• Are you a SME (small medium enterprise)?
• Do you wish to gain in-depth insight into the Japanese business environment?
• Do you require a better understanding of your Japanese partners/competitors?
• Do you need to learn more about Japanese management practices?
• Are you about to be transferred to Japan?
• Are you considering venturing into the Japanese market?

ABOUT THE MISSION

Since 1987, more than 700 companies across Europe have benefited from knowledge and concrete tools for better approaching the Japanese market thanks to the Centre training programmes in Tokyo.

The 2-week ‘Get Ready for Japan’ scheme offers EU managers the unique opportunity to experience and understand both the cultural and economic elements which define and explain Japan's business and technological achievements. Continuously improved to meet the latest expectations about business in Japan, the Get Ready for Japan provides EU businessmen with a professional Japan-related expertise.

It is focused on business management and consists of a combination of lectures, virtual case studies and meetings. This is designed to help participants become thoroughly informed about the actual conditions of Japanese business through practical analysis and research. Participants will have the opportunity to discuss with Japanese managers about decision-making, team management methods in Japan.

PROGRAMME OBJECTIVES

The purpose of the mission is:

• to acquire a broad understanding of the Japanese business environment, business practices and Japanese-style personal communications in order to find ways to do successful business through a partner relationship;
• to become aware of the decision-making process inside Japanese companies and therefore gain a better understanding of their negotiation style and hierarchy;
• to give the opportunity to reinforce relationships with current Japanese customers and facilitate contacts with future ones.

PARTICIPANT PROFILE

Typical participants:
- SME(*)
- have a major role in defining and implementing their companies’ policies vis-à-vis Japan,
- are to be transferred to Japan,
- come from companies intending to supply Japanese companies,
- wish to learn about management practices and technological developments in Japan.

(*) SMEs are companies meeting the standard European Commission criteria for an SME

Large companies may apply, but priority will be given to applicants from SMEs.

ELIGIBILITY

The candidate must:

- work for an organization that is a juridical person based in

• the European Union, or
• a country associated to the Single Market Programme, SME Pillar(**)

- be supported by his/her employer
- be able to participate in the entire programme
- have a good command of English
- be a manager or an executive from an industrial company
- have proven experience in industry.

(**) Please check the status of your country at https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/smp/guidance/list-3rd-country-participation_smp_en.pdf, for EFTA countries, please only refer to the sub-paragraph: "COSME strand (SMP COSME)". For EU Acceding countries, candidate countries and potential candidates, please only refer to the countries for which the agreement is in force.

SMP-COSME: Stands for “Countries Participating in the COSME strand of the Single Market Programme". The Single Market Programme is the Commission programme that funds the EU-Japan Centre.

SELECTION

The main criteria for selection is: the strategy of the participant's company regarding Japan

In order to ensure a high degree of personal attention, the number of participants is limited to 14 participants

PARTICIPATION FEE – GRANT

The EU-Japan Centre covers all training-related costs such as speakers’ fees, room rental, transfers for company visits, etc.

All participants cover their travel costs to and from Japan as well as living expenses in Japan, including accommodation.

NB: Selected participants will be requested to pay a 100% refundable deposit of €1000 to guarantee a place on the mission. Failure to transfer the deposit by the deadline set by the Centre may result in the offer of the place being withdrawn. The deposit will be refunded within 8 weeks after the end of the mission. Participants must complete a short mission report before the deposit can be released. After confirming participation, cancellations for any reason will result in the loss of the deposit.

On top of this refunding, participants will also benefit from a €1200 grant. The grant will be paid within 2 weeks after the mission. However, absences during the mission may lead to deductions amounting to 120 EUR/day.