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The EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation and UNIDO’s Investment and Technology Promotion Office in Tokyo (UNIDO ITPO Tokyo) jointly organised a hybrid pitching and matchmaking event called "Sustainable Technology Day" on 17 February 2023. The objective of the event was to connect EU and Japanese companies looking to work together in sustainable projects in Africa.
Registrations are closed
The event started with the presentation of a successful example of a Japanese company working together with EU partners in Africa. Mr. Masaki Umeda from SORA Technology Co., Ltd. introduced the company’s malaria control project which utilises drones and AI in Africa.
The pitching event featured six innovative Japanese companies developing sustainable technologies in energy, environment, water, agribusiness and telecommunication. These technologies are all registered on UNIDO ITPO's Sustainable Technology Promotion Platform (STePP). The six companies made their pitches about their businesses and technologies with the intention of collaborating with EU companies in Africa. About 60 people attended the event on-site, and over 100 people around the world watched the event online.
Given the considerable geographic distance between Japan and Africa, collaborating with EU companies provides Japanese businesses with access to vital network infrastructure for business development. In addition, EU companies can leverage Japanese firms’ innovative and sustainable technologies to foster their own operations. By enabling the connection between Japanese and EU companies, the “Sustainable Technology Day” aimed at contributing to the industrial development of Africa.
After the pitching session, individual business meetings were held between the participants and the speakers. EU companies looking for sustainable technologies were invited to attend the event online and on-site in Tokyo and to meet with the Japanese speakers to discuss possible joint projects in Africa. The EU-Japan Centre can support EU companies in arranging meetings with the pitching companies upon requests. This support can also be done for online attendees after the event.
- SORA Technology Co., Ltd.: SORA Malaria Control: Anti-Malaria Infrastructure in Africa with Fixed Wing Drone and AI
A successful example of a Japanese company working together with EU partners in Africa with a malaria control project which utilises drones and AI in Africa.
> Watch the recording of SORA Technology's presentation
> Slides: available here
- AGC Inc.: F-CLEAN® – High Durability Film for Greenhouse
F-CLEAN® has a high light transmission, allowing a large amount of sunlight to enter the greenhouse for stable cultivation. It can control the heat and light of solar energy and can be introduced under any weather conditions.
> Watch the recording of AGC Inc's pitch
> Slides: available here
- Mebiol Inc.: “Film” Farming (Imec®)
Imec® is a film farming method in which plants are grown on a thin film made of hydrogel. High-quality crops can be grown even on the land unsuitable for agriculture, such as in areas with water shortage or soil contamination.
> Watch the recording of Mebiol Inc's pitch
> Slides: available here
- Biomass Resin Holdings Co., Ltd. (represented by Mitsui & Co. Plastics Ltd. during the event): Up-cycled Rice based Plastics “Rice Resin®”
Rice Resin® is a Japanese biomass plastic made from inedible rice. Their novel technology can upcycle unsellable rice (crushed rice, damaged rice, old rice, etc.) as well as other organic materials into eco-friendly plastic.
> Watch the recording about Biomass Resin Holdings' technology
> Slides: available here
- NEC Corporation: Co-creating Business with Partners to Achieve SDGs in Africa
NEC HSS® is a hybrid energy storage solution developed by NEC. This system combines storage batteries, a control system, solar panels, and a diesel generator to enable optimal power usage. It also contributes to reducing diesel fuel and CO2 emissions.
> Watch the recording of NEC Corporation's pitch
> Slides: available here
- TBM Co., Ltd.: LIMEX, an Innovative Material made from Limestone – Realizing a “Sustainability Revolution” from Japan to the World
LIMEX is an inorganic filler composite material mainly made of limestone. It can be used as an alternative to plastic or paper. The company not only sells the material, but also promotes recycling, contributing to achieving the circular economy.
> Watch the recording of TBM's pitch
> Slides: available here
- Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd.: Changing Water Changes Life – Yamaha Clean Water Supply System
Many people in the world still do not have access to safe drinking water, and many of them are in Africa. By delivering safe and reliable drinking water using Japanese quality technology, Yamaha will contribute to improving health issues and creating business opportunities.
> Watch the recording of Yamaha Motor's pitch
> Slides: available here
Date: 17 February 2023 - 8.00-9.30 (CET) / 10:00-11:30 (EAT) / 16.00-17.30 (JST)
followed by a networking reception until 19.00 (JST) for on-site attendees in Tokyo
Format: hybrid, online via Zoom and on-site in Tokyo at the Delegation of the European Union to Japan
Participation: free of charge
Language: English/Japanese (simultaneous interpretation available)
This event is particularly relevant for:
- EU companies and their subsidiaries in Japan or Africa interested in Japanese sustainable technologies,
- Japanese companies interested in business cooperation with EU companies for sustainable projects.
Organisers:
- EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation (www.eu-japan.eu)
- UNIDO ITPO Tokyo (http://www.unido.or.jp/en/about_us/itpo_tokyo/)
16:00 Opening remarks
Mr. Gelegen Ferda, Officer-in-Charge, UNIDO Investment and Technology Promotion Office, Tokyo (UNIDO ITPO Tokyo)
Mr. Fabrizio Mura, Team Leader, EEN Japan, GNSS.Asia and Space.Japan, EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation
16:10 Success story of a Japanese company working with EU partners in Africa
"SORA Malaria Control: Anti-Malaria Infrastructure in Africa with Fixed Wing Drone and AI"
By Mr. Masaki Umeda, Vice Chief Executive Officer, SORA Technology Co., Ltd.
16:20 Pitching session: sustainable technologies developed by Japanese companies
17:10 Q&A
17:30 Closing remarks
Mr. Luca Escoffier, Project Manager, EU–Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation
~ Download the full programme here ~
Please note that UNIDO ITPO Tokyo and the EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation will have access to and use the information you provide through your registration form to process your participation in this event. The names of the companies/organisations that register to this event will also be accessed by the speakers.
More information about the EU-Japan Centre's Privacy Policy: https://www.eu-japan.eu/privacy-policy
If you have any questions, please contact the EU-Japan Centre at EJ3A[at]eu-japan.or.jp
This event is co-organised by UNIDO ITPO Tokyo and the EU-Japan Centre via the EU-Japan Business Cooperation with ASEAN, Africa and Latin America Helpdesk (EJ3A Helpdesk), and the EU-Japan Technology Transfer Helpdesk.
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.
