News & Updates

JETRO and PROJECT NIPPON : Sign Memorandum of Understanding on Promoting Business Matching between Overseas Startups and Japanese Companies

May 13, 2019

The Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) and PROJECT NIPPON Co., LTD. (hereinafter referred to as PROJECT NIPPON) have signed a memorandum concerning the promotion of business matching between overseas startups and Japanese companies.
The purpose of this memorandum is to create opportunities for expansion of collaboration and partnership between Japanese companies and overseas startups to drive the creation of innovation in Japan. Expanding those collaborations and partnerships will be a driving force for promoting innovative overseas industries in Japan.

The 7th Innovation Leaders Summit (hereinafter referred to as ILS 2019), the largest open innovation matching event in Asia organized by PROJECT NIPPON, will be held as a forum for business matching (Dates: October 28 to 30, 2019, Venue: Toranomon Hills).
More than 10,000 people attended ILS 2018 last year. 555 startup companies (including 75 overseas companies) recommended by major VCs in Japan and overseas, along with 128 major corporations, participated in the main program called “POWER MATCHING”, which is a new business alliance matching program. 2,697 one-on-one business meetings were arranged and so far have led to 1,026 collaboration projects.

JETRO and PROJECT NIPPON will promote ILS 2019 in 10 cities around the world (scheduled: Helsinki, Berlin, Munich, Düsseldorf, London, Paris, Dubai, Tel Aviv, Hong Kong, Singapore) starting on May 13, to encourage overseas startups to participate the event. In Japan, an ILS 2019 PR event will be held in June for major foreign companies in Japan seeking to match with Japanese startups.

Left: Mr.Takashima, Director-General, Invest Japan Department at JETRO
Right: Mr. Matsutani, CEO of PROJECT NIPPON Co., Ltd.

Overview of "Promotion of Business Matching between Overseas Startups and Japanese Companies"

Date of execution:
April 12
Highlighted Agreement:
  • Both sides are entitled to utilize ILS 2019's POWER MATCHING, scheduled to be held from October 28 to 30, 2019, as a forum to realize business matching between overseas startups and Japanese companies.
    • Holding joint PR events and attracting key personnel from major governmental institutions, VCs, accelerators, and universities shall be attempted by the end of May 2019 at JETRO’s overseas offices.
  • Holding joint public relations events for major foreign companies in Japan to attract those companies by the end of June 2019
    • PROJECT NIPPON shall ensure that overseas startups JETRO attracts to participate in POWER MATCHING at ILS 2019.
    • JETRO shall provide support services for overseas startups to participate in POWER MATCHING at ILS 2019.
    • PROJECT NIPPON shall create a mechanism to promote business matching between overseas startups and Japanese companies even after promoting POWER MATCHING at ILS 2019.
Overview of Innovation Leaders Summit (ILS)
ILS was launched in 2014 with the sponsorship of 30 big business owners and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan (METI) in order to create global innovation through matching the assets of large companies, the ideas of startups, and technology.
The main program at last year’s event was ‘POWER MATCHING’, which offered one-on-one business alliance matching meetings between leading companies and startups. 2,697 one-on-one meetings were arranged. 555 startups (including 75 overseas companies) recommended by major VCs in Japan and overseas, along with 128 major companies, participated. 2,697 one-on-one meetings were arranged. As a result, ILS2018 ended successfully with 1,026 new deals.
ILS is one of Asia's largest open innovation events with over 10,000 participants.
The 7th such event, ILS2019, is scheduled to be held from October 28th to 30th in Toranomon Hills this year.

Invest Japan Business Support Division, JETRO
Contact person: Mr. Maekawa / Ms. Shinozaki
Tel: 03-3582-8347

PROJECT NIPPON Co., LTD.External site: a new window will open.
Contact person: Ms. Shibaki
Tel: 03-3356-9121
* People who wish to conduct an interview are requested to contact the person in charge in advance.