Japan: The Land of Rising Innovation

Paris, the 25th February 2021 – The Japan Convention Bureau is aware that the post-pandemic business events industry will be looking for destinations that offer something that virtual events cannot replace. That is why, in our latest publication, we have decided to highlight one of Japan’s key strengths: innovation.



Japan is an innovation leader in Asia Pacific, where it has the second largest economy, the highest number of Nobel Prize laureates – with 24 Japanese laureates in the fields of physics, chemistry and medicine – and is ranked number one in the continent by the World Economic Forum in terms of global competitiveness in research and development. 

High concentrations of academic and research institutions with advanced R&D capabilities and corporate clusters with superior technical skills give Japan particular advantages in hosting international meetings. Organisers who choose to hold events in Japan can anticipate that interaction with such academic institutions, research centres and corporations will provide conference participants with intellectual stimulation and create opportunities for innovation.

To help planners achieve the most insightful meetings, the Japan Convention Bureau has published its new guide “Japan: Competitiveness in Academia and Industry”. This very complete report provides overviews of 16 Japanese cities that are leading venues for international meetings, profiling the characteristics and strengths of their local industries, highlighting fields of cutting-edge academic inquiry and research, and outlining industrial trends.



From space science and robotics to the environment, energy, sports and medicine, this free guide gives a better understanding of the diverse strengths and distinctive characters of Japan’s major cities and their potential as convention settings.

“With this report, we hope we can help in enhancing the value of international meetings in Japan and in boosting attendee satisfaction to even higher levels. We know that, in the post-COVID era, the quality of content and business opportunities will be more than ever the drive of events, and Japan perfectly fulfils all these needs”, concludes Ms. Etsuko Kawasaki, Executive Director of the Japan Convention Bureau.