News

Flemish Week at Expo 2025 Osaka

Written by Justine Theunissen | Oct 22, 2025 6:00:00 AM

From 15 to 21 June 2025, Flemish Week brought Flanders’ innovation and expertise to Japan through a high-profile mission organized in collaboration with Flanders Investment & Trade (FIT). The delegation included the Flemish Minister-President Matthias Diependaele and key industry leaders, reinforcing the Pavilion’s mission to highlight Belgian contributions to health, science, and technology.

Purpose & Focus

Flemish Week centered on healthtech, medtech, life sciences, and biotechnology, with the goal to:

  • Present Flemish innovation at the Belgian Pavilion through seminars, panels, and showcases

  • Facilitate B2B networking and matchmaking between Flemish and Japanese companies

  • Offer tailored visits to Japanese industry hubs and expos

  • Leverage ministerial leadership to strengthen Flanders’ visibility in Japan’s health and biotech sectors

Itinerary & Activities

  • June 15: Arrival in Tokyo, networking, and visits

  • June 16–17: Tokyo-based seminars, meetings, and industry visits

  • June 17: Travel to Osaka

  • June 18: Flemish Day at the Expo with seminars and public-facing events at the Belgian Pavilion

  • June 19–20: Networking, industry visits, and participation in Health & Well-Being Week, highlighting synergies in medical and biotech themes

Achievements & Participation

Participants enjoyed exclusive access to the Belgian Pavilion’s infrastructure, high-level networking receptions, and a curated B2B program tailored to health, biotech, and life sciences sectors. Cross-border projects in research, commercialization, and innovation were promoted, aligning with the broader Life Sciences 2025 campaign that showcases Flanders’ global excellence in biotech and health innovation.

Significance & Strategic Impact

Flemish Week reinforced the Pavilion’s “Saving Lives” narrative, emphasizing the intersection of science, health, and innovation:

  • Affirming Flanders’ leadership in biomedical technology, diagnostics, therapeutics, and health ecosystems

  • Strengthening Belgian–Japanese ties in critical sectors

  • Providing a springboard for Flemish companies and research groups to access the Japanese market

  • Elevating the mission’s diplomatic and economic impact through ministerial presence and strategic branding