Hereditary Grand Duke, Minister Obertin Conclude Expo 2025 Osaka Economic Mission

As part of Expo 2025, Prince Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg, and Stéphanie Obertin, Luxembourg’s Minister for Digitalisation and Minister for Research and Higher Education, led an economic mission to Osaka, Japan, from Tuesday 15 to Thursday 17 July 2025.

As reported by the Ministry of Digitalisation and the Ministry of Research and Higher Education, this mission included a delegation of more than 60 companies from various sectors of Luxembourg’s economy.

On Tuesday, the Hereditary Grand Duke, accompanied by Luxembourg’s Ambassador to Japan, Michel Leesch, travelled to Kyoto to visit Kyoto University's Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), a world-renowned institute in the field of regenerative medicine. The delegation was welcomed by the university's President, Nagahiro Minato, and CiRA Director Professor Jun Takahashi. For more on this part of the visit, see https://chronicle.lu/category/abroad/55901-hereditary-grand-duke-enjoys-a-piece-of-home-at-expo-2025-osaka

On Wednesday, Prince Guillaume and Minister Obertin visited Iwatani Corporation, a major Japanese company specialising in industrial gases (including hydrogen) and energy infrastructure. The delegation learned about the company's expertise across the hydrogen value chain. After a guided tour, participants discussed opportunities for collaboration between Iwatani Corporation and Luxembourg.

At the same time, a delegation from the Ministry of Digitalisation and the Ministry of Research and Higher Education, accompanied by scientific representatives, visited Osaka Prefecture to learn more about the Osaka Super City Initiative and the city’s data management system.

An official reception offered Luxembourg companies a platform to network with local economic stakeholders. The event featured speeches by the Hereditary Grand Duke and Minister Obertin, the Vice-Governor of Osaka Prefecture, Shigeki Watanabe, and the President of the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce, Fernand Ernster.

At Expo 2025 in Osaka, Prince Guillaume and Minister Obertin were welcomed to the Luxembourg Pavilion by Commissioner General André Hansen and Director Daniel Sahr for a guided tour highlighting the pavilion's values, particularly circularity. They also spoke with students from the École d'Hôtellerie et de Tourisme du Luxembourg (EHTL), who are in charge of the pavilion’s culinary offering.

The delegation continued its exploration of the Expo site, notably the "Grand Ring," a striking wooden structure approximately 2 km in circumference and 12 metres high. The day concluded with a visit to the host country’s pavilion (Japan).

The highlight of the space-related component of the economic mission on Wednesday was the "Space Afternoon", organised by the Luxembourg Space Agency (LSA) at the Luxembourg Pavilion. There were speeches by the Hereditary Grand Duke and Minister Obertin, as well as Takeshi Hakamada, founder and CEO of the Japanese company ispace, and Mathias Link, Deputy CEO of the LSA. Guests also toured the "Space for Earth – How Space Contributes to Our Planet" exhibition within the pavilion, which highlighted the role of space in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (Agenda 2030). Attendees also viewed models of the iSpace rover (designed in Luxembourg) and lunar lander. The Space Afternoon event also featured the presentation of the comic book Looking for a Luxonaut, created in partnership with the LSA to raise awareness among young people about the space sector, and a signing session with the writer and illustrator. For more on this, see: https://chronicle.lu/category/literature/55900-luxembourg-space-agency-publishes-1st-educational-comic-book

On Thursday, Minister Obertin visited the NTT Pavilion for a working meeting with representatives of NTT Data Management. She then toured the pavilion, which offers an immersive experience combining cutting-edge technologies, sustainability and a human dimension. The exhibition highlights the Innovative Optical and Wireless Network (IOWN), a next-generation telecommunications system that aims to transform digital infrastructure.

Minister Obertin subsequently delivered the opening address at the “Circular Economy Conference”, held at the Luxembourg Pavilion and dedicated to the transition to a circular economy. The conference, which focused on circular construction and sustainability, brought together Luxembourgish and Japanese experts to exchange experiences. The pavilion itself served as a case study of the circular economy in action.

To round off the day, the minister visited several other national pavilions as well as the Healthcare Pavilion, which is dedicated to technological advances in healthcare and medicine.