Exploring Japan's Cultural Landscape
Rhein-Kreis Neuss, a district in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), is actively working to strengthen ties with Japanese startups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). A delegation led by District Director Dirk Brügge recently visited Japan, aiming to expand support for these businesses and foster synergies between the two nations' startup ecosystems.
During their trip, the delegation met with key players in Japan's hydrogen economy, including Kawasaki Heavy Industries. Discussions focused on hydrogen activities in NRW, particularly in Rhein-Kreis Neuss, where the region is making significant strides in sustainable and high-tech innovation.
The visit also included stops at the headquarters of Yakult and Kawasaki in Tokyo, as well as the Keihanna Innovation Center and Kyoto University, where further cooperation opportunities were explored.
NRW boasts a thriving startup environment, with numerous accelerators, incubators, and government-backed support programs designed to help startups grow and succeed. The region supports capital-intensive, complex high-tech startups, including those involved in sustainability technologies aligned with hydrogen and clean energy sectors.
Programs such as the Startup Welcome Package offer international startups grants of up to €10,000 to cover expenses like coworking spaces, consulting, legal advice, and mentoring, facilitating market entry and integration into the local ecosystem. The region also hosts events aimed at international startups and investors, such as seminars in Meerbusch targeting Chinese startup founders for assistance in business setup, with linguistic support in English and Chinese.
The Global Entrepreneurship Centre from Meerbusch presented three scale-ups during the trip: AdaptVerticalMills, Nanoo, and Eekual. The delegation did not discuss any new synergies between start-up ecosystems and investments in Germany and Japan, nor did they meet with any new attendees from companies or start-ups in Japan.
The aim of the trip is to encourage collaboration between Japanese and German startups, particularly in innovative and sustainable sectors like hydrogen, leveraging tailored funding, mentoring, and international events to nurture growth and synergy between these ecosystems. A return visit from delegations from Ota City and Tokyo Metropolitan Government, along with companies, is planned for 2023.
- The discussions with Kawasaki Heavy Industries, a key player in Japan's hydrogen economy, focused on investing in innovative and sustainable hydrogen activities in Rhein-Kreis Neuss, which is making significant strides in technology and finance within the clean energy sector.
- NRW, a district in North Rhine-Westphalia, is not only known for its thriving business environment but also offers various programs such as the Startup Welcome Package, aimed at supporting international startups, particularly those involved in technology and sustainability, by providing them with grants and resources to integrate into the local ecosystem.
- Although the delegation did not discuss any new synergies between start-up ecosystems and investments in Germany and Japan, they showcased three scale-ups: AdaptVerticalMills, Nanoo, and Eekual, demonstrating the regional focus on business, technology, and finance in the innovation sector.
