BRIDGING JAPANESE INNOVATION AND EUROPEAN MARKETS

Highlights from the 2025 JETRO – HEC Paris International Program: For the second year in a row, the HEC Paris Incubation & Acceleration Center, in collaboration with JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization) and STATION F, welcomed a dynamic cohort of Japanese startups to Paris. The goal: to help these rising tech companies enter the European market through Paris’s thriving startup and innovation ecosystem.

This year’s program wrapped up with an exciting Demo Day at STATION F, showcasing 9 innovative startups from Japan — now ready to grow their businesses across France and Europe.

A GATEWAY TO EUROPE’S INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM

Through the JETRO x HEC Paris International Program, Japanese entrepreneurs benefit from:

•    World-class startup facilities at STATION F


• Access to HEC Paris’s entrepreneurship resources and global alumni network


• Tailored mentorship and workshops from French and European experts


• Connections with corporates, VCs, and innovation partners


• Participation in major events like VivaTech — Europe’s largest tech event

The goal? To give Japanese tech companies everything they need to successfully scale in the French and European markets.

BUILDING A CROSS-CULTURAL INNOVATION COMMUNITY IN PARIS

The program goes beyond business. At the HEC Paris Incubation & Acceleration Center, the mission is also to build a truly global startup community.

Despite all the expert support, mentoring, and landing pad provided to these startups, major ecosystem events like VivaTech and others organized with partners play a key role in fostering integration and breaking down barriers.

And they are not alone! Other international programs were also running at the same time — such as IndiaAI, KOSME, and KISED — further enriching the ecosystem.

A great example of this integration was the Ping Pong Social Night at Ping Pang Paris (itself a startup from the HEC Paris ecosystem), which brought together founders from Japan, Korea, India, France, and beyond — fostering global friendships and collaborations.

The Japanese founders not only developed business connections but also began integrating into Paris’s entrepreneurial culture — a key to long-term success in Europe.

DEMO DAY AT STATION F: A MILESTONE FOR JAPANESE TECH COMPANIES IN EUROPE

The final highlight of this year’s program: the JETRO x HEC Paris International Program Demo Day, held at STATION F just after VivaTech 2025.

A packed room of investors, corporate partners, and ecosystem leaders came to watch 9 Japanese startups pitch their innovations — spanning AI, deep tech, sustainability, and more.

VIP guests and speakers included:

•    Akihiko Tamura, Director General, JETRO Paris


• Naoki Inoue, Director, JETRO Paris


• Koichi Horinouchi, Second Secretary, Embassy of Japan in France


• Inge Kerkloh-Devif, Senior Executive Director, HEC Paris Innovation & Entrepreneurship Institute


• Aymeric Penven, Director, HEC Deep Tech Center CDL-Paris


• Adonis Bouzid, Director, L’Oréal Beauty Tech Atelier


• Nicolas Beaumont, Program Manager, TotalEnergies On

The evening marked a major milestone for these Japanese entrepreneurs in France, setting the stage for new partnerships and market growth.

THE 9 JAPANESE STARTUPS READY TO SCALE IN EUROPE

This year’s selected startups bring cutting-edge Japanese innovation to Europe:

•    Aquila (Healthcare & SaaS) – AI automation for optimizing hospital operations.


• datagusto (AI AgentOps) – Real-time monitoring and resolution platform for AI systems.


• Innophys (Robotics) – Wearable exoskeletons improving workplace ergonomics.


• zeteoh, Inc. (AI/Positioning) – AI-powered 3D indoor tracking system for GPS-free environments.


• CREATANT, Inc (Creative Tech) – AI-driven workspace for managing digital assets.


• EF Polymer Global (Agritech) – Water-saving polymers for sustainable agriculture.


• LIPPER K.K. (Sustainable Materials) – Eco-friendly tire materials reducing CO₂ and microplastics.


• CrowdChem (Materials Informatics) – AI platform accelerating new material discovery.


• WOTA Corp. (Water Tech) – Autonomous water recycling systems for sustainable clean water access.

These Japanese startups are now poised to expand across Europe, bringing innovation, sustainability, and technological excellence from Japan to new markets.

A STRONGER JAPAN–FRANCE STARTUP BRIDGE

The success of the JETRO x HEC Paris International Program reinforces Paris’s role as a top European destination for Japanese startups looking to grow internationally.

By strengthening ties between Japan’s tech ecosystem and Europe’s innovation hubs, HEC Paris is proud to help drive cross-border entrepreneurship and open new opportunities for Japanese tech companies.