Six EU regions, five Japanese prefectures launch regional innovation cooperation under IURC Programme
The European Commission has selected the six regions in the European Union (EU) and five Japanese prefectures below to participate in the EU-Japan Region-to-Region Innovation Cooperation Project of the EU's International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) programme.

The project aims to support European regions and Japanese prefectures in exchanging best practices and knowledge to improve and to internationalise their respective regional innovation strategies while promoting international value chains. The cooperation will be based on the smart specialisation strategies of EU regions and the regional innovation and competitiveness policies of Japanese prefectures. They will focus on common policy priorities in the EU and Japan such as green transition, industrial transformation, digitalisation and social innovation. 

The participating regions and prefectures will conduct mutual study visits and take part in joint seminars and meetings. The first study visit by the EU regions to Japan will take place from 13 to 19 November. They will be divided into two groups, each visiting Aichi and Hiroshima prefectures and Osaka and Oita prefectures, respectively, with both visiting Kyoto Prefecture together. In each prefecture, they will have meetings to exchange knowledge about regional innovation policies and conduct site visits to observe cutting-edge innovative projects and technologies.  

This project is managed by the European Commission’s Foreign Policy Instruments and its Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy, and implemented in cooperation with the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. 
Source: Delegation of the European Union to Japan