IURC2 Kick-off in Japan -Strengthening EU-Japan Partnerships

IURC2 Kick-off in Japan -Strengthening EU-Japan Partnerships

On 2 October, the IURC2 Kick-off Meeting in Japan was successfully held at the Keihanna Open Innovation Centre (KICK), in conjunction with the Kyoto Smart City Expo 2025. The event brought together EU regions and Japanese prefectures and cities to review progress and prepare for the next steps in the programme.

The meeting opened with inspiring remarks from Mr. Andreas Roettger, Head of the Regional Team at the European Commission's Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI), and Mr. Cesar Moreno, from the EU Delegation to Japan. Both highlighted the importance of deepening decentralised cooperation and advancing pilot activities in key areas such as industrial modernisation, clean energy, agri-food, and urban innovation.

Participants from both sides responded positively, sharing their perspectives on ongoing cluster seminars and expressing enthusiasm to identify pilot activities and strengthen bilateral partnerships. EU regions such as Catalonia and Val d'Oise attended onsite, offering Japanese partners valuable opportunities for in-person exchange.

This meeting marks an important milestone for IURC2 in Japan. As we move forward, participants will continue to shape pilot projects, fostering EU-Japan collaboration on sustainable and innovative regional development.