Nordic Innovation House Tokyo Newsletter - July 2022

Hello NIH-TYO?Community!

We're sure many of you are in the middle of a nice summer holiday ?? But we wanted to keep you updated with Japan news and some nice opportunities that are now open for application!

JAPAN INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM HIGHLIGHTS

• Accelerating Japan's startup ecosystem is one of the pillars of PM Kishida's?economic policies ??. A framework of policy directions was?published by the?Expert Committee , and?the administration?announced the possibility of appointing?a "Startup Minister" (NHK ).
• Japan's construction giant?Komatsu ???? acquires Swedish Bracke Forest AB ????, a?company that develops, manufactures, and sells attachments for silviculture. Komatsu aims to expand its forestry business and?contribute to carbon neutrality (Komatsu press release ).
• Japanese Hamamatsu Photonics ????, manufacturer and seller of optical devices and instruments,?acquires Danish NKT Photonics ????, a market leader in photonic crystal fibers and advanced fiber lasers. The merger will enlarge their portfolio of solutions?(NKT Photonics press release ).
• The increasing amount of space debris and maintaining a sustainable space is becoming?a major issue as space exploration continues to grow ??. Here's how some Japanese startups are providing solutions (Japan Today ).
• The Japanese?shipping industry?is working on a government-backed project to reach practical use of?automated navigation systems by 2025 ???(The Japan News ).

Scaling the best of the Nordics,?

Nordic Innovation House - Tokyo

NIH-TOKYO Updates

?????????????????There are 5?Nordic Innovation Houses?around the globe, Tokyo being the newest. All 5 houses operate under the same mission: "Scaling the Best of the Nordics". This?article by? Nordic Innovation ?will tell you our history beginning in Silicon Valley, how we support Nordic startups and scaleups on the global stage, and region-specific focus areas.

Selected Opportunities in Japan: Accelerators, Programs, and Events

• Tokyo Financial Award "Financial Innovation Category"

If your financial service or product?can contribute to solving issues?here ,?then this Award is for you! Final winners will receive up to 10M JPY as well as support to brush up your business for commercialization. Learn more and apply ?by Jul 29th, 2022

• Local Innovation?Challenge HOKKAIDO?

12 municipalities in Hokkaido are offering PoC opportunities to selected startups in?“DX in public administration” & “Population exchange”. Communication during the program will be in Japanese. Learn more and apply ?by?Jul 31st, 2022

• Plug and Play Japan Winter/Spring?2023?Batch?

Focusing on?Fintech, Insurtech, Mobility, Energy, Food & Beverage, Health, and New Materials, this batch will take place in Tokyo and Kyoto in a hybrid format.?The program is stage agnostic, duration from Dec. 2022 until Mar. 2023. Learn more and apply ?by Aug 5th, 2022

• MIRAI?2.0 Research and Innovation?Week (Nov. 15-18)

Travel grants are?open to supporting your participation in Fukuoka!?Don't miss this?unique opportunity which focuses on strengthening?collaboration between Sweden and Japan within research, innovation, and education. Learn more and apply ?by Sept 1st, 2022

Past Events

[April 7, 2022] Nordic Talks Japan:?A More Equal Democracy - Women's Representatives in Politics

Dialogues by Japanese and Nordic frontrunners on how to increase gender equality in politics, best practice examples from Iceland and Sweden, and how the?young generation?should have their voices heard?in the media. Watch the?recording or read the event summary .

Thank you for reading to the end!

Nordic Innovation House Tokyo ?is a community platform accelerating high-quality Nordic startups, scale-ups, and growth companies to Japan. Via our strong community and network, we connect Nordic companies to the right ecosystem stakeholders ??

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