【Osaka】Achieving the Circular Economy in NRW/Germany | NRW-Dortmund Evening Reception
Europe's Clean Industrial Deal calls for the strengthening of a circular economy with more efficient use of resources and closed value chains. North Rhine-Westphalia, as a leading business and innovation hub in Germany and home of the largest Japanese business community in Europe aims to become a driver of the ecological transformation in line with the European Clean Industrial Deal and the international sustainability goals.
The City of Dortmund is North Rhine-Westphalia's third largest city with a strong footprint in the services, ICT and mechanical and plant engineering sector. In 2021, Dortmund became the first and so far only German city to be awarded the title of "European Innovation Capital" (iCapital). In addition, Dortmund is home to two technically oriented universities (University of Applied Sciences and Arts, TU Dortmund) and 19 scientific institutions. It is also the hometown of the world-famous football club Borussia Dortmund.
How can regional and city governments manage the way to a circular economy? How can organizations with a large ecological footprint and social impact like a football club contribute to sustainability? How do Japanese and German companies engage in realizing a circular economy in Germany and Japan?
The seminar attempts to showcase answers to these questions as well as opportunities for cooperation.
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Date: 19th June 2025 (Thu.) Reception Desk will be open at 14:45.
Time: 15:00-18:00 Seminar / 18:00-20:00 Reception "NRW-Dortmund Evening"
Venue: Congrès Square Grand Green Osaka, Grand Hall 3
Language: English/Japanese (with simultaneous interpretation)
Free of charge ※ This event will be held on-site only.
Please register latest by 13th June (Fri.) 24:00
Hosted by: NRW.Global Business GmbH / City of Dortmund / NRW.Global Business Japan
Contributing Partners: Borussia Dortmund (BVB) / Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts / Osaka Prefectural Government / Osaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (OCCI)
Supported by: German Consulate General Osaka-Kobe, Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), Japan Clean Ocean Material Alliance (CLOMA)
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Seminar Program 15:00-18:00
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Opening and Moderation
Dr. Carolina Kawakubo, Representative Director and President
NRW.Global Business Japan / NRW Japan K.K.
Greeting Address
Paul Frederik Höller, State Secretary, Ministry for Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Action and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia
Greeting Address
Hiroyuki Baba, Director General, Department of Commerce, Industry and Labor, Osaka Prefectural Government
North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) – Germany’s International Center of Industry and the New Area of Sustainability
Felix Neugart, CEO, NRW.Global Business GmbH
Keynote
North Rhine-Westphalia‘s way to the Circular Economy
Dr. Carsten Gerhardt, CEO Circular Valley Foundation
Panel discussion
Fostering Circular Economy in Dortmund through Science, Technology and Municipal Projects
Moderator: Dr. Carolina Kawakubo
Panelists:
· Christian Klose, Startup & Investor Support Manager, Economic Development Agency, City of Dortmund
· Prof. Dr. Tamara Appel, Rector, Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts
Coffee Break (from around 16:25)
Introduction of “Panasonic HX” -Distributed Clean Energy Solution with Hydrogen Fuel Cell-
Toshikatsu Yoshikawa, Assistant Chief, Overseas Sales and Marketing
Fuel Cell & Hydrogen Strategic Business Unit, Panasonic Corporation, Electric Works Company
Initiatives for the Circular Economy
Masahito Yoshizawa, Senior Manager, CSR and Global Environment Center, Daikin Industries, Ltd.
Hydrogen as a Key Technology for a Green Future
Nikolaus Boltze, Country Representative, ThyssenKrupp Japan
Q&A Session (until 18:00)
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Reception "NRW-Dortmund Evening" 18:00-20:00
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※ Participation starting from the reception is also welcome ※
Welcoming remarks:
- Paul Frederik Höller, State Secretary, Ministry for Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Action and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia
- Martin van der Pütten, Chief International/Diplomacy Officer and Head of International Relations, City of Dortmund
- Benjamin Wahl, Managing Director East Asia, Borussia Dortmund (BVB)
Welcoming remarks will be followed by networking and culinary highlights.
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Notes: This seminar is designed for participants affiliated with organizations, such as corporations. We kindly ask for your understanding that we may have to limit participation if we are unable to verify your organizational affiliation.
This invitation is for your personal use only which is why your name and your mail address are already in the registration form. If you would like to invite others, please let us know per email (event@nrwglobalbusiness.co.jp). We will then send out a separate, personalised invitation.
In case you transfer your invitation to a third person and he/she registers to the event by using it, your own data will be deleted by the event system.
