navigation search this article includes a list of references but its sources remain unclear because it has insufficient inline citations . please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations . october 2013 learn how and when to remove this template message founded 1987 headquarters head office japan 1 27 6 shirokane minato tokyo 108 0072 japan . eu office rue marie de bourgogne 52 brussels belgium . number of employees 30 website 1 established in 1987 the eu japan centre for industrial cooperation is a unique venture 1 between the european commission directorate general for growth internal market industry entrepreneurship and smes and the japanese government ministry of economy trade and industry meti . the eu japan centre has its head office in tokyo and an office in brussels . it is headed by two general managers one european and one japanese and has a total staff of 30 people . contents 1 mission 2 history 3 services to business 3.1 training for eu executives 3.1.1 hrtp human resources training programme japan industry insight 3.1.2 wcm world class manufacturing in japan 3.1.3 wcm lean in europe in the eu 3.1.4 cluster support missions 3.2 enterprise europe network een going international 3.3 step in japan 3.4 eu business in japan portal 3.5 keys to japan 3.6 training for eu & japanese students 3.6.1 vulcanus in europe 3.6.2 vulcanus in japan 4 r & d innovation 4.1 j bilat jeupiste 4.2 gnss.asia 4.3 international cluster cooperation 4.4 enterprise europe network een technology transfer 4.5 national contact point ncp in japan for horizon 2020 5 policy analysis 5.1 seminars & workshops 5.2 eu japan business round table 5.3 minerva scholarships 6 references mission edit the mission of the eu japan centre a non profit organization is to enhance all forms of industrial trade and investment cooperation between japan and the eu and to strengthen the technological capabilities and the competitiveness of the european and japanese industrial systems . the centre was founded with a view to contributing to industrial cooperation between the community and japan as specified in the council decision which constitutes the centre s legal basis . history edit 1987 opening of the eu japan centre for industrial cooperation tokyo japan . launch of bi annual comprehensive training missions in japan japan industry insight for eu managers . launch of the renewable energy programme for eu and japanese experts . 1988 launch of annual training missions in japan focusing on world class manufacturing for eu managers . launch of annual training missions in japan focusing on innovation made in japan for eu managers . 1992 the consolidation of the centre was confirmed by article 4 of council decision 92 278 eec . 2 traditionally japan has always gained strong trade surpluses from its trade relationship with the eu due to the specific features of its society and a complex web of regulations which make japan a difficult country for eu investors and restrict business opportunities . the eu s main objective is to overcome the regulatory barriers and to promote structural reforms in japan to increase e.u. exports . 3 1995 1996 the relations between eu japan are not characterized by trade frictions anymore but rather by industrial and economic cooperation . 4 opening of the european office of the eu japan centre brussels belgium and launch of the vulcanus in europe programme offering language courses and internships in eu companies for japanese students . the eu japan centre is appointed as the secretariat for the eu japan business round table which gathers about 50 leaders of eu and japanese corporations . 1997 launch of the vulcanus in japan programme offering language courses and traineeships in japanese companies for eu students . launch of annual training missions in japan on meet asia in japan for eu managers . 1998 launch of annual training missions in japan on distribution & business practices for eu managers . 2000 the eu japan centre is appointed as coordinator in europe of osaka chamber of commerce & industry s annual global venture forum a forum for eu and japanese companies in new high tech and emerging fields of business . 2003 launch of a series of seminars on ec policies targeting japanese managers . 2005 the vulcanus in japan programme is extended to engineers in architecture . the eu japan bridge the first directory ever of all eu japan related organisations is published under the supervision of the centre . the eu japan bridge is a directory of economic industrial technological scientific and cultural links between each of the 25 eu member states and japan and is aimed at eu companies or individuals interested in starting or developing existing activities in japan . 5 2007 launch of annual missions on fdi in japan for eu managers . launch of seminars on eu japan intercultural management . 2008 the various programmes run by the centre vulcanus programme management training programmes for senior eu executives have gradually built up a reservoir of some 2 000 engineers and executives that today take an active part in eu japan trade and investment in their respective companies . launch of a series of seminars on industrial policy trade & investment and environment & energy . 2010 the eu japan centre is appointed coordinator for j bilat ec support towards the participation of the japanese research community in the eu 7th research framework programme . the eu japan centre is appointed coordinator of the enterprise europe network . 2011 the centre signs a memorandum of understanding with zenit gmbh representing the european cluster collaboration platform with the objective of strengthening business research and technological cooperation between eu and japanese clusters . 2012 reinforced support for the internationalisation of smes . the centre has started a new comprehensive info service in english on government procurement tender notices in japan . the centre joins the eu funded consortium gnss.asia with the aim of promoting eu japan industrial cooperation on satellite navigation applications . launch of thematic cluster missions in japan . 2013 the centre launches two new schemes step in japan free office space in tokyo for eu smes ... and much more and minerva a fellowship on policy analysis . launch of lean in europe a training missions in the eu on world class manufacturing and driving competitiveness for the attention of eu managers 2014 the eu japan centre launches the keys to japan annual competition providing professional market business plans with the support of jmec . from april 2014 the eu japan centre was formally appointed as national contact point ncp for horizon 2020 in japan . 2015 launch of incoming missions to european regions on the occasion of thematic fairs for japanese participants services to business edit training for eu executives edit the eu japan centre for industrial cooperation provides support to european companies through management training programmes held in japan and covering a range of topics like the latest developments in cost efficient production techniques and how to succeed in doing business in japan . they are typically aimed at european business executives and usually last from 1 to 4 weeks . the eu japan centre is trying to foster cooperation in research & innovation between the eu and japan . the business programmes offered by the centre are hrtp human resources training programme japan industry insight edit the human resources training programme japan industry insight is a 4 5 week training programme in japan for eu managers . 6 the programme is directed at company managers from small medium or large enterprises who wish to learn more about japanese management practices and to gain a deeper insight into the japanese business environment . 7 wcm world class manufacturing in japan edit 5 day training course in japan for eu managers working for manufacturing companies . the wcm programme active since 1992 and consisting of 2 editions per year is directed to both smes and larger companies . it proposes japan as a model of excellence in cost efficient production techniques and lean manufacturing see kaizen . 8 wcm lean in europe in the eu edit competitiveness for internationalisation enables eu companies smes and other to visit leading european factories to see world class principles in action and to encourage them to adopt best practice techniques . by becoming more efficient they will be better placed to develop their international activities . these one day visits take place in different locations around the eu and will include lectures shop floor visits coaching and detailed explanations . these visits will be open to all but priority is given to smes . seeing is believing through the plant tour and discussions smes will be inspired to continue along or begin improvement activities . cluster support missions edit since 2012 the eu japan centre has organised cluster match making missions in japan . the commission dg enterprise has been developing new policies aimed at internationalizing smes through clusters and has tasked the eu japan centre s to support european clusters and their member smes in entering the japanese market and establishing technology or business partnerships . the centre s first cluster support mission in 2012 targeted the clean technologies sector while the biotech sector was targeted in 2013 and 2014 . in 2015 however the scope expanded and three cluster support missions were organized for the biotech nanotech and ict sectors . the cluster support missions generally last around a week and take place in japan targeting clusters and their member smes in the related field . 9 the mission s objective is to increase smes innovation capacity and enhance their competitiveness on the global market . the cooperation between eu and japanese clusters is another key point of this programme . 10 enterprise europe network een going international edit the enterprise europe network is the largest network in europe providing support for smes in the field of international business cooperation . this service is targeted at smes wishing to expand business to another country by finding competent partners . the network consists of over 600 organizations chambers of commerce regional development agencies etc. located in 52 countries worldwide . 11 going international consists of a platform search tool promoting and disseminating the profiles of smes worldwide . the eu japan centre facilitates access to this platform for eu smes wishing to find business partners in japan . step in japan edit the step in japan scheme is a landing pad for eu based smes interested in entering into or expanding within japan . step in japan offers free support for eu smes granting free business facilities offices meeting rooms internet and phone and free assistance with the enterprise europe network s business matching platform . 12 step in japan office space eu business in japan portal edit the eu japan centre is developing a platform to be launched in january 2014 providing business information to the public in accordance with the project of the directorate general for enterprise & industry 13 of the european commission . keys to japan edit keys to japan is a new european commission funded initiative managed by the eu japan centre to help selected european smes considering marketing a product or service in japan by developing a detailed and personalised market entry plan for them . the cost of each plan will be covered by the eu japan centre . each plan is worth 10 000 and will be prepared by jmec . 3 plans will be offered each year 1 plan is reserved for a market entry plan covering end user applications or receiver technology using global navigation satellite systems gnss ; the other 2 plans can be for any relevant industrial or consumer product or service . training for eu & japanese students edit vulcanus in europe edit eu japan centre for industrial cooperation brussels office the vulcanus in europe programme was established in 1996 as part of eu japan centre for