Calling2Scale Gunma : Gateway to Japan

Objectif

Calling2Scale Gunma: Gateway to Japan is a curated 3-month international Bootcamp designed for advanced European startups, combining virtual and in-person activities.

Programme Goals:
- Support EU start-ups' market entry into Japan: enable fast and effective entry into the Japanese market and beyond by equipping start-ups with hands-on tools, regulatory insights and cultural understanding, positioning Gunma as a strategic launchpad for expansion across Asia.
- Launch new EU innovation in the Japanese market: connect European start-ups directly with committed Japanese industry players, facilitating proof-of-concepts, pilot projects and long-term commercial agreements based on clearly defined innovation needs.
Strengthen Gunma's innovation ecosystem: provide Japanese corporates with access to cutting-edge European technologies and solutions, supporting their innovation goals and enhancing the region's global competitiveness.

Calling2Scale Gunma will take place between 9th October and 15th December 2026, including a Immersion lab in Japan during the week of 24th November 2026.

Critères d'éligibilité

This call is open to advanced start-ups established in the EU or in Horizon Europe-associated countries. Each participant must have a market-ready product at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 7
or higher, and have completed at least one funding round (e.g. seed or later).

Technologies clés

Calling2Scale Gunma focuses on six impact technology domains derived from the innovation challenges of the participating Gunma-based corporates and the EIT scope.

Applications must fall within one of the following domains. We seek start-ups offering solutions to the challenges described below.

1. Sanden
Challenge 1 – Intelligent Thermal Management. We are looking for innovative solutions that leverage AI, machine learning and vehicle data (navigation, weather, occupancy, driving behavior, etc.) to optimize HVAC performance while reducing energy
consumption and improving vehicle efficiency. Solutions supporting NVH optimization are also welcome.
Challenge 2 – Thermal Energy Storage.
We are looking for scalable solutions that improve the storage, recovery and utilisation of thermal energy in EVs through advanced materials, energy recovery systems, heat exchangers or integrated thermal management technologies.
Challenge 3 – Advanced Heat Transfer. We welcome breakthrough solutions that reduce energy consumption, improve thermal performance and simplify system design through innovative cooling technologies, advanced materials or new engineering approaches.

2. Gunseisha
Challenge 1 – Circular Plastics.We are looking for breakthrough solutions in advanced recycling, waste valorisation, sustainable fuel production and circular business models that maximise both environmental and commercial value.
Challenge 2 – Environmental Value Certification. Solutions may include Life Cycle Assessment, Digital Product Passports, carbon accounting, traceability platforms, ESG technologies or other approaches that improve transparency and market acceptance.
Challenge 3 – Circular Business Models. We welcome scalable technologies, digital platforms and business models that transform waste into valuable resources while supporting a low-carbon future.

3. JINS
Challenge 1 – Seamless Eyewear Experience. We seek comprehensive solutions that resolve physical, visual, environmental, and psychological discomforts, delivering a completely seamless daily experience.
Challenge 2 – Advanced Healthcare Eyewear. We welcome solutions utilizing advanced technologies to provide direct, proactive care and therapeutic support for overall eye health, as well as physical and mental wellbeing.
Challenge 3 – Functionality in Critical Environments. We are looking for technologies that ensure stable operational support, safety, and high performance under extreme conditions, such as disaster environments.

4. Taiyo Yuden
Challenge 1 – Sustainable Packaging Solutions. We are looking for innovative packaging materials, designs, and circular solutions that improve sustainability, reduce waste, and lower carbon footprints while maintaining the functionality required for
packaging and shipping electronic components.
Challenge 2 – Energy Efficiency and Resource Valorization. We are looking for innovative solutions that improve energy efficiency in HVAC systems and other energy-intensive operations, and create new value from waste heat, wastewater, and other underutilized resources across our manufacturing and non-manufacturing sites.
Challenge 3 – Sensing for Environmental Monitoring and Disaster Resilience. We are looking for startups interested in exploring opportunities to leverage our technologies for environmental monitoring, risk prediction, disaster prevention, and resilience.

5. Nippon Kayaku
Challenge 1 – AEM Water Electrolysis. We seek startup partners to integrate our advanced Anion Exchange Membrane (AEM) into practical water electrolysis systems for cost-efficient green hydrogen production. We are interested in pilot-ready solutions that improve efficiency, durability, and system economics, including stack components, compact hydrogen units, and related subsystems. This collaboration aims to accelerate commercialization and build long-term international partnerships in scalable hydrogen technologies.
Challenge 2 – Electrochemical CO₂ Capture. We seek partners to co-develop electrochemical CO2 capture systems for industrial exhaust gas and direct air capture. Using electrochemical cells and our proprietary redox-active materials, we aim to create pilot-ready solutions with lower energy consumption and cost. We welcome startups with strengths in system design, modular hardware, and process integration to help translate our core chemistry into scalable carbon management technologies.
Challenge 3 – Microphysiological Systems (MPS) for Drug Discovery. We seek startup and academic partners to co-develop MPS-based drug discovery tools with stronger relevance to nonclinical and clinical outcomes. Our goal is to generate practical evidence that supports wider adoption of MPS while reducing reliance on animal testing. We welcome collaborations in disease models, toxicity and efficacy evaluation, biomarker analysis, and data-driven validation using our pharmaceutical nonclinical and clinical assets.

6. Kyowa Industrial
Challenge 1 – Intelligent Manufacturing.We are looking for innovative solutions that improve production efficiency, quality, flexibility and sustainability through AI, robotics, automation and predictive analytics.
Challenge 2 – Advanced Manufacturing Technologies. We welcome machining technologies, digital manufacturing solutions and process optimization tools that increase productivity while reducing waste and energy consumption.
Challenge 3 – Factory of the Future. Solutions may include Industrial AI, Digital Twins, robotics, autonomous systems, IoT and smart factory platforms that accelerate the transition towards Industry 5.0.

Typologie de consortium

Programme details:

Online training bootcamp
The bootcamp facilitates early engagement between European start-ups and Gunma-based corporates, building meaningful connections ahead of the in-person meetings and enabling collaboration discussions to begin earlier. It provides curated tools, insights and knowledge to understand the Japanese market through six virtual two-hour sessions covering themes such as:
• Exploring Japan's innovation ecosystem, from the private sector to government incentives;
• Navigating business and cultural barriers;
• Mastering the pitch — storytelling and preparation for pitching to corporates;
• Entering global markets — regulatory frameworks and market-entry strategies;
• Sector deep dives — global industry challenges, emerging trends and innovation barriers;
• Corporate collaboration and PoC excellence — how to engage large enterprises and run PoCs in international markets.

1:1 support meetings (online)
An essential component of the first phase, the 1:1 meetings initiate meaningful engagement between start-ups and Japanese corporates, build strategic alignment and prepare the ground for real collaboration.
Following an initial introduction and matchmaking between each start-up and a relevant corporate innovation contact point, meetings continue independently to foster deeper relationships. These sessions focus on real business challenges, aligning needs and solutions, and creating a customised roadmap for
identifying use cases, adapting the solution and preparing for impactful in-person engagement in Japan.

Immersion Lab (Gunma, in person — week of 24 November 2026)
Selected start-ups join a five-day Immersion Lab in Japan designed to give a real, on-the-ground understanding of how to succeed in the Japanese market and to translate the virtual connections established earlier into concrete, long-term partnership and PoC opportunities. The agenda includes:
• Curated sessions with corporates, investors and public-sector partners to explore strategic alignment and co-development opportunities;
• On-site visits to corporate R&D centres, manufacturing facilities and innovation hubs;
• Access to industry-led tracks, real data environments and beta-test sites that can serve as launching points for collaborative pilots;
• Sector-specific roundtables and deep-dive workshops to co-develop PoC frameworks and pilot strategies;
• Peer learning and ecosystem exposure, including with leading Japanese start-ups and European start-ups that have already entered the Japanese market successfully.

Two closing virtual sessions, held approximately one week after the Immersion Lab, are dedicated to follow- up and recommended next steps towards establishing partnerships in Japan

Each selected start-up will receive a €2,200 lump-sum sub-grant to support travel and accommodation for the five-day Immersion Lab in Gunma and Tokyo.