Boosting European Tech in Japan: Highlights from the EU Business Hub @ Japan IT Week Spring 2025 Business Mission

From 21-25 April 2025, 41 European SMEs and start-ups from across the EU travelled to Tokyo to take part in the EU Business Hub @ Japan IT Week Spring 2025 Business Mission, gaining valuable access to one of Asia’s most dynamic technology-driven markets.

The business mission gathered a diverse group of EU companies in the digital solutions field – 19 specialised in software, 7 in artificial intelligence (AI), 5 in digital technologies, 4 in cybersecurity, 3 in NextGen computing, 2 in data analytics and 1 in robotics – aiming to meet and engage with local stakeholders in search of stablishing meaningful partnerships.

Empowering EU Companies in the Japanese Market

The EU Business Hub @ Japan IT Week Spring 2025 business mission stood out for its comprehensive approach to supporting European businesses seeking to enter the Japanese market. Participants gained valuable market intelligence and local expertise, showcased their innovation at the EU-branded pavilion and received essential cultural and linguistic support for the tailored B2B meetings with local stakeholders. Thanks to this integrated approach, participants engaged in a total of 1,062 meetings that offered European companies valuable opportunities to build meaningful and potentially long-term partnerships with Japanese counterparts.

EU companies received a thorough pre-departure preparation to ensure they were strategically equipped before the mission. This included coaching sessions on market opportunities in Japan and local business culture. Participants also received sector briefs and took part in onsite industry and sectoral briefing sessions, helping them navigate the Japanese market with ease.

Following these seminars, participants visited the Tokyo Innovation Base in Marunouchi, Chiyoda-Ku. Established by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, this start-up support hub brings together accelerators, venture capitalists, universities, and local governments to foster collaboration and innovation. The visit offered a valuable opportunity to explore Tokyo’s dynamic start-up ecosystem and gain practical insights into the Japanese business environment.

The EU Business Hub hosted a Networking Reception in the premises of the Delegation of the European Union to Japan. The event served as a strategic platform to deepen ties between EU and Japanese stakeholders, facilitate dialogue, further nurture relationships, and exchange expertise across key digital and technological sectors.

EU Pavilion Highlights at Japan IT Week

From the third to the fifth day of the mission, EU participants showcased their innovative solutions at the EU Pavilion at Japan IT Week — one of the country’s largest and most influential trade shows in the digital solutions field. The exhibition provided high visibility and served as a strategic platform to connect with potential partners, generate business opportunities, and spotlight European technologies in the Japanese digital market.

One of our participants and exhibitors at the EU Pavilion was Mitigant, a Germany-based cybersecurity company that, supported by thorough preparation and tailored assistance from the programme, signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding with Kyoto-based cloud service provider Future Spirits. Beyond gaining visibility, the mission provided Mitigant with direct access to key players in Japan’s cloud technology ecosystem – standing out as one of the business mission’s success stories.

Dr. Muhammad Sukmana, Mitigant’s CPO and Co-Founder, later shared his reflections on the broader impact of their participation: “The business mission provided the structure and momentum we needed to move from discussions to a signed partnership. Having the opportunity to meet in person, supported by interpreters and coordinated meetings, made it possible to build trust quickly and establish shared goals.”

Expert interpreters and comprehensive briefings on Japanese business culture ensured that each interaction between the EU participants and local companies was smooth, effective, and culturally appropriate. Professional interpretation, booth support, and continuous coordination provided by the EU Business Hub further contributed to the high quality of engagement throughout the event, resulting in over 1,000 business meetings that offered European companies extensive opportunities to connect with relevant Japanese stakeholders and further boost their market prospects.

The future of Japan’s digital sector

Japan’s IT services market, valued at €65 billion in 2023, is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 9.8% through 2030. This expansion is driven by the country’s strong focus on AI cybersecurity, digital technologies, robotics, and healthcare IT, creating significant opportunities for European companies to engage with Japan’s digital transformation. 

The widespread adoption of Internet of Things (IoT) devices across industries such as consumer electronics, agriculture, construction, and defence, further fuels market growth. Supported by government initiatives that prioritise digital innovation and global collaboration, Japan is rapidly becoming a hub for cutting-edge technology and a key market for European businesses.

Looking ahead: Join us for the upcoming business missions!

Building on the success of previous EU Business Hub missions in the digital solutions sector, we are now preparing for our upcoming business missions:

• EU Business Hub @ Semicon Japan 2025, from 15-19 December 2025 in Tokyo, Japan.
• Semiconductors Korea 2026, from 9-13 February 2026 in Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Timed to align with Semicon Japan 2025 and Semicon Korea 2026, these business missions will spotlight cutting-edge semiconductor technologies and provide participants with expanded opportunities to engage with leading players in Asia’s semiconductor sector.

Interested companies can apply through the following link until 12 September 2025: Missions Catalogue | EU Business Hub 
 

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EU Business Hub – Japan and the Republic of Korea is an EU-funded programme launched in 2024 to support EU SMEs and start-ups in the Green and Low-Carbon, Digital, Healthcare and Medical Equipment sectors in expanding into the Japanese and Korean markets. Between 2024 and 2027, the programme is organising 20 sector-focused business missions – 10 in each market – with services including strategic coaching, matchmaking, local interpretation, and full logistical support. The EU Business Hub is the successor programme of the EU Business Avenues / EU Gateway to Japan.