The EU-Japan Region-to-Region Innovation Cooperation is a project of the European Union managed by the Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI) and the Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO) of the European Commission, and implemented in cooperation with the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT). Its overall aim is to contribute to sustainable urban development and innovation cooperation between the EU and Japan in line with the external dimension of “Europe 2020”. The project will be implemented until November 2023.
The objective of the project is to support European Regions and Japanese Prefectures to exchange best practices and knowledge to improve and to internationalise their respective regional innovation strategies while promoting international value chains. The selected EU and Japanese Prefectures will participate to conduct mutual study visits and joint seminars and meetings.
The cooperation will be based on the Smart Specialisation strategies for Sustainable and Inclusive Growth (S4+) of each region, including methodology, practice and governance. Therefore, the project will focus on regional innovation and competitiveness policies:
- Green transition: Circular economy, clean energy, climate change and sustainable mobility.
- Industrial transformation: Industrial transformation, digitalisation and social innovation.
- Demographic transition and competitiveness: Public services and infrastructures in regions facing depopulation and ageing.
Regional authorities from the different European States and from Japan are invited to apply. If you are representing an EU region interested in participating in the project, please fill the above online questionnaire and submit your candidature before 30/05/2022.
