Newly-launched urban and regional cooperation between Essen in Germany, Grenoble-Alpes Métropole in France, Toyota and Koriyama

Essen in Germany, Grenoble-Alpes Métropole in France, Toyota and Koriyama were approved as cluster cites in the International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) Programme 2021-2023 organised by the European Union (EU). In commemoration of this newly-launched urban and regional cooperation, a kick-off event and business seminar in the planned cooperation fields including “Hydrogen” and “Open Innovation” are held online with the presence of the German and French embassies in Japan.

Registration: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_a03-9luVQ5Sb3rcvF-0OgQ

Kickoff Event 9:00-9:20 (CET) / 17:00-17:20 (JST)

Opening & Speech

• Masato Shinagawa, Mayor of Koriyama City
• Mr. Toshihiko Ota, Mayor of Toyota City
• Mr. Thomas Kufen, Lord Mayor of Essen City
• Mr. Christophe Ferrari, President of Grenoble-Alpes Métropole (GAM)

Speech of Honored Guest

• Ms. Susanne Welter, Minister Counsellor, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, Tokyo
• Mr. Rémy Cardinet, Counsellor, Embassy of the French Republic, Tokyo

Business Seminar 9:20-10:10 (CET) / 17:20-18:10 (JST)

• Yohei Watanabe, Chief, Business Creation Division, Koriyama City
• Mr. Go Theisen, Project Director for International Business, Essen Economic Development Agency (EWG)
• Mr. Gabriel Voisin-Fradin, Project Manager for International Economic Relations, Grenoble-Alpes Métropole (GAM)
• Mr. Yusuke Kitagawa, Head, Next Generation Industry Division, Toyota City
• Dr. Hirohide Furutani, Director, Fukushima Renewable Energy Research Center, Fukushima Renewable Energy Institute, AIST (FREA)
• Mr. Yasuhiro Hattori, Director, Energy. Agency Fukushima

Organized by: City of Koriyama

Co-organized by: City of Essen, Grenoble-Alpes Métropole (GAM) and City of Toyota

Supported by: Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany and French Embassy in Tokyo and Fukushima Prefecture