40 - EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation

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from jAPAnEU-JAPAN news dECEMbEr 2012 I 4 Vol 10 I Page 8Aichi PrEFECturePillar of Japan’s industry and number one area for investment supportAICHIAichi Prefecture, locatedin the centre of Japan, offersa high concentrationof world-leading manufacturingindustries. It is constantlyendeavouring toimprove its subsidy policiesto further promote investmentsand R&D. In April2012, Aichi set up a fund of5 billion yen, correspondingto 10% of the annualamount of corporate tax, tosupport the establishmentof companies, as well aspromote R&D and provingtests, through three subsidyprogrammes:1. with the aim of promoting the establishment of manufacturingfacilities in cutting-edge fields, Aichi Prefecture increased subsidisationto 10 billion yen, making it one of the largest subsidies in Japan:and the limit on subsidies for large-scale projects (over 100 billionyen) which can have a significant impact on the local economy.2. the second programme aims to support the reinvestments withinthe prefecture by the SMEs which have contributed to sustain thelocal economy for many years, by preventing the outbound drain ofcompanies and supporting brilliant investment projects in both theexpanding fields, and fields occupying the core of the supply chain.3. the third programme consists of supporting the R&D and provingtests performed by companies in collaboration with universities andother research institutions in promising fields such as: next-generationvehicles, aerospace, environment and new energy industries.This new incentive, set up as a countermeasure to deindustrialisation,has enabled Pokka Corporation, a major beverage manufacturerwhose headquarters are in Aichi, to invest 3.2 billion yen toperform earthquake reinforcement works and set up a cutting-edgeproduction line in order to increase its production capacity by 70%.Another recipient was Belgian group Umicore, which is specialisedin global materials technology. Umicore announced the constructionof a R&D facility in Tokoname, Aichi, for automotive catalysts.These two examples show the relevance of Aichi’s strategy: over thefirst semester of fiscal 2012, 24 projects have been subsidised foran amount of 3.1 billion yen, while total investments by companiesamounted to 50.9 billion yen, allowing the creation of over 6000 jobs.As for the support programme for the R&D and proving tests in highvalue-added sectors, so far 59 projects have been selected and havebenefited from 760 million yen through subsidies.In order to further develop its R&D equipment environment, AichiPrefecture set up its “Knowledge Hub” on the former siteof the 2005 World Exposition. Aichi Center for Industry andScience Technology, the leading core facility, opened in February2012, while the Central Japan Synchrotron RadiationFacility, designed to develop R&D projects that use nanotechnology,will open in the coming months.In addition, the establishment of the National Composite Center,which is currently under project development and will be centredaround Nagoya University, illustrates the high concentration of R&Din a wide array of cutting-edge sectors.For more information on Aichi’s support for investments, please feelfree to contact the JEtro / Aichi Prefecture Office in Paris.http://www.pref.aichi.jp/ricchitsusho/e/fund.htmlForUMInternational Hydrogen Energy DevelopmentFukuoka, Japan, 30-31 January 2013Fukuoka Prefecture, well known as a centreof advanced research and developmentand demonstration projects in the field ofhydrogen energy and fuel cells, is promotingthe “Hy-Life Project” which works onvarious activities for the realisation of aneco-friendly society.With unique efforts, such as “FukuokaHydrogen Town”, where more than 150households are equipped with fuel cellsystems, or the world’s only institution forhydrogen-related human resource development,Fukuoka Prefecture has attracteda lot of attention.As part of this effort, Fukuoka Prefectureis gathering the opinion leaders of theworld in the field of hydrogen energy andfuel cells and holding a forum in order tospread the latest trends and research anddevelopment results every year.Fukuoka Prefecture plans to invite manyspeakers from Europe (United Kingdom,Germany, Finland, Norway etc.) to this forum,the seventh since its beginning, a hotdebate about the realisation of a hydrogenenergy society is expected.http://www.congre.co.jp/hydrogen2013/index.htmlJapanese Machinery TradingCompany RIX Expands toGermanyIn October 2012, Fukuoka based companyriX opened a subsidiary company, inStuttgart, Germany (riX Europe GmbH) inorder to increase sales of rotary joints formachine tool manufacturers and windmillmanufacturers.While there are worldwide concerns aboutthe future of the economy, the Europeanmarket, including Germany, continues tobe an attractive market for Japanese companiesand this is one of the main reasonsthat led to the expansion. The company’srotary joints, which increase the cutting efficiencyof machining centers and lathes,have contributed significantly to theinnovation of machine tools.Through this expansion, the competitivenessof Japan and Europe that lead theworld in the field of machine tools is expectedto increase.http://www.rix.co.jp/english/
from EU-JAPANEU-JAPAN news dECEMber 2012 I 4 Vol 10 I Page 9European Companies Succeeding in JapanLuxembourg BusinessStrengthening in JapanIEE s.a., a privately-held innovative developerof specialised sensing systems foundedin 1989 and headquartered in Luxembourgofficially opened its Japanese business IEESensing Japan K.K. in October 2012.The official opening event was hosted byIEE’s CEO and President, Hubert Jacobs vanMerlen and with the Prime Minister of theGrand Duchy of Luxembourg H.E. Mr. Jean-Claude Juncker as the Guest of Honour.Prime Minister Juncker described the officialopening as “a celebration of IEE’s growth strategyto successfully expand its global reachtowards Asia, offering innovative sensingsystems that meet the needs of customerswell beyond the borders of Luxembourg.” Hecontinued by saying: “I am very proud to witnessanother fine example of Luxembourg’sability to strengthen ties with an economicallypowerful nation such as Japan.”Established with the aim ofstrengthening IEE’s presencein Japan, IEE Sensing JapanK.K. replaces the company’sformer representative officethat had been operating in thecountry since 2006.“Over the years, IEE has developedsuccessful businessrelationships with a numberof Japanese vehicle manufacturers,including Subaru, Suzuki, Mitsubishiand Nissan” says Mr Jacobs vanMerlen. “Establishing IEE Sensing Japan K.K.will allow us to strengthen our commitmentto local customers while, at the same time,streamline our processes.It will also put us in a better position to capitaliseon the growth opportunities in Asia, inparticular in Japan.”The IEE team with the Prime Minister.From left to right: Masaki Takahashi,Ryuji Yamazaki, Hubert Jacobs van Merlen,Jean-Claude Juncker, Hans-Joachim Sommer,Yasuo Sasakura and Hisamori Yamaguchi.http://www.iee.luLatvian Design Productsmake their way to JapanAlthough Latvia might be still little knowncountry to ordinary Japanese, the Latviandesign products are getting more popularamong Japanese customers.After successive participation in Interior Lifestyletrade shows in 2011 and 2012, and EUGateway mission organised exhibitions in Tokyowith the support of the Investment andDevelopment Agency of Latvia, the Latviandesign products – linen home textiles andaccessories, wooden and ceramic kitchenware,organic soy wax candles, glasswareare more often seen in design shops anddepartment stores.Japanese customers highly appreciatethe Latvian products’ handiwork, naturalmaterials, calm colours and minimalisticdesign that match with their taste.This year the Latvian products stand waspresented at Mitsukoshi department storein the framework of Isetan Mitsukoshi DesignTide Tokyo 2012 project.The department store is located on theGinza, a prestigious shopping area attendedby 40,000-80,000 people daily. The spotsales were introducing the Latvian Christmas,since the capital Riga claims to be thefirst city to introduce a decorated Christmastree 500 years ago.This project was implemented by the Latvianproduct specialised shop Riga Collection,which opened its doors in July 2010in Nakameguro, Tokyo, and since then activelypromotes the Latvian products in thedepartment stores.At the moment it participates in spot salesat Umeda Hankyu department store inOsaka, thus introducing the Latvian designand crafts also to the Kansai area.http://www.riga-latvia-gbs.comSpanish-JapaneseCooperation AwardedThe Japanese company Hojo Seian, incooperation with the Spanish companyPosada Marron Glacé, has been awardedwith the Silver Diploma Monde Selection2012, in a ceremony celebrated in Athensin June 2012.The product is marron paste with HojoSeian Formula, but with Spanish rawmaterial chestnuts. This cooperation hasstarted one year ago, and it is forecastedto expand this trademark “Posada” ofMarron Chestnut paste in the Japanesemarket, among other chestnut pastefrom Italy or France competing with theChinese chestnuts in Japan.http://www.marronglace.netIHI Corporation andPaul Wurth join forcesLast August IHI Corporation announcedthat its board of directors approved theagreement reached with Paul Wurth S.A.,Luxembourg, to set up a joint venturecorporation in Japan in the field of ironand coke making technologies.http://www.ihi.co.jp/var/ezwebin_site/storage/original/application/587921b2ef4f16d64dffb5cb9348e9fc.pdfhttp://www.paulwurth.com
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40 - EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation

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