1. Cooperation in Science & Technology between EU and Japan: Clusters Cooperation and the Vulcanus Programme EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation Julien Guerrier 11 December 2009 Science Forum Poland – Japan 2009

2. EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation Our mission: Promote all forms of industrial, trade and investment cooperation between the EU and Japan and contribute to, and facilitate industrial cooperation between Japan and the EU. Strengthen the technological capabilities and the competitiveness of the European industrial system Our activities: 1. Policy analysis and advice Think tank activities EU-Japan Business Round Table 2. Services to business Training & Human resources development Information service 3. Support to EU-Japan cooperation in innovation & R&D R&D Framework Programme (FP7) Cluster helpdesk

3. EU-Japan cluster cooperation - some background - 1 st EU-Japan Regional Cluster Forum (Dec 2008, Japan) Joint initiative by European Commission and Japanese government (Ministries of Economy, of Education, of Internal Communication) 40 representatives of EU clusters from 14 Member States 80 face-to-face meetings between EU and JP clusters Discussion on EU strategy for more and better international cluster cooperation Issues: How to put in place a more sustainable and long-term scheme for fostering cooperation between clusters at international level. How to follow a more institutional approach in this area where existing local Centres in non-EU countries can be systematically used as intermediaries for identifying local partners and facilitating cooperation between cluster organisations in both sides.

4. Cluster Services Cluster Services by the EU-Japan Centre 2. Helpdesk 1. Information on EU & Japanese clusters Webpage www.eu-japan.eu/global/cluster- cooperation.html Cluster information Policy information Funding tools information Linkage with European Cluster Observatory English list of Japanese clusters to be added on ECO webpage 2. Helpdesk Facilitating initial contact Obstacles for making successful initial contacts - lack of information - language barrier - lack of manpower for effective cross-cultural communication Coordination of exchanges, visits, discussion

5. Helpdesk’s functions Info search - Identify useful information First contact & introduction - Remove Language barrier - Support effective communication Building trust - Help clarify interests, conditions, etc. Make exchanges happen - Assist coordinators, etc. - Support logistical arrangements Follow-up & further communication

6. Company internship opportunities in Japan/Europe for European/Japanese university students in the fields of engineering, science and architecture. “Vulcanus in Japan” “Vulcanus in Europe” “Vulcanus in Japan” + “Vulcanus in Europe” 4 – month Language lesson & Cultural study 8 – month Internship in industrial R&D laboratories Vulcanus programme

7. Vulcanus - Participants 2009 - 2010

8. Vulcanus - Success Stories Trainees & Host Companies Human Resources Ideas & Knowledge R&D Outputs Trainees contributed to patent creation at: Fuji Xerox (Software engineering) Canon (Applied Math) Kawasaki Steel (Material engineering) Hitachi (Chemical engineering) Trainees brought new ideas and knowledge with commercial application: Dai Nippon Printing (creation of a new software) NKS Architect (new idea for housing design) Akebono Brake (unique idea for cost-efficient product design) Toyo Ito Architects (project team for a high-level competition) Some 60 European students came back to Japan (out of 280) after traineeship Employed at host companies Found jobs at other Japanese companies Continued study at Japanese universities

9. Thank you Julien Guerrier General Manager EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation julien.guerrier@eu-japan.gr.jp Head Office (Tokyo) Round Cross Ichibancho Bldg 4F, 13-3 Ichibancho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0082 Tel: 03-3221-6161 European Office (Brussels) Rue Marie de Bourgogne 52, B-1000 Brussels Tel: +32-2-282-0040 www.eu-japan.eu