With the aim of promoting the internationalization of Thuringian companies and research institutions in the field of optics, sensor technology, and optoelectronics in Japan, Thüringen International, together with GTAI (Germany Trade and Invest), organized a cluster marketing trip to Japan.
The 15-member delegation was primarily composed of representatives of innovative Thuringian companies and start-ups from the OptoNet e.V. and SenorikNet e.V. clusters as well as scientific representatives. Specifically, the trip led to the capital Tokyo as well as to Tsukuba, Hamamatsu, and the economic metropolis Nagoya. The program included visits to renowned research institutions such as AIST and KEK as well as companies such as Murakami Corporation, Hamamatsu Photonics, and the global players NEC, NIKON, and Denso. In addition, two networking events with B2B meetings were held in Tokyo and Hamamatsu, and a business lunch with companies and multipliers took place in Nagoya. To draw the attention of Japanese companies and investors to Thuringia as a business location, the LEG-Invest team organized an investor business dinner in Tokyo.
The trip received very positive feedback: The participants had the opportunity for networking and market exploration. In addition, the "doors" to the large Japanese corporations, such as Nikon, Denso and NEC, could be „opened“. Some projects were successfully initiated: For example, some companies already received return visits from the Japanese partners to concretize project approaches
