Next Mission dates: January 20-23, 2026 

Are you running a business specialising in smart factory solutions, manufacturing and robotics technologies? Would you like to present your technologies and products to potential partners and clients from Japan? If so, the EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation has an exciting opportunity for you. From January 20th to January 23rd, 2026, take advantage of the valuable opportunity to connect with other EU entrepreneurs and exhibit your technology at the Smart Factory & Robotics Business Mission in Japan.

ABOUT THE MISSION

Japan has always been a pioneer in adopting advanced technology, and it is no wonder that smart factory solutions and robotics are key players in the country's industrial landscape. In this exciting context, 12 to 16 selected SME participants will have the opportunity to connect with Japanese business partners and showcase their innovative products and technologies during the 3-day Factory Innovation Week,. One day before the start of the exhibition, selected candidates will have a company visit to a designated Japanese entity specialised in AI and robotics.

The Factory Innovation Week unites three specialised shows – the Smart Factory Expo, RoboDEX, and the Green Factory Expo. The Smart Factory Expo is a platform for factory automation, digitalisation, and sustainable manufacturing for future technologies. At the joint EU-Japan Centre booth, mission participants will have their company poster translated into Japanese-language posters, ensuring their products and technologies are effectively communicated to the exhibition visitors.

Moreover, the EU-Japan Centre staff and professional interpreters will provide comprehensive support, ensuring participants feel confident and well-supported throughout the event.

Before travelling to Japan, mission participants will receive detailed information about the mission schedule and Japanese business etiquette through a cross-cultural webinar. This will ensure they are fully prepared for their business mission.

SCHEDULE

OBJECTIVES

• Explore and create partnering opportunities with Japanese companies.
• Gain valuable insights and knowledge about the Japanese market.
• Prepare the ground for practical cluster cooperation with Japanese counterparts as a cluster.

PARTICIPANT PROFILE

This call for applications targets individuals working for SMEs (small and medium enterprises, start-ups) (*) or Clusters (**) from the European Union or a country associated with the Single Market Programme, SME Pillar (***), specialised in:

• Industrial Robots (e.g. Cobots, Articulated Robots, Autonomous transportation, Delta Robots…)
• Internet of Robotic Things (IoRT)
• Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)
• Components & Materials for Robots  (e.g. electronic components, sensors, actuators...)
• Smart Factory Equipment & Autonomous Transportation
• Industrial automation (e.g. remote monitoring & operation support)
• Safety of machinery equipment
• Control and SCADA systems
• Sustainable Manufacturing Solutions
• Vision systems & sensorics
• AI integration 

(*) 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:

• Work for a legal entity located in the European Union or a country associated with the Single Market Programme, SME Pillar (***)
• The headquarters of the company/cluster must be located in an EU/SMP country
• Be supported by their employer through a signed letter (in case they do not belong to senior management)
• Be able to participate in the entire programme
• Have a good command of English (recommended level B2 or higher)

Companies or clusters that are outside the scope of the defined sector/type-specific business mission will be rejected.

Companies and clusters are allowed to participate multiple times.

Applicants may be declined if they have previously cancelled their participation or were absent during part of a prior mission without a valid reason, have acted contrary to the mission's guidelines, local laws, customs, and regulations, or have disobeyed the instructions of the Centre staff.

❈Please note that if selected, the applicant is considered a participant in the business mission. Any change in a participating employee from the selected company must be discussed with the EU-Japan Centre.

SELECTION

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

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

New applicants will receive priority. Applicants applying again for the same mission may be selected if they can convincingly explain why another participation would benefit their business with Japan.

The mission will welcome 12 to 16 participants, depending on budget availability.

WHAT DO WE OFFER?

The EU-Japan Centre will cover the expenses for one representative per selected company/cluster for:

• Individual display stand in the joint EU-Japan Centre booth in the Smart Factory Expo
• Support by EU-Japan Centre staff and professional interpreters at the joint EU-Japan Centre booth
• Translation of the poster and company profile, as well as printing of the poster for the exhibition
• Participation in the Factory Innovation Week in Tokyo
• Access to online partnering tool 

COSTS

Mission participants are responsible for covering:

• Flight and other travel expenses to the starting point of the mission in Tokyo
• Accommodation in Tokyo
• Other living expenses in Japan, including local transportation and meals
• If utilised: Promotional materials for their company, e.g. flyers, business cards, etc.

DEPOSIT & PENALTIES

Selected mission participants must pay a deposit of €1000 to secure their spot. This deposit will be refunded after a post-event survey is submitted. Cancelling after confirming your participation will result in a forfeiture of the deposit.

In practice, the following penalties apply:

• In case of cancellation after paying the deposit, the deposit will be forfeited. However, the deposit will be fully refunded in case of force majeure, such as natural disasters, or other unforeseeable circumstances beyond the participant's control.
• Failure to attend the mission (at the EUJCIC booth or mandatory side-events): For each day the participant is absent without a valid reason, 200 or 250 EUR will be deducted (200 EUR for a 5-day mission and 250 EUR for a 4-day mission).

Signatures are collected for each mission day to serve as proof of participation.

Any questions? Contact Follow-up_CSM@eu-japan.eu

Don't miss out on this great networking opportunity!