Application forms for Space Business Mission to Japan 2027:

1. Apply for the ISIEX mission → 17–19 March 2027, Tokyo Big Sight 

2. Apply for the SPEXA mission → 12–14 May 2027, Tokyo Big Sight 

• Apply for both missions → Candidates wishing to participate in both events must submit two separate application forms, one for each mission. 

• Before applying, please carefully check each mission target sectors; companies not matching the trade fair topics will be rejected for that mission.  

Is your company or cluster active anywhere across the space value chain, from space exploration and launch systems to satellite technologies, ground infrastructure, and space-enabled applications and services?

Would you like to present your expertise and cutting-edge solutions to potential partners, clients, and key stakeholders in Japan's growing space sector?

If so, join the Space Business Mission, organised by the EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation (the "Centre"), and seize the opportunity to expand your network, identify new business opportunities, and engage directly with leading players in the Japanese space industry.

ABOUT THE MISSION

This year, the mission will exceptionally be organised around two dedicated exhibition cohorts:

• International Space Industry Exhibition (ISIEX): 17–19 March 2027, Tokyo Big Sight
• Space Business Expo (SPEXA): 12–14 May 2027, Tokyo Big Sight

The mission will accommodate up to 32 participants across the two exhibitions. Applicants will be asked to indicate their preferred exhibition (either ISIEX or SPEXA) based on their company’s products and/or services.

About the mission to ISIEX

The International Space Industry Exhibition (ISIEX) will take place from 17 to 19 March 2027 at Tokyo Big Sight. ISIEX brings together companies, research organisations, universities and space agencies involved in space development and utilisation. Its scope includes lunar exploration, launch systems, satellites, manufacturing, ground infrastructure and downstream space services.

Before travelling to Japan, participants will be provided with an online Business Training Modules to prepare for the mission. The sessions are currently scheduled in the mornings of 11 and 12 February 2027. Details of the agenda for each day of training will be communicated in due course. The 16 participants are highly expected to attend these 2-day business training modules.

SCHEDULE for ISIEX (tentative)

Focused areas of interest for ISIEX (not exhaustive):

• Earth observation / remote sensing
• Geospatial services and applications
• Disaster prevention and resilience
• Infrastructure monitoring
• Environmental monitoring
• Downstream space applications
• Space defence and resilience
• Dual-use space technologies

About the mission to SPEXA

The Space Business Expo (SPEXA) will take place from 12 to 14 May 2027 at Tokyo Big Sight. The organisers expect the event to attract 420 exhibitors and 18,000 visitors from 45 countries and regions, with technologies spanning rockets, satellites, space data centres, artificial intelligence, Earth observation and satellite-data applications. By participating in the mission, European companies will be able to showcase their solutions, meet prospective customers and business partners, engage with government agencies and industry leaders, and explore opportunities in the Japanese space market.

Before travelling to Japan, participants will be provided with  2 online training modules. The sessions are currently scheduled in the mornings of (5-8) and (6-9) April 2027. Details of the agenda for each day of training will be communicated in due course. The 16 participants are strongly expected to attend these 2-day business training modules.

SCHEDULE for SPEXA (tentative)

Focused areas of interest for SPEXA (not exhaustive):

• Satellite development and manufacturing;
• Launch systems and propulsion;
• Spacecraft components, materials and subsystems;
• Ground systems and space infrastructure;
• Satellite data and space applications;
• Commercial space services;
• Space-related investment and business developments.

PARTICIPANT PROFILE

This call for applications targets individuals working for companies, including SMEs (*) and large companies, or clusters (**), from the European Union or a country associated with the Single Market Programme, SME Pillar (***), in:

• lunar and deep-space exploration;
• launch vehicles, rocket manufacturing and launch infrastructure;
• satellite manufacturing, components and communication equipment;
• satellite operations and services;
• Earth observation and satellite-data applications;
• positioning, navigation and timing technologies;
• ground-segment infrastructure and services;
• on-orbit servicing and other in-space services;
• space situational awareness and space-domain monitoring;
• artificial intelligence and digital solutions for space applications;
• cybersecurity for space systems;
• robotics and autonomous systems;
• space life-support technologies;
• advanced materials and manufacturing technologies for space applications;
• Space defence and resilience
• Dual-use space technologies; and
• other technologies, products or services relevant to the space value chain.

(*) 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.

OBJECTIVES

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

ELIGIBILITY

The interested applicants must:

• work for a legal entity located in the European Union, or in a country associated with the Single Market Programme, SME Pillar (***)
• have its (group) company/cluster headquarters in an EU/SMP country   
• be supported by their head of department/CEO through a signed letter (in case they do not belong to senior management)
• be able to participate in the entire mission
• 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. If prior participation in a business mission has occurred, please clearly state in the application form the reason for reapplying and the expected benefits of participating again. Applicants may be declined if they have previously cancelled their participation or were absent during part of a prior mission without a valid reason or have in any other way acted contrary to the guidelines of the mission, local laws, customs, and regulations or have disregarded the instructions of the Centre staff.

SELECTION

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

• Applying company’s strategy and collaboration potential regarding Japan
• Relevance for the topic of the mission and the targeted fair
• Professional background of the applicant

Priority will be given to new applicants. Applicants applying again for the same mission may be selected if they can convincingly explain why another participation would be beneficial for their business with Japan.

Up to 16 participants will be selected for each exhibition: ISIEX 2027 and SPEXA 2027.

WHAT DO WE PROVIDE?

For selected 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 the trade fair covered by 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.

WHAT DO PARTICIPANTS NEED TO COVER?

All mission participants are responsible for covering:

• Flights, related insurance and other travel expenses to the starting point of the mission in Japan and after completion of the mission.
• Living expenses in Japan including local transportation and meals.

DEPOSIT AND CONTRIBUTION 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 required 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 deposit and, where applicable, the contribution 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 is 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).

TIMELINE

Please submit your application by Friday, 4 December 2026. The EU-Japan Centre aims to inform applicants of the selection results by the end of the month.

Any questions? Please contact Mishel Reali at m.reali @ eu-japan.eu