba City is the largest Science City in Japan, housing numerous public and private institutes that attract a significant number of international researchers and students. This international environment provides excellent access to talent vital for the development of new businesses.

With its close proximity to Tokyo and robust infrastructure, Ibaraki is the ideal location to establish a business in Japan

Iwate prefecture is located in the Tohoku region of Honshu in northeast Japan.
Morioka is the capital and largest city of Iwate Prefecture, with other major cities including Ichinoseki, Oshu and Hanamaki.
Iwate’s industry is concentrated around Morioka and specializes in semiconductor and communications manufacturing.

Blessed with rich, abundant natural beauty, Iwate is a source of great potential. 

Gifu prefecture is located in the Tohoku region and is the second largest local government in Japan.
Morioka, the seat of the prefectural government has the largest population in Iwate prefecture and city functions are concentrating there.
With its rich nature, the agriculture, the forestry and the fisheries have been prosperous in Iwate, but in the central part of the prefecture, the accumulation of manufacturing industries such as automobile and semiconductor is in progress.

The Commission's Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs is responsible for EU policy on the single market, industry, entrepreneurship and small businesses.

The EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation is  is a joint venture established in 1987 by the European Commission (DG GROW) and the Japanese Government (METI) for promoting all forms of industrial, trade and investment cooperation between the EU and Japan. It is jointly funded and managed by both sides. It has its head office in Tokyo and an office in Brussels.
Support to EU & Japanese SMEs, CLUSTERS, BUSINESS EXECUTIVES, POLICY ANALYSIS/FELLOWS, RESEARCHERS & STUDENTS

The European Cluster Collaboration Platform (ECCP) is the leading hub for cluster collaboration across Europe and beyond. It boosts the connections and partnering of enterprises via nearly 1000 cluster organisations registered at the Platform. They reach out to over 100.000 SMEs, some 8.000 large firms and 11.000 universities/research organisations.
The platform provides a dynamic mapping of clusters and cluster organisations, a partner search facility and offers information about the EU cluster initiatives and related European Cluster Partnerships and networks. It communicates about cluster-related news, international matchmaking events, conferences, open calls etc.