Advancing EU-Japan Partnerships in Green Technologies

From 15 to 19 March 2026, 43 EU SMEs and start-ups participated in the EU Business Hub @ Smart Energy Week Spring 2026 business mission in Tokyo. Selected EU companies had the opportunity to showcase their products and services in the green and low-carbon technologies sector, while benefiting from valuable networking opportunities and direct connections with potential Japanese business partners and industry leaders.

In collaboration with the EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation, the EU Business Hub participated for the third consecutive time at Smart Energy Week, bringing together a group of EU SMEs and start-ups representing a wide range of sectors offering innovative solutions across the green technology landscape.

Connecting, Showcasing and Collaborating at the EU Green Transition Pavillion

The EU Business Hub @ Smart Energy Week Spring 2026 opened with a briefing session at the Grand Nikko Tokyo Daiba hotel, providing participants with an overview of Japan's green and low-carbon technologies market and key innovation priorities.  

From 17 – 19 March, our participants exhibited at the EU Pavillion at Smart Energy Week Spring 2026, one of Asia’s leading energy exhibitions, gathering over 63.000 visitors and around 1.500 exhibitors. Throughout the event, the EU Business Hub provided tailored support to participating companies, including on-site coaching, professional interpretation, and a series of high-impact networking opportunities.

Additionally, our participants had further opportunities to network with local stakeholders though a dedicated matchmaking event held at the Tokyo Innovation Base and a joint networking reception with EU-Japan Center of Industrial Cooperation, RX Japan, and JETRO at Tokyo Big Sight. These events were organised to bring together a diverse range of stakeholders—including representatives from several EU Member State Embassies, Japanese government (national and local), as well as companies and key players from the Japanese private sector. 

The EU Green Transition Pavilion welcomed several high-level representatives, highlighting its role as a key platform at the event. These included a distinguished delegation from Ireland led by the Minister of State, Seán Canney TD, and His Excellency Damien Cole, Ambassador of Ireland to Japan and His Excellency Jean-Eric Paquet, Ambassador of the European Union to Japan. Their visits highlighted the relevance of collaboration between the EU and Japan, reinforcing the EU's role as a trusted partner in Japan's clean energy transition. With the support of the expert interpreters, booth support, and the B2B matchmaking provided by the programme, our participants held over 1.000 meetings with local counterparts, leading to the creation of promising business leads, potential joint ventures, and new partnerships. 

Participants’ Insights 

Here is what our participants have to say about their experience at EU Business Hub @ Smart Energy Week Spring 2026: 

Convesys (Bulgaria) 
“We provide solution for solar and wind converter repair, and we came to Japan to find partners. This mission delivered huge results. We were truly surprised by the immense interest from so many companies eager to work with us. It was a fantastic success for our international growth." 

H2Sea (Netherlands)  
“This mission was our key to exploring the Japanese market. The EU Business Hub’s support was crucial, enabling us to connect with many interesting companies. We discovered the market is extremely promising. It was a wonderful experience and one of the best conventions we've attended.” 

SeaTerra GmbH (Germany)  
“This experience has been impactful. Smart Energy Week offered a platform to showcase our technologies, especially in geophysics, and to learn what other countries are advancing. With excellent support from the EU Business Hub, we met Japanese and global companies, forged new partnerships and look forward to returning again.” 

Join our upcoming business missions! 

If you are also an EU SME or start-up in the digital solutions, renewable energy or healthcare and medical equipment sector, looking to expand to Japan or the Republic of Korea, join our upcoming business missions!

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