Business Opportunities in Sapporo City, Japan – webinar for EU companies

At Afaceri.ro, we are constantly mapping out strategic pathways to help our community of entrepreneurs and SMEs scale their businesses on the international stage. The Japanese market offers immense potential for European companies, and the City of Sapporo is rapidly emerging as a premier, highly accessible regional innovation hub.

To help European businesses tap into this dynamic ecosystem, the EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation, in partnership with the City of Sapporo, is hosting an exclusive webinar: The Sapporo Model: A Compact City Powering a Sustainable Future.

This free session represents a strategic opportunity to explore market entry, collaboration possibilities, and the comprehensive support frameworks available for foreign companies in Japan.

💡 Why Sapporo?

Sapporo boasts a strong industrial base paired with an advanced R&D environment. The city is actively seeking international partnerships and offers a welcoming ecosystem with a particular focus on high-growth sectors, including:

AI & IT
Food & Agritech
Semiconductors
Green Innovation

🎯 Who Should Attend?

We highly recommend this webinar to professionals and organizations from our network and across the EU, specifically:

European SMEs and start-ups looking to expand into Asian markets.
Industrial clusters and regional organizations.
Research institutions.
Trade and investment promotion agencies.

📅 Event Details

Date: Tuesday, 12 May 2026
Time: 10:00 – 11:00 (CEST) / 17:00 – 18:00 (JST)
Platform: Zoom Webinar
Cost: Free Registration

📋 What You Will Learn (Agenda Highlights)

The one-hour program is packed with actionable insights and real-world case studies to help you navigate the Japanese business landscape:

10:00 CEST | Step up to Sapporo: Ms. Erika Suzuki (Economic & Tourism Affairs Bureau, City of Sapporo) will provide a comprehensive overview of Sapporo’s business landscape, key growth sectors, and its vast business potential.
10:10 CEST | One-Stop Services for Foreign Companies: Ms. Sujin Hong (Sapporo Electronics and Industries Cultivation Foundation) will introduce the „STEP” (Sapporo Transnational Expansion and Partnership) one-stop support desk. Learn how they provide a reliable, step-by-step ecosystem for foreign companies to innovate with confidence.
10:20 CEST | Success Story – From Sapporo to the World: A first-hand dialogue featuring Ms. Leina Lee (General Manager at Smartcube Co., ltd.), an AI & Digital Twin specialist company. She will share a practical roadmap for expansion, discussing why her company chose Sapporo and how STEP’s support accelerated their success.
10:50 CEST | Interactive Q&A: A chance to have your specific questions answered by the experts.

Pro Tip for Attendees: Upon registration, you are invited to submit a short question for the speakers. A selection of these will be addressed live during the Q&A session!

🔗 How to Register

You can register directly here: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_GKEkzQYwTN2e2ltbXdlsgw#/registration

Take the first step toward your business expansion in Japan. We at Afaceri.ro encourage our community of innovators and leaders to secure their spot and explore the global STEP Sapporo ecosystem today.

For registration or for more information on how we can support your participation, please contact us directly at contact@arhipelago.com.