This January, the EU-Japan Centre organised the second edition of its Smart Factory & Robotics Business Mission, with visits to prominent Japanese manufacturers and participating in Smart Factory Expo 2026 / Factory Innovation Week. The exhibition, which took place at Tokyo Big Sight from 21 to 23 January, attracted an impressive 78,673 visitors over three days.
The mission kicked off with travel to Kitakyushu City, in Fukuoka prefecture, where an Industrial Tour to leading manufacturers YASKAWA Electric Corporation and DENSO Kitakyushu was organised in collaboration with the Kyushu Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry. The visits to the manufacturing floors of both companies and the Innovation Centre (Robot Village) of YASKAWA Electric Corporation enabled the mission participants to engage with insightful and interactive experiences into advanced manufacturing practices including robotics integration, AI-driven optimization and efficient factory design. The allotted Q&A time at the visits allowed for a lively discussion on the current developments in smart manufacturing and robot innovations.
During the Smart Factory Expo 2026 / Factory Innovation Week, 5 innovative European Small and Medium-sized Enterprises from Portugal, Spain, Germany, France and Slovakia exhibited their unique products and services alongside the EU-Japan Centre. The five SMEs engaged directly with Japanese companies, industry representatives, and innovation stakeholders on site, creating valuable opportunities to exchange ideas, explore mutual interests, and identify where technologies and market needs align.
With interpreters and well-prepared materials in place, conversations moved beyond initial introductions toward meaningful discussions on smart manufacturing solutions, robotics integration, and broader industrial innovation. The connections established at the trade fair helped the companies identify priority contacts and laid a strong foundation for follow-up meetings and potential long-term partnerships.
More about the Business Mission here.
Testimonials
“In early January 2026, I took part for the first time in a mission organised by the EU–Japan Centre. As a French SME already serving customers in Japan, we decided to deepen our commitment by establishing a local subsidiary to support our growing client base in Japan and across Asia.
To achieve this, we have intensified our efforts to expand our network and engage new partners. Doing business in Japan requires a genuine understanding of its distinct culture, where face-to-face meetings, exchanging business cards, and careful attention to etiquette are essential signs of respect.
The EU–Japan Centre’s dedicated and highly professional team guided us through these subtleties with insight and care. Their support is invaluable, as these cultural nuances should never be underestimated.
The mission itself was flawlessly organised and effectively risk-free for participating companies. In our case, it enabled us to identify numerous promising partnerships and concrete use cases in Japan.
Beyond its clear business value, the mission was also a deep human experience. We built meaningful relationships both with the organisers and fellow participants, which will undoubtedly support our future development. It definitely had a positive impact and convinced us that opening a local branch was the right decision.
The Centre actively welcomes constructive feedback and continually strives to improve its programs. I am confident that any company can find a mission aligned with its ambitions, and I strongly encourage exploring its upcoming initiatives”.
By Noël Rolland, Applications Engineer at Adaxis
“The overall organization and preparation were very good. The most valuable component of the mission was the shared booth at the Smart Factory Expo, combined with the high level of support provided by the EU-Japan Centre staff and interpreters. The booth was well organized and offered strong visibility, while the interpretation and on-site support enabled more effective communication with Japanese companies and facilitated meaningful initial discussions.
Participation in the mission has helped our company better assess the Japanese market and refine our approach to potential partnerships. In the mid- to long-term, this experience will support more informed engagement strategies. We are also planning to appoint a company representative permanently stationed in Japan, which we see as an important step toward strengthening local engagement and supporting future collaboration opportunities.
For future participants, I would recommend arriving with a clear understanding of your objectives in Japan, patience regarding decision-making timelines, and a willingness to adapt your approach to the local business culture. Making the most of the support provided by the EU-Japan Centre and interpreters is key to maximizing the overall value of the mission”.
By Bruna Bento, Functional Analyst of Operations at Infinite Foundry
Published: March 2026