The EU-Japan Centre is pleased to start a new weekly service by publishing brief summary of the latest information from the Japanese governmental organizations & private companies/organizations. A couple of minutes reading to be informed about what is happening in Japan's policy, economy, EU-Japan relations, and innovation.
*Information is deemed correct at the time of release.
NEC establishes subsidiary in Europe for global growth in drug discovery business
NEC announced on March 31 that it has established a new subsidiary, NEC Bio B.V. (NB), in Hilversum, the Netherlands, for long-term growth in the drug discovery business. As part of its efforts to strengthen its healthcare and life science business, NEC announced in 2019 that it would enter the drug discovery business specializing in advanced treatments using cutting-edge AI and acquired OncoImmunity AS, a Norwegian biotechnology company (now NEC OncoImmunity AS, NOI).
Following the establishment of NB, NOI became a subsidiary of NB, and NEC Bio Therapeutics (NBT) was established in Mannheim, Germany as a subsidiary of NB. Going forward, NB will focus on optimizing the entire AI drug discovery business, and NOI will continue to conduct cutting-edge research and development to utilize AI in pharmaceutical research. NBT will also lead clinical development and clinical strategy in the new drug pipeline. NB will focus on infectious diseases and oncology along with NOI and NBT.
NEC website:
https://www.nec.com/en/press/202303/global_20230331_01.html
METI releases roadmap for transition finance in automobile sector
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) is formulating technology roadmaps for each sector toward the transition to decarbonization with the aim of promoting transition finance. The METI, in collaboration with the Ministry of the Environment and the Financial Services Agency, has compiled roadmaps for the steel, chemical, electric power, gas, petroleum, cement, and paper and pulp industries. Including this automobile, the roadmap for a total of eight economic and industrial fields, as well as the shipping and aviation fields, will cover approximately 80% of Japan's domestic CO2 emissions. Through the utilization of these roadmaps, it is expected that financing through transition finance, etc. in the hard-to-abate industry field will become more active in the future.
In the automotive field, the ratio of emissions from others, specifically emissions from driving by automobile users, stands out from direct and indirect emissions associated with business activities such as automobile manufacturing. The roadmap includes not only emission reductions in product manufacturing and energy source manufacturing and supply, but also measures that bring about changes in how automobiles are used.
METI expects companies to refer to this roadmap when considering climate change countermeasures using transition finance. In addition, it believes that in the financial institutions, the strategies and efforts toward decarbonization of the potential companies are eligible for transition finance when procuring funds.
METI website (in Japanese):
https://www.meti.go.jp/press/2022/03/20230330005/20230330005.pdf
Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association reaffirms direction with automakers' associations to achieve CN by 2050
The Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA) announced on April 4 that it has reaffirmed its direction toward achieving carbon neutrality in road traffic by 2050, together with automobile manufacturers' associations in various countries. JAMA Chairman Akio Toyoda (Toyota Motor Chairman) has long said, "There is no single path to CN. For practical and sustainable CO2 reduction, it is necessary to provide customers with a variety of options." This recognition was shared with the automobile industry in each country.
In order to achieve carbon neutrality within this agreement, measures must be pursued to reduce CO2 emissions not only from new vehicles but also from vehicles in use. To that end, we need not only technologies that directly emit zero CO2, such as zero-emission vehicles (electric vehicles (EV/BEV) and fuel cell vehicles (FCV/FCEV)), but also carbon-neutral fuels. It states that it is important to advance various technologies such as internal combustion engine vehicles that use energy to offset CO2 emissions. It means that they questioned the trend that only BEV can realize CN.
The agreement is done unofficially by the Automobile Manufacturers Association of Europe (ACEA), Italy (ANFIA), USA (Auto Innovators), Canada (GAC), Japan (JAMA), France (PFA), UK (SMMT) and Germany (VDA).
JAMA website:
https://www.jama.or.jp/english/news/release/2023/293/
Hydrogen supply, 6 times to 12 million tons in 40 years for decarbonization
On April 4, the government held a ministerial meeting on renewable energy and hydrogen, and announced a proposal for a new introduction target for hydrogen, which is a promising next-generation decarbonized fuel. The government will consider a 15 JP¥ trillion investment plan for the public and private sectors over the next 15 years, with a view to increasing production to about 12 million tons by 2040, six times the current level. It intends to clarify the target and attract corporate investment toward decarbonization. The final decision will be made based on the opinions of industry and experts.
The government plans to use hydrogen and ammonia to cover about 1% of the electricity generated in fiscal 2030. Using it in steel manufacturing and aircraft is also considered. The current annual supply is about 2 million tons, and the government has set a policy of aiming for 3 million tons in 2030 and 20 million tons in 2050. Set a new target for 40 years and show the road to popularization.
The outline also describes the government's policy to support the construction of supply chains. Create a supply system that includes Asia, Australia, and the Middle East. It also includes a policy that Japan will lead the creation of global standards for environmentally friendly hydrogen production methods. Regardless of the production method of renewable energy, the government propose to create a standard for evaluating the amount of CO2 emitted during hydrogen production.
Prime Minister’s office website (in Japanese):
https://www.kantei.go.jp/jp/101_kishida/actions/202304/04energy.html
Action plan from the cabinet office website (in Japanese):
https://www.cas.go.jp/jp/seisaku/saisei_energy/pdf/action_plan.pdf
New electric power Octopus UK invests in Japanese renewable energy company
Octopus Energy, a new electric power company in the UK, announced on April 5 that it has invested in Yotsuya Capital, which is engaged in the development of renewable energy power plants. Octopus, which has its own customer management platform that utilizes artificial intelligence (AI), has strengthened its business base in Japan by partnering with Tokyo Gas.
Although the investment amount has not been disclosed, Yotsuya Capital plans to use the funds to develop solar power generation, aiming to build a new power plant with a total output of 250,000 kilowatts in Japan over the next five years. It will be Octopus' first investment in a renewable power generation business in Asia. The company has already deployed more than 3 million kilowatts of renewable power plants worldwide.
Octopus was founded in 2015. Using AI to make power plan proposals and customer management more efficient, the unique system "Kraken" is used as a weapon to supply power to over 3 million customers in the UK, and is breaking down the stronghold of major power companies. In recent years, the company has also been focusing on the Japanese business, and announced a partnership with Tokyo Gas in December 2020. Through a joint venture company established in Japan, they are developing a power retail business, and also handle power plan that are virtually 100% renewable.
Octopus Energy website:
https://octopus.energy/press/octopus-energy-kicks-off-asian-renewables-push-with-first-japanese-solar-deal/
IAEA publishes results of safety review of ALPS-treated water
On April 5, the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) released a report on the safety review (2nd) of ALPS-treated water at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. The report was prepared based on the review conducted during the visit of IAEA staff and international experts to Japan from November 14 to 18, 2022.
The IAEA review is conducted by an IAEA task force consisting of IAEA staff and international experts, a specialized agency in the field of nuclear energy. The IAEA Task Force includes international experts from Argentina, Australia, Canada, China, France, South Korea, the Marshall Islands, Russia, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Vietnam.
As in the previous review, this review focuses on (1) cross-cutting requirements and recommendations, (2) properties of ALPS treated water/effluent, (3) safety of release control systems and processes, (4) radiation impact assessment, (5) regulatory control and approval of releases, (6) ALPS-treated water and environmental monitoring, (7) stakeholder involvement, and (8) occupational radiation protection.
As for the content of the announcement, (1) TEPCO made significant progress in revising its plan in consideration of the points pointed out in the first review, (2) the understanding of the IAEA deepened, and (3) it was clarified that no additional mission was required to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and TEPCO. The ALPS-treated water is scheduled to be released into the ocean around this summer, but fisheries and others are strongly opposed to it.
METI website:
https://www.meti.go.jp/english/press/2023/0406_001.html
Published: September 2025
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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.
