EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation

Market Research by Vulcanus in Japan: compete for your customized market research report on Japan(To be delivered from October 2024 to March 2025)

Market Research by Vulcanus in Japan Application Form: https://shorturl.at/jvUvC
A. BACKGROUND
Doing business in Japan requires careful preparation and market research and can be rewarding in the long-term. The
Market Research by Vulcanus in Japan service expects to offer tailored industry market reports on Japan forselected EU
companies whose research and report will be delivered by teams of Vulcanus in Japan* programme participants. Teams
will be coached and guided by the professional experts during the research and draft phase. Vulcanus in Japan participants
are European technical and engineering students with strong credentials who have been selected by the EU-Japan Centre
to do an 8 months industrial internship programme in Japan.
B. PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVE OF THE PROGRAMME
Market Research by VinJ service aims to offer tailored industry market reports on Japan for selected EU companies. The
service is targeted to any European company interested in better understanding the Japanese market structure and drivers
for future potential growth for a specificproduct/technology/service.
Timeline and Agenda

Launch of the call for recruitment of client SMEs

30 July 2024

Close of the call – selection of SMEs

21 August 2024

Selection of Vulcanus participants and team assignments

By 26 August 2024

1-to-1 meeting with selected EU companies including Q&A session

During the week of 9 September 2024

Preparatory briefing to Vulcanus participants

During the week of 24 September 2024

Research phase: Draft 1 completed by teams

Mid December 2024

Draft 2 completed by teams

Mid January 2025

1-to-1 meeting with client SMEs for sharing updates

OngoingFinal Draft to be completed by teams

Mid February 2025

Teams present to client SMEs

Late February 2025 – Early March 2025

Best research work award ceremony

TBC*What is the Vulcanus in Japan industrial internship programme?
https://www.eu-japan.eu/events/vulcanus-japan“Vulcanus in Japan” is a 8 months industrial internship programme for European engineers and science major students, managed by the EU-Japan Centre. Every
year, about 20 skilled and highly motivated Vulcanus participants are selected to undertake industrial internships in Japan for 6 months, following 2 intensive
months of Japanese language courses and seminars. Typical internship projects include Mechanical/Electrical Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, ICT, Data
science, GNSS, Chemistry, Biotechnology and Life Sciences, Space, etc. The 2024-2025 Vulcanus programme started from August 2024 with an intensive
Japanese language class, followed by the industrial internship from Ovtober 2024 to March 2025.

The market research and analysis conducted in this programme may help selected applicants determine:
1. Market Size & Demand
How big is the current Japanese [product name] market—broken down by relevant segments? Examine market size,demand and overall business potential/attractiveness of the private vs the public sector. What is the geographic
composition of the market (size and potential). What are the main purchase factors (costs, product effectiveness,reliability, etc.)? Who are the purchase decision makers or influencers?
2. Market Research
Young researchers will conduct primary and secondary market research to provide a good foundation for evaluation anddecision making of the key areas specified within this scope or work.This should include interviews of relevant decision
makers and others influencing the purchase and operation of your products; competitor staff and/or competitor
dealers/agents.
3. Industry Stakeholders
Identify the main stakeholders within the product-related market. Users, their families, local governments, nationalgovernment, companies, etc. What are the most important concerns and interests of the key stakeholder groups? Who
are likely to help or hinder your product expansionefforts? How and why? How can potential obstacles be overcome?
4. Technical Issues
Are there any significant technical issues for the products not yet launched in Japan? If yes, how could they beovercome? Is formal compliance approval needed from any particular authorities? Are there significant technicaldifferences between you and competitor’s products?
5. User & Operation Environment
What are the key aspects of the user environments (analyze by segment) in Japan? Are there relevant differences andsimilarities between Japan and other product markets? Identify otheruser and operational issues and consider how they might affect the recommended strategy.
C. BUSINESS COACHESBusiness coaches who are the experts on utilizing cross-cultural insights to conduct in-depth researchand analysis will beselected by the Centre. With the support of business coaches, the young researchers will conduct a market research basedon the needs of the clients.
The business coaches are expected to offer advice and answer questions to the research teams throughout the programme.
D. DELIVERABLES
Market/research report and final presentation in power point which outlines and explains the report. The Judges selectedby the Centre will read and evaluate the reports.
E. APPLICATION AND EVALUATION CRITERIAInterested applicants should submit an online application form produced by the Centre: https://shorturl.at/jvUvC

Submission deadline: 21, August 2024
F. TERMS OF REFERENCE
Eligible participants are European companies with the headquarters in EU or in the Single Market Programmeparticipating countries (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/smp/guidance/list-3rdcountry-participation_smp_en.pdf)