Seven EIC-backed deep tech ventures showcase European innovation at Tech Osaka Summit and Global Startup Expo 2025
- ›From 16 to 18 September 2025 seven EIC-backed companies presented at Tech Osaka Summit and the Global Startup Expo in Osaka, connecting with Japanese corporates, investors and research institutions.
- ›EIC representatives and beneficiaries participated in high-level panels on scaling European startups, net-zero transitions and government support for start-up growth.
- ›Exhibitors included companies working on AI-driven drug discovery, AI accelerators, nanobubble systems, blockchain-based digital product passports, and bio-based chemical intermediates.
- ›An EIC Multi-Corporate Day in early October will follow up in Tokyo and Osaka to accelerate corporate matchmaking with major Japanese firms.
EIC delegation brings seven deep tech firms to Tech Osaka Summit and Global Startup Expo 2025
The European Innovation Council ran a mission to Osaka between 16 and 18 September 2025 that brought seven EIC-backed organisations to two linked events: the Tech Osaka Summit (16–17 September) and the Global Startup Expo (17–18 September). The mission combined exhibition space with panel participation and one-to-one meetings designed to introduce European deep tech to Japanese corporates, investors, research institutions and innovation intermediaries.
What the EIC put on stage
Beyond exhibition stands, the EIC delegation contributed to several panels aimed at positioning Europe as a place to start and scale technology companies and at exploring public and private roles in reaching net-zero goals. EIC staff, board members and beneficiaries took part, including Victoire Cachoux from Iktos, Agnieszka Stasiakowska head of the EIC Business Acceleration Services at EISMEA, and Yousef Yousef an EIC board member and CEO of LG Sonic.
Panels and focus areas
Key panel appearances included Europe to Start and Scale at Tech Osaka Summit, which highlighted the EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy and opportunities for Japanese startups looking to expand into Europe. At the Global Startup Expo EIC participants joined discussions on efforts to achieve a global net-zero economy and on the government role in supporting startup growth. The delegation emphasised EU-Japan cooperation as well as routes to partnerships, pilots, and market access.
EIC-backed exhibitors at Tech Osaka Summit
Global Startup Expo 2025: outcomes and additional participants
The EIC mission continued into the Global Startup Expo where two additional EIC beneficiaries attended. The Expo convened deep tech startups, investors, universities and large corporates with a co-creation framing. EIC representatives participated in sessions on net-zero pathways and government support for startup growth, underscoring the EU’s policy agenda for scaling innovative firms.
| Company | Technology / Offering | Event | EIC note |
| AquaB Nanobubble Innovations | Nanobubble generators for industrial liquids and gases | Tech Osaka Summit (exhibitor) | EIC-backed exhibitor |
| Axelera AI | Edge AI inference accelerators and SDK | Tech Osaka Summit (exhibitor) | EIC-backed exhibitor |
| Catalyxx | Catalytic conversion of bioethanol to butanol and hexanol | Tech Osaka Summit (exhibitor) | EIC-backed exhibitor |
| Circularise | Blockchain-based digital product passports and traceability | Tech Osaka Summit (exhibitor) | EIC-backed exhibitor |
| Iktos | Generative AI, retrosynthesis and lab automation for drug discovery | Tech Osaka Summit (exhibitor) | EIC-backed exhibitor |
| Solar Materials (PRISM) | Thermo-mechanical recycling process; industrial plant planned 8,400 t/year | Global Startup Expo (attendee) | EIC-funded PRISM project |
| Materrup | Low-carbon cement and sustainable building materials | Global Startup Expo (attendee) | EIC awardee (participating) |
Follow-up activity and corporate matchmaking
The EIC announced a follow-up Multi-Corporate Day scheduled for 5 to 8 October in Tokyo and Osaka. Organised in partnership with JETRO, the event will convene EIC awardees with Japanese corporates such as DNP Dai Nippon Printing, JX Advanced Metals, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, NEC Corporation and Shimizu Corporation. The stated goal is to provide direct pitching opportunities to decision-makers, fast-track partnerships, pilots and potential procurement channels.
Context: why missions like this matter and why to stay cautious
The EIC has a mandate to help European deep tech scale and internationalise. Corporate mission visits help startups test commercial interest, identify potential partners and attract investment. They also give corporates early exposure to new technologies that could be piloted within established value chains. The EIC Corporate Partnership Programme formalises this approach and has run numerous corporate days and multi-corporate events aimed at matchmaking between EIC-backed startups and large firms.
That said, missions and trade fair engagements do not by themselves guarantee commercial traction. Many early-stage claims around being 'industry-leading' or 'market ready' require independent verification through pilot results, long-term procurement commitments, regulatory approvals and scalable manufacturing or operations. For technologies in regulated sectors such as chemicals and health, the route from demonstration to purchasing contracts can be long and resource intensive.
At the policy level the EU continues to prioritise startup scaling. The Commission’s Startup and Scaleup Strategy and related initiatives aim to close gaps with markets such as the United States and China. Official EU materials have flagged that a disproportionate share of global scaleups are located in North America, and that improving access to late-stage finance, talent mobility, regulatory certainty and cross-border market access are critical to retain and grow European champions. The EIC’s corporate matchmaking activities are one practical lever within a broader ecosystem effort.
Practical takeaways for stakeholders
For investors and corporate scouts: use exhibitions and panels to qualify technology readiness and request referenceable pilot data. For startups: convert interest into concrete partnership milestones such as NDAs, pilot scopes, procurement timelines and local regulatory roadmaps. For policy makers and programme managers: track conversion rates from meetings to paid pilots and contracts to assess the sustained impact of trade missions.
The EIC mission to Osaka delivered visibility for a set of European deep tech firms and initiated dialogue with Japanese stakeholders. The next measure of success will be the number and depth of partnerships, funded pilots and commercial contracts that result from these interactions.