EU Business Hub @ Semicon Japan 2024

Thanks to EU Business Hub @ Semicon Japan 2024, 50 European SMEs, including start-ups will visit Japan and kick-start their internationalisation path in the Digital Solutions sector. Participants will join Semicon Japan, a high-level trade fair bringing together companies in the field of semiconductor manufacturing technologies, processes and their diverse applications (the 2023 winter edition was visited by more than 85,000 participants).

This business mission presents a unique opportunity for EU SMEs including start-ups to establish valuable contacts, exhibit their solutions at the EU pavilion, build long-lasting relationships with Japanese enterprises and explore new business avenues together. The EU Business Hub provides market insights, matchmaking services, financial support and more.

Target audience

• European SMEs and start-ups and Japanese enterprises involved in the semiconductor sector:
  • Advanced semiconductors and future applications (e.g. AI, machine learning, 5G/6G communication technology, etc.)
  • Semiconductor manufacturing equipment (e.g. semiconductor design equipment, mask manufacturing equipment, wafer manufacturing equipment, etc.)
  • Components and materials for semiconductor manufacturing (e.g. process materials, test materials, assembly materials, etc.)
  • Services and software
• European SMEs and start-ups and Japanese enterprises delivering innovative semiconductor-related technologies, processes and applications including, but not restricted to quantum computing, power electronics, smart mobility and more.
• Japanese Business Operators, notably buyers, distributors and R&D partners in public and private sectors, and investors.
   

Business mission agenda

The business mission to Tokyo will last five days in total, including three days of dedicated business matchmaking and networking and a study tour. The business mission agenda is as follows:

• Day 1: arrival in Tokyo, welcome and networking gathering.
• Day 2: industry intelligence, sector briefs, and study tour.
• Day 3: exhibition and networking @ Semicon Japan.
• Day 4: exhibition and networking @ Semicon Japan, networking reception.
• Day 5: exhibition and networking @ Semicon Japan, debriefing session.

Services/benefits the EU participants will be receiving

• Business matchmaking: pre-arranged in-person meetings with carefully selected Japanese enterprises.
• Market intelligence information.
• Cultural and linguistic support.
• Financial support to benefit from a menu of additional customised services co-funded by the project (e.g., translation, printing, legal advice) – in total, 
  up to €1000 are covered by the programme.
• Hotel accommodation (Grand Nikko Tokyo Daiba) for four nights – in total, up to €1000 for accommodation are covered by the programme.
• Coverage of the exhibition fee @ Semicon Japan.
   

Key market insights

Participating to EU Business Hub @ Semicon Japan 2024 represents a unique opportunity for European SMEs and start-ups because:

• Japan is Asia’s 2nd and the world’s 4th largest economy.
• EU exports to Japan in 2023 amounted to €64 billion in goods and €36.3 billion in services.
• Japan represents the EU’s 7th largest trading partner for goods and 2nd largest trading partner in Asia, after China.
• Japan hosts prominent technology companies engaging in the semiconductor sector and in the production of manufacturing equipment. In fact, the Japanese semiconductor market amounted to about €44.2 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow to almost €45.2 billion by 2024.
• The semiconductor industry is a priority of the Japanese government, which approved in November 2021 a ¥774 billion package for semiconductor investments.