Maruti Suzuki and JETRO Collab to Facilitate Business Opportunities for Startups from India & Japan

Maruti Suzuki has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) to foster innovation and create business opportunities for startups in India and Japan. This collaboration aims to provide Indian startups access to Japan’s innovation ecosystem while enabling Japanese startups to explore opportunities in India.

Startups selected through Maruti Suzuki’s four innovation programs—Accelerator, Incubation, Mobility Challenge, and Nurture—will be eligible to participate in networking events and activities facilitated by this partnership. The initiative aligns with India's Make in India and Startup India programs, reinforcing cross-border innovation.

Hisashi Takeuchi, MD & CEO of Maruti Suzuki, emphasized that startups are key drivers of innovation and economic growth, and this MoU will help promising Indian startups explore the Japanese business landscape. Meanwhile, Takashi Suzuki, Chief Director General of JETRO India, highlighted that Maruti Suzuki exemplifies the successful partnership between India and Japan, and this collaboration will further strengthen business ties.

This partnership could be particularly interesting given industry trends and strategic analysis.

Startups chosen through Maruti Suzuki’s four innovation programs:

1. Accelerator,
2. Incubation,
3. Mobility Challenge and
4. Nurture, will be eligible to participate in these events. 

Startups from Japan can explore the Indian startup ecosystem by participating through JETRO.

Mr. Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director & CEO, Maruti Suzuki India Limited, said, “Startups are key drivers of innovation and economic growth. Through our multi-format innovation programs, we have been engaging with startups in India to co-create technology-driven solutions relevant to the automobile manufacturing and mobility space. We see great potential in Indian startups, and with this MoU with JETRO, we will be able to provide a platform for these promising startups to explore the Japanese business landscape.”

Mr. Takashi Suzuki, Chief Director General, JETRO India said, “Maruti Suzuki stands as one of the finest examples of the successful partnership between India and Japan. With this MoU, we are creating opportunities for even more fruitful business collaborations between our two nations. This MoU aims to foster innovation, drive economic growth, and further strengthen the deep-rooted ties between India and Japan.”

Maruti Suzuki’s Innovation Programs:

The Company, through the Maruti Suzuki Innovation programs, is proud to partner with the Government of India’s Startup India initiative. To spur innovation in the automotive space, the Company has built multiple programs - 1) Accelerator, 2) Incubation, 3) Mobility Challenge and 4) Nurture - that provide the right direction and support to startups in developing innovative solutions that help solve business and societal problems. In the journey of 6 years, over 5,000 startups have been screened, 150 startups were engaged and 25 of these startups have been onboarded as partners delivering value to our business.

About JETRO:

JETRO, or the Japan External Trade Organization, is a government-related organization that works to promote mutual trade and investment between Japan and the rest of the world. Originally established in 1958 to promote Japanese exports abroad, JETRO's core focus in the 21st century has shifted toward promoting foreign direct investment into Japan and helping small to medium size Japanese firms maximize their global export potential.

Japanese Funds to Flow Into Indian Startup Ecosystem This Year

Last year in March, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, had announced an investment plan of Rs 3,20,000 crore ($42 billion) in India in the next five years.

Now in a latest, Takashi Suzuki, Chief Director General (South Asia), Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO), has said that a substantial chunk of Japanese funds is expected to flow into the Indian startup ecosystem this year, according to a report by Economic Times.

Many Japanese business giants, including Suzuki, Toshiba, Toyota and Denso, among others, have already started collaborating with Indian startups, especially in the frontier technologies such health-tech, digital infrastructure and renewable energy.

JETRO is aiming to bring in more SMEs (small and medium enterprises) into India. However, the smaller companies are reluctant to come to India. Notably, only ~20% of the Japanese companies are large. Majority of the companies are SMEs in Japan.

Last year, Toshiba Software in collaboration with Japanese Venture capital fund -- Beyond Next Ventures (BNV) -- layed out big plans for India with the aim of dealing with social issues.

Quoting the Japanese VC fund BNV's Head of Business Development (India), Mayur Shah, the Economic Times report said, "Our main focus outside Japan is on India which consists of 20 per cent of our portfolio. We see the current situation in India as very similar to Japan's early-stage high economic growth. Young demographics in Japan then and in India now feel that the "onus is on them to solve social and business problems and not leave it to large corporations."

BNV, which is currently looking to raise the next fund, has already invested nearly $22.6 million in Indian startups.

"More than 72% of the Japanese companies are willing to expand their operations in India while for China 33.4% of Japanese companies are willing", said Takashi Suzuki.

Mr. Suzuki quoted an example of Uniqlo, a Japanese casual wear designer, manufacturer and retailer. He said that Uniqlo has already turned profitable within three years of entering the Indian market.

Japanese behemoths like Panasonic, Toshiba, Hitachi are also investing large chunks to develop their R&D (research and development) with an aim to make in India for the global markets. The companies are also looking at new sectors like e-commerce, healthcare, agro-tech, retail, automobiles and electronics.

Online Symposium by JETRO - Future Society After the Pandemic, Expectations for EXPO 2025, and the Potential of the Osaka Kansai Region

Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) and Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition will hold an online symposium “Future Society after the Pandemic, Expectations for EXPO 2025, and the Potential of the Osaka Kansai Region” on March 3, 2021.

 

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210219005225/en/

 

(Graphic: Business Wire)

In addition to climate change, environmental issues and economic disparity, the recent COVID-19 pandemic has become a prominent global challenge. In this symposium, participants will discuss how EXPO 2025 Osaka Kansai can contribute to the resolution of these issues.

 

In the first part, the symposium will review the role and significance of EXPO 2025 Osaka Kansai in addition to predictions for the near future after the COVID-19 pandemic. The second part will focus on the ecosystem and innovation function of the Kansai region.

 

EVENT SUMMARY
Date: Wednesday, March 3, 2021, 14:00-16:30 (JST)
Place: Online (Zoom live stream)
Language: Japanese, English (Simultaneous interpretation)
Organizers: Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition
Co-Organizer: The Kansai Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry
Registration: From the website (https://www.jetro.go.jp/en/events/20210303.html)

 

Agenda:
[Opening Remarks]
Hiroyuki Ishige, Secretary-General, Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition
Nobuhiko Sasaki, Chairman and CEO, JETRO
[Keynote Speech]
"The future is unknowable but inevitable – cooperation is the solution”
Richard Baldwin, Professor of International Economics, Graduate Institute, Geneva
"Future Society and EXPO 2025 Osaka Kansai"
Hiroshi Ishiguro, Professor at Osaka University and ATR Intelligent Robotics and Communication Laboratories
[Presentations & Panel Discussion]
Presentation 1: "Innovation and the SDGs"
Jonas Svensson, Head of Global Innovation and Technology, UNOPS
Presentation 2: “A Living Laboratory Model to Co-create Sustainable Innovations”
Matt van Leeuwen, Chief Innovation Officer, SUNWAY group
Panel Discussion: “As an Open-innovation Platform, how the Kansai Region Collaborates with Global Society and Contributes to the Achievement of SDGs”
Panelists:
-Yasuo Kitaoka, Executive Assistant to the Director, Co-creation Bureau, Osaka University
Director, Innovation Division
-Yoshimasa Sakai, Director-General of Public Relations Strategy Bureau, Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition
-Jonas Svensson, Head of Global Innovation and Technology, UNOPS
-Chikara Takagishi, Senior General Manager of Urban Management Division, Hankyu Hanshin Properties Corp.
-Shogoro Fujiki, Founder & CEO, Biome Inc.
[Closing Remarks]
Takeshi Yonemura, Director-General, Kansai Bureau of Economy Trade and Industry

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210219005225/en/

India and Japan to Ink Agreement for Cooperation in AI Research and Startups

India and Japan, the two Asian countries which enjoy cordial relations with each other, ae on over verge of signing an agreement to promote development of emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence AI, and joint research, promotion of startups, reported Nikkei.

The development comes ahead of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Japan for October 28-29 annual bilateral summit and the announcement of the agreement will be announced on this tour of PM Modi, who'll meet his Japanese counterpart, Shinzo Abe, in Tokyo, said the report.

With this agreement, both the countries are eager to develop high-tech industries in their effort to catch up to Europe and U.S.

Japan aims to enhance its position by attracting superior technology and talent from India. To recall, earlier in February this year, India and Japan had already signed a pact for robotics and artificial intelligence in the defense segment.

While India is known for its expertise in software, Japan has strengths in hardware such as cars and electric appliances and the upcoming agreement pact will complement both of them's strength and enhancing both countries' profiles and shares in the global market for the internet of things (IoT).

As per the agreement, which is yet to be signedm Japan will invite Indian businesses with competitive technologies and ideas to Japan, and help them collaborate with large Japanese companies.

Research and development in digital technology will be a focus of the partnership. The National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Japan's largest state-sponsored research institute, and the Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad, are planning joint studies, initially in image recognition. The research may later expand into 5G mobile communications and robotics.

To promote startups, and their expansion in each other's markets, Japanese External Trade Organisation (Jetro) in association with Indian IT trade body NASSCOM and Indian Institute of Management, Bengaluru (IIM-B) had already opened Indo-Japan Startup Hub in Bengaluru, in May this Year.

Later in September, Japan and India opened an office in Bangalore. The office will serve as a center for India's government to offer support to Japanese companies looking to expand in India, and to find local partners and talent.

According to a 2017 report by CBInsights, Japan is among top-4 countries which have had encouraged confidence in the Indian tech Startup Ecosystem and have been some of the most active foreign participants in India’s startup deals over the past five years.

Earlier this month, Japan's electro-mechanical Giant Shinryo Corp had acquired Noida headquartered Suvidha Engineers India Private Limited (Suvidha).

The upcoming tour of PM Modi will be his third visit to Japan, after the ones in 2014 and 2016, and the two leaders have met on several occasions on the sidelines of various international summits. Abe travelled to India in 2015 and 2017 for the annual summits.

[Top Image - hindi.theindianwire.com]

India and Japan to Ink Agreement for Cooperation in AI Research and Startups

India and Japan, the two Asian countries which enjoy cordial relations with each other, ae on over verge of signing an agreement to promote development of emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence AI, and joint research, promotion of startups, reported Nikkei.

The development comes ahead of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Japan for October 28-29 annual bilateral summit and the announcement of the agreement will be announced on this tour of PM Modi, who'll meet his Japanese counterpart, Shinzo Abe, in Tokyo, said the report.

With this agreement, both the countries are eager to develop high-tech industries in their effort to catch up to Europe and U.S.

Japan aims to enhance its position by attracting superior technology and talent from India. To recall, earlier in February this year, India and Japan had already signed a pact for robotics and artificial intelligence in the defense segment.

While India is known for its expertise in software, Japan has strengths in hardware such as cars and electric appliances and the upcoming agreement pact will complement both of them's strength and enhancing both countries' profiles and shares in the global market for the internet of things (IoT).

As per the agreement, which is yet to be signedm Japan will invite Indian businesses with competitive technologies and ideas to Japan, and help them collaborate with large Japanese companies.

Research and development in digital technology will be a focus of the partnership. The National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Japan's largest state-sponsored research institute, and the Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad, are planning joint studies, initially in image recognition. The research may later expand into 5G mobile communications and robotics.

To promote startups, and their expansion in each other's markets, Japanese External Trade Organisation (Jetro) in association with Indian IT trade body NASSCOM and Indian Institute of Management, Bengaluru (IIM-B) had already opened Indo-Japan Startup Hub in Bengaluru, in May this Year.

Later in September, Japan and India opened an office in Bangalore. The office will serve as a center for India's government to offer support to Japanese companies looking to expand in India, and to find local partners and talent.

According to a 2017 report by CBInsights, Japan is among top-4 countries which have had encouraged confidence in the Indian tech Startup Ecosystem and have been some of the most active foreign participants in India’s startup deals over the past five years.

Earlier this month, Japan's electro-mechanical Giant Shinryo Corp had acquired Noida headquartered Suvidha Engineers India Private Limited (Suvidha).

The upcoming tour of PM Modi will be his third visit to Japan, after the ones in 2014 and 2016, and the two leaders have met on several occasions on the sidelines of various international summits. Abe travelled to India in 2015 and 2017 for the annual summits.

[Top Image - hindi.theindianwire.com]

Indo-Japan Startup Hub Begins Operation in Bengaluru; To Launch Startup Visa Programme

Japanese External Trade Organisation (Jetro) in association with IT trade body Nasscom and Indian Institute of Management, Bengaluru (IIMB) on Monday formally inaugurated Indo-Japan Startup Hub in Bengaluru.

"The decision to set up startup centre was taken during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Japan last year and it was mentioned in the joint statement of Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe," Hiroshige Seko, Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) told DH.

Seko said this would serve as a platform for promotion of information exchange, business collaboration and investments between the vibrant and innovative start-up ecosystems of the two nations.

"Bengaluru convinced me that sky is the limit for India-Japan economic relationships. Japan's strength in hardware and India's strength in software will further fuel innovation. In the age of IoT, India-Japan partnership will help solve challenges like Society 5.0," he said.

The Indo-Japan Startup Hub is part of Jetro's Global Acceleration Hub Progaramme which is already present in other 12 crountries. Jetro and Nasscom will be the nodal agencies to execute this startup hub which will be located at the IIM-B.

According to an analyst, Japan is looking at Indian startups to further expand its tech prowess. "Japan is looking at a major shift in its business with digital disruption and dramatic changes in auto industry. They are looking at India to get used to various technology and access to other geographies later," the analyst said.

Besides Masayoshi Son's SoftBank Group's investment to the tune of $6 billion, Indian startups are also witnessing investments from Japanese investors like Mistletoe, Incubate Fund, Beenext and Anew Holding.

India and Japan have already started their cooperation in IT and IoT through bilateral Joint Working Group on IT and Electronics through the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Nasscom and IoT Acceleration Consortium (ITAC) of Japan.

The Japanese companies have expressed support for the initiatives such as Make in India, Digital India, Skill India, Smart City, Clean India, and Startup India.

According to sources, Japan is gearing up to launch a one-year startup visa programme soon to attract foreign entrepreneurs. The programme will be included in an economic package to be approved by the government.

Under Japan's new startup visa programme, foreign entrepreneurs will have 12 months to live and work anywhere in Japan, especially in special zones in Fukuoka City and Tokyo.

Besides entrepreneurship, India and Japan have also joined hands to launch robotics and artificial intelligence in the defense segment -- In February.

In January, Japanese investment and consulting firm Dream Incubator, which made its India debut by investing in 99Games, an Udupi-based gaming startup, in January 2017, announced that it is in the process of launching a 5 billion yen ( ~ US$44.3 million) fund to invest in Indian tech startups.

Beside Japan, the US Embassy has also launched the Nexus Startup Hub at the American Center in Delhi, aiming to support a dynamic ecosystem for innovative Indian startups through the sharing of American best business practices in entrepreneurship and incubation.

Source - Deccan Herald

Indo-Japan Startup Hub Begins Operation in Bengaluru; To Launch Startup Visa Programme

Japanese External Trade Organisation (Jetro) in association with IT trade body Nasscom and Indian Institute of Management, Bengaluru (IIMB) on Monday formally inaugurated Indo-Japan Startup Hub in Bengaluru.

"The decision to set up startup centre was taken during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Japan last year and it was mentioned in the joint statement of Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe," Hiroshige Seko, Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) told DH.

Seko said this would serve as a platform for promotion of information exchange, business collaboration and investments between the vibrant and innovative start-up ecosystems of the two nations.

"Bengaluru convinced me that sky is the limit for India-Japan economic relationships. Japan's strength in hardware and India's strength in software will further fuel innovation. In the age of IoT, India-Japan partnership will help solve challenges like Society 5.0," he said.

The Indo-Japan Startup Hub is part of Jetro's Global Acceleration Hub Progaramme which is already present in other 12 crountries. Jetro and Nasscom will be the nodal agencies to execute this startup hub which will be located at the IIM-B.

According to an analyst, Japan is looking at Indian startups to further expand its tech prowess. "Japan is looking at a major shift in its business with digital disruption and dramatic changes in auto industry. They are looking at India to get used to various technology and access to other geographies later," the analyst said.

Besides Masayoshi Son's SoftBank Group's investment to the tune of $6 billion, Indian startups are also witnessing investments from Japanese investors like Mistletoe, Incubate Fund, Beenext and Anew Holding.

India and Japan have already started their cooperation in IT and IoT through bilateral Joint Working Group on IT and Electronics through the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Nasscom and IoT Acceleration Consortium (ITAC) of Japan.

The Japanese companies have expressed support for the initiatives such as Make in India, Digital India, Skill India, Smart City, Clean India, and Startup India.

According to sources, Japan is gearing up to launch a one-year startup visa programme soon to attract foreign entrepreneurs. The programme will be included in an economic package to be approved by the government.

Under Japan's new startup visa programme, foreign entrepreneurs will have 12 months to live and work anywhere in Japan, especially in special zones in Fukuoka City and Tokyo.

Besides entrepreneurship, India and Japan have also joined hands to launch robotics and artificial intelligence in the defense segment -- In February.

In January, Japanese investment and consulting firm Dream Incubator, which made its India debut by investing in 99Games, an Udupi-based gaming startup, in January 2017, announced that it is in the process of launching a 5 billion yen ( ~ US$44.3 million) fund to invest in Indian tech startups.

Beside Japan, the US Embassy has also launched the Nexus Startup Hub at the American Center in Delhi, aiming to support a dynamic ecosystem for innovative Indian startups through the sharing of American best business practices in entrepreneurship and incubation.

Source - Deccan Herald