Last month, Task Force Health Care (TFHC), in collaboration with Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland (RVO), the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Japan, and the Consulate General in Osaka, organized an insightful mission to Japan. This initiative gathered 15 Dutch organizations across three key areas of focus:
• Welfare and assistive products for the elderly and disabled
• Consultation and advisory for medical institutes and device manufacturers
• Academic-Linked medical institutes (e.g., University Hospitals)
Each organization brought distinct goals to this journey, whether it was exploring Japan’s Life Sciences & Health (LSH) sector, strategizing market entry, building local partnerships, or connecting with potential collaborators. This international mission provided participants with valuable insights into the complexities and opportunities in Japan’s healthcare landscape.
Japan is, of course, renowned throughout the world for its level of technology, in particular robotics, but perhaps even more so, there is huge potential for adapting such technologies to support elderly care.
The only way to deeply understand and work through distinctive elements of healthcare in a region is to witness it firsthand, as this visit intended to allow for. This mission was one of the important steps of the Road2Osaka initiative, paving the way for future collaborations up to Road2Osaka.
Key take-aways
The trade mission was originally intended to be focused more on only Healthy Ageing, due to the previous activities in Japan. However, due to the shown interest, there was a need to broaden the scope of the mission with sub themes: medical devices; care solutions for the elderly; medical ICT innovations; interventional cardiology; orthopaedic implants; telemedicine; data security; healthcare infrastructure and coordination. After registration completed, there was a division of participants shown:
- Welfare/Assistive Products for the Elderly and Disabled
- Consultation and Advisory for Medical Institutes and Device Manufacturers
- Medical Institutes with Strong Academic Ties (e.g., University Hospitals)
Participants aimed to gain market knowledge, position themselves effectively, and connect with potential foreign partners, with networking as a key objective. Specific outcomes included:
- Exploration of the Japanese Elderly Care Market: Participants identified local needs through presentations on market trends and site visits to nursing homes and rehabilitation hospitals, gaining insights into local practices.
- Preparation for Expo 2025: Discussions on the Osaka Healthcare Pavilion and potential collaboration with the Netherlands advanced preparations for the Expo and future LSH cooperation.
- Understanding Healthcare Challenges in Japan: Presentations from JETRO Osaka and visits to the Institute of Medical Science at the University of Tokyo deepened participants’ understanding of market dynamics and research infrastructure.
- Networking and Building Collaborative Partnerships: The mission facilitated relationships with key stakeholders and identified potential business partners through various networking sessions in Osaka and Tokyo.
- Learning About Japan’s Innovation Ecosystem: Participants researched the innovation ecosystem through visits to the ATC Ageless Center and Medical Japan 2024, gaining insights into trends and challenges.
The way forward
During the One NL Future Business in Japan event on October 10th, discussions focused on strengthening the Dutch LSH sector’s presence in Japan as part of the Road2Osaka initiative for Expo 2025. The visit aimed to gauge interest from organizations in participating in the Expo. Companies indicated that their involvement would hinge on a strategic plan showcasing a clear return on investment (ROI). If a strong business case is presented, participation in Expo 2025 could be appealing.
To attract both private and public sectors, the side program needs to be tailored to stakeholder needs. TFHC is open to collaborating on activities related to Expo 2025, including addressing market challenges and opportunities in Japan and enhancing collaboration between Dutch and Japanese stakeholders.
Couldn’t join us? Download our market studies from the website for more insights into the Japanese LSH market.
And stay tuned for upcoming international opportunities with Health~Holland International!
