On 2 July 2025, the high-level workshop “Advancing Collaboration in the Digital Sector” was held at Portugal’s Pavilion during Expo Osaka 2025 in Osaka, Japan. Organised as part of the EU-Japan Digital Partnership, the workshop contributed to strengthening digital cooperation between the EU and Japan. Represented by Sara Medina (SPI) and Alessandro Bassi (EURESCOM), the event marked a key step forward in advancing strategic digital cooperation between Europe and the Indo-Pacific region.
The workshop brought together policymakers, industry leaders, and researchers from Europe and Japan to explore collaboration in three priority areas:
- Next-Generation Connectivity (5G/6G)
- Cybersecurity & Digital Trust
- Cloud-Edge-IoT for Smart Industries
These themes align closely with the EU’s International Digital Partnerships strategy, and directly support INPACE’s mission to promote trusted, human-centric digital technologies and resilient digital ecosystems.
The workshop opened with remarks from Lee Woolgar (Delegation of the European Union to Japan) and Joana Gomes Cardoso (Commissioner General of Portugal at Expo Osaka Kansai). Lee Woolgar emphasised the importance of the EU’s digital partnerships, particularly in areas such as semiconductors, the exchange of information between the EU and Japan, and the importance of technology and innovation for the future. Joana Gomes Cardoso highlighted Expo 2025 as a platform to promote dialogue and the sharing of best practices between European countries, highlighting Portugal and Japan’s shared maritime history and commitment to ocean sustainability, followed by an introduction to the INPACE project by Sara Medina. The workshop featured a panel discussion moderated by Alessandro Bassi, with insights from:
- Masahiro Bessho, Toyo University
- Hideaki Takahashi, Nokia
- Rob van Kranenburg, IoT Council
- Judit Erika Magyar, EURAXESS Japan
The event concluded with a networking cocktail at Portugal’s Pavilion and a short visit to the European Commission’s Pavilion, creating an informal space to build connections and highlight Portugal’s and Europe’s innovation leadership and maritime sustainability legacy.
This event contributed to the objectives of the EU-Japan Digital Partnership in fostering digital cooperation between Japan and the European Union, supporting innovation, digital transformation, and advancement of digital technologies.
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