EU-JAPAN News Dcem E Ber 2012 I 4 VOL 10
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EU-JAPAN NEWS d ECEMbEr 2012 i 4 Vol 10 EU-JAPAN CENTRE 25TH ANNIVERSARY PUBLICATION I n Search for Growth: Towards a New Role for SMES in EU-Japan Relations t his publication specifically marks the new strategic focus of the Centre on sMEs for the coming years. the topic of sME internationalisation is approached from several angles and perspectives. the issue of trade and market access to Japan is extensively treat- ed, including views from industrial sectors as diverse as aerospace and foot- wear, and the cross-cultural aspects are also tackled. the recent EU policy strategy is analysed and the publication is further en- riched with the inclusion of two recent seminar reports on specific aspects of sME internationalisation. the picture is further completed by the results of a survey on obstacles, op- portunities and the needs of support conducted among a sample of European sMEs investing or wishing to expand in Japan, and by a number of testimonials from sMEs which benefited from the Centre’s training programmes and subse- quently made it “big in Japan”. since the publication is built upon opinions of authors with different profes- sional backgrounds (policy makers, academics, business consultants) and lev- els of experience with Japan, the content might appear uneven at times but yet even more relevant for the diversity of views and issues that are part of the EU-Japan “mosaic”. the publication will be available online at the below link: http://documents.eu-japan.eu/media/publications/sme_25years.pdf IN THIS ISSUE • Calls for appliCations: is a joint venture co-financed by the European 4-week Human resources training programme in Japan Commission and the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). Its aim 1-week World Class Manufacturing mission to Japan is to foster the development of industrial 1-year students Exchange programme - Vulcanus in Japan cooperation between companies from • Council agrees to launch free trade negotiations with Japan both regions through training programmes for businesspeople, for EU and Japanese • European Commission adopts 2013 Work programme students and researchers, and through • 15th Japan-EU Conference information services and an industrial • aichi prefecture: pillar of Japan’s industry dialogue. • European companies succeeding in Japan This quaterly newsletter is produced by the • Enterprise Europe network latest Japan-related news and opportunities EU-based office of the EU-Japan Centre, • news in brief and events calendar and is primarily intended to provide EU/Japan-related news. FROM CENTRE EU-JAPAN NEWS dECEMbEr 2012 i 4 Vol 10 i pagE 2 S trategies for Promoting the Internationalisation of J- BILAT FINAL SemINAR Small & Medium Enterprises in the EU and Japan t okyo, Japan, 6 december 2012 t okyo, Japan, 21 november 2012 “EU-Japan Cooperation and Various Phases of Science, Technology and sMEs are considered as an impor- in the first part of the seminar, speakers Innovation: Sharing Vision and Scope tant source of growth and jobs in both from the EU and Japanese public authori- for Reinforcement of Reciprocity”. European and Japanese economies, ties presented the latest developments and “going international” is one factor in sME policy and highlighted the obser- the EU-Japan Centre for industrial Co- for enhancing sMEs’ growth potential. vations and rationales behind the cur- operation has been promoting Japanese promoting the internationalisation of sMEs rent policy objectives. in the second ses- participation in the EU’s 7th framework is becoming increasingly important as a sion, perspectives from industry were programme (fp7) through the J-bilat policy priority in both the EU and Japan. presented to identify best practices, suc- project since January 2010. cess stories and policy recommendations. in this final event within the J-bilat, the main issues discussed in framework project various aspects and the seminar made it clear that phases of EU-Japan cooperation in sci- Europe and Japan share many ence, technology and innovation (sti) has common elements when it been reviewed with the objective of shar- comes to sMEs and therefore ing visions towards further reinforcement there are many areas for pos- of EU-Japan cooperation in STI. sible cooperation. there were also observations that, for European sMEs targeting http://www.j-bilat.eu/seminar/AS-en_5 the Japanese market, extra challenges exist as Japan continues to be perceived as a “different” and difficult market. WORKSHOP the EU-Japan Centre organised a seminar b russels, belgium, 27 november 2012 on this issue for the first time in tokyo with the EU-Japan Centre has worked for 25 the objective to set in motion an EU-Japan years to play a role in “demystifying” the Japanese market and will continue to rein- T he challenges and business oppor- policy exchange process on this topic of tunities for EU SMEs in Japan and mutual interest. nearly 130 stakeholders force its activities and services for helping European and Japanese sMEs find oppor- how intermediary organisations can attended the event, including representa- help SMEs seize them. tives of Japanese regional prefectures (ao- tunities in each other’s markets. a full re- mori, Chiba, fukuoka, Hyogo, Kanagawa, port and presentations of the seminar are Miyagi, nagasaki, shiga, Yamagata) and available at: cities (Hamamatsu, Himeji, Kita-Kyushu, http://www.eu-japan.eu/global/ Kobe, omura, sagamihara, saitama, tsu). events/internationalisation_ sme_21112012.html?year=2012 EU-Japan Partnership for the Future -Economic Partnership Agreement and Business Activities b russels, belgium, 25 october 2012 t his workshop looked at why Japan should be an attractive market for Euro- following opening remarks by prof. pean sMEs; the issues they face when ex- takamoto sugisaki (tsuda College), porting or investing there, how support Jonathan peel welcomed participants strategies should be rethought to ensure on behalf of the EEsC before prof. that sMEs get effective help; the results toshiro tanaka (Keio University & EUsi) of a survey of the views of sMEs that are gave the keynote address entitled: “EU- currently actively engaged with Japan or Japan relations: from trade Conflicts have a strong intention to do so; and sup- to strategic partners”. antonio parenti port programmes organised and run by (European Commission, dg tradE) the European Commission, the EU-Japan and H.E. Kojiro shiojiri (Mission of Japan Centre for industrial Cooperation and the to the EU) summarised the views and role for the Enterprise Europe network. strategies of their respective authorities and answered questions from the audience. on the very day on which the European participants heard the experiences of a parliament voted in favour of the opening European who has been in Japan for 30 in the final session, Carsten dannöhl of trade negotiations with Japan, and one years and of a slovenian sME that has presented the view of bUsinEssEUropE month before the Council is scheduled to established a subsidiary in Japan, togeth- and Koshi noguchi presented the view decide whether or not to grant the Europe- er with the views of other experts from of toshiba, with particular emphasis on an Commission a negotiating mandate, the Japan and Europe. EU studies institute in tokyo (EUsi) and the how an Epa/fta might affect the firm’s EU-Japan Centre for industrial Cooperation healthcare division. organised a seminar. this event, hosted by the European Economic & social Commit- tee (EEsC), traced the history of EU-Japan http://www.eu-japan.eu/global/ http://www.eu-japan.eu/global/ trade relations and looked forward to what events/partnership_future_semi- events/sme_internationalisa- form future trade relations might take. nar_25102012.html?year=2012 tion_27112012.html?year=2012 FROM CENTRE EU-JAPAN NEWS dECEMbEr 2012 i 4 Vol 10 i pagE 3 CALL FOR APPLICATIONS C RALL FO APPLICATIONS 1 Week World Class Manufacturing 4/5 weeks training programme in Japan for EU managers t raining Missions in Japan d atE: 7 May - 31 May/7June 2013 World Class Manufacturing is a training appliCation dEadlinE: 28 february 2013 mission in Japan for EU managers work- ing in manufacturing companies. t he “Human resources training programme - Japan industry insight” (Hrtp) lasts WCM i: training dates: 01 - 05 July 2013 - four to five weeks and offers EU executives with a unique opportunity to experi- application deadline: ence and understand both the cultural and economic elements which define and thursday, 28 March 2013 explain Japan’s business and technological achievements. the Hrtp programme was designed to improve on a constant basis the latest expectations about the WCM ii: training dates: 15 - 19 october business situation in Japan, as well as providing a professional Japan related ex- 2013 - application deadline: thursday, 7 June 2013 pertise to EU businessmen. JapanEsE langUagE and CUltUrE groUp CoMpanY Visits CoUrsEs a wide range of companies is carefully the course is designed to provide par- selected, ranging from car manufac- ticipants with basic Japanese commu- turers to traditional «sake» breweries. nication skills (business and daily life), comprising an introduction to the lan- nEW Conditions guage structure and its complexity. a for participating EU companies: strong emphasis is placed on the im- portance of knowing how something sMEs are eligible for a grant from the is said, especially regarding European Commission to cover costs the training mission in Japan provides with: aspects such as age, gender, hierarchi- related to transportation and lodging - in-depth analysis of Japanese manufac- cal position and situation. expenses in Japan: €3000 and have no turing methodology; tuition fee to pay. - lectures, seminars and panel discus- Joint sEssion WitH JapanEsE bUsi- a tuition fee €1000 will be asked for sions, presented by experts from Japa- nEss pEoplE non sMEs nese industry; - Company and factory floor g( emba) visits; during the session Hrtp-participants - preparation and post-visit reviews.