TEGnology’s Strategic Breakthrough in Japan: How EU Business Hub Accelerated a Clean Energy Pioneer’s International Expansion

In February 2025, Danish cleantech innovator TEGnology joined the EU Business Hub @ Smart Energy Week business mission to Japan — and secured strategic connections, cultural insights, and a clear path into one of the world’s most complex energy markets.

TEGnology has developed a patented thermoelectric generator that captures waste heat from industrial processes and converts it into clean electricity. The technology is compact, chemical, and emissions-free — a next-generation system with no moving parts, powered by temperature differences as small as 30°C. While this solution aligns with the EU's green and low-carbon ambitions, successfully entering the Japanese market will require more than just innovation 

“Japan has always held a special interest for us,” said Hao Yin, CEO of TEGnology. “But entering the market alone as a small team would be resource-intensive and high-risk. The EU Business Hub made it feasible — and effective.”

Strategic timing for market entry

Japan is a global leader in advanced manufacturing and precision engineering — both of which resonate strongly with TEGnology’s value proposition. It’s also a business environment built on trust, quality, and long-term business relationships — elements that align closely with the Danish firm’s approach.

TEGnology’s entry point into the market was the EU Business Hub, an EU-funded programme that connects high-potential European SMEs and start-ups with Japanese and Korean markets through targeted business missions. During Smart Energy Week in Tokyo, the company joined a cohort of European cleantech businesses for pre-arranged business meetings, guided networking, and high-profile visibility at one of Japan’s premier energy industry events.

Targeted assistance enabling market access

TEGnology arrived in Tokyo with clear objectives: to assess product-market fit, develop and strengthen relationships with potential partners, and generate qualified commercial leads. The business mission delivered results — and, in many ways, went beyond initial expectations.

One particularly notable example was a meeting arranged through the programme’s matchmaking support: a Japanese company that travelled from Osaka to Tokyo specifically for a meeting with the TEGnology team, signalling a level of commitment and respect that stood out.

Even more significantly, following the business mission, the company was nominated for a prestigious Japanese acceleration programme. This rare opportunity provides access to local market integration, industry-specific mentorship, and structured assistance for market entry.

“For a small European company, this is the kind of opportunity that might take years to unlock without local support,” said Hao Yin. “Being recognised so early confirmed that our technology and values resonate here.”

Success in Japan isn’t just about technical excellence — it’s about understanding the business culture, Hao Yin believes. TEGnology quickly grasped that building trust, showing patience, and understanding the nuances of Japanese business etiquette are as critical as presenting a compelling product. Support from the EU Business Hub played a key role here, offering local coaches, matchmaking guidance, and language assistance during the fair — all designed to help European companies navigate cultural and business expectations with confidence.

“Japan’s business culture is modest, deliberate, and deeply respectful,” Mr Yin reflected. “It’s not a market where deals are closed quickly — and that’s exactly why it aligns with how we work.”

Key success factors for EU SMEs and start-ups in Japan

TEGnology’s journey is a blueprint for other European SMEs and start-ups seeking to enter the Japanese market. The company emphasises that preparation, cultural openness, and long-term thinking are essential.

“The EU Business Hub gave us structure, access, and guidance — but success comes from showing up prepared and staying committed,” Hao Yin advised.

As the company scales its impact across global markets, one lesson stands out: with the right support and strategy, even small European SMEs and start-ups can make big moves in Asia’s clean energy sector.

Check the articles about TEGnology in the Japanese media: The Japanese Times (online), The Japanese Times (print), and Bridges (online).

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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 entering the markets of Japan and the Republic of Korea. Between 2024 and 2027, the programme is organising 10 business missions to Japan and 10 to the Republic of Korea. Each mission enables a group of 50 cutting-edge companies to benefit from tailored coaching, market intelligence, and extensive logistical support throughout their participation. The EU Business Hub is the successor programme of the EU Business Avenues / EU Gateway to Japan. 

Discover the business mission catalogue: https://eubusinesshub.eu/missions-catalogue

Learn more about the programme: https://eubusinesshub.eu/about-programme