How Japan-Europe Space Partnerships Are Transforming the Industry, and How We’re Involved

Japan’s space industry is at a pivotal moment, fueled by homegrown innovation and a surge of international collaborations—especially with Europe. As the global space economy expands, the synergy between Japanese and European agencies and companies is unlocking new possibilities for science, security, and commercial applications. At Mugen Links, we’re not just watching this evolution; we’re actively participating, together with our partner GReD, to help shape the next chapter of space collaboration.

The Power of Partnership: Japan and Europe in Orbit

Japan’s space agency, JAXA, and the European Space Agency (ESA) have a long history of working together—from joint missions like BepiColombo to Mercury, to shared research aboard the International Space Station. In late 2024, ESA and JAXA signed a landmark agreement to deepen their cooperation, accelerating joint work on missions such as ESA’s Ramses mission to the asteroid Apophis. This includes sharing critical technologies, launch opportunities, and research—demonstrating a true partnership of equals.

Beyond flagship missions, the EU and Japan are also aligning on Earth observation. A 2023 agreement between the European Commission and Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) established reciprocal data access between the EU’s Copernicus program and Japanese Earth observation satellites. This arrangement enables seamless data exchange, enhancing the quality and precision of services for both regions and supporting global challenges like climate monitoring and disaster response.

“This Arrangement will provide mutual benefits to both sides. End-users in Japan will enjoy easier and simplified access to Copernicus data... The Copernicus ecosystem in Europe will get access to data from Japan’s non-commercial Earth Observation satellites.”

(Thierry Breton, European Commissioner for Internal Market)

Industrial Collaboration: A New Era for SMEs

While government agencies set the stage, the real momentum comes from industrial partnerships. Initiatives like the EU-Japan Partnering Support Mission in the Space Sector and the Space Japan Industrial Partnership Service are actively connecting European and Japanese companies for joint R&D, technology transfer, and market expansion. These programs help SMEs like us identify partners, co-develop applications, and access new markets—critical for innovation in fields like satellite navigation, Earth observation, and space-based communications.

Recent missions and exhibitions, such as the Space Business Mission in Japan 2025, are designed to foster B2B connections, allowing SMEs to showcase their technologies and build relationships with Japanese industry leaders.

Our Collaboration with GReD: Precision Geomatics for a Connected World

One of our valued partners, GReD (Geomatics Research & Development srl), exemplifies the kind of specialized expertise that thrives in this collaborative environment. As a spin-off from Politecnico di Milano, GReD develops advanced solutions for GNSS monitoring, and gravity/magnetic data processing. Their technologies enable:

• Continuous monitoring of ground and structural deformations (crucial for earthquake-prone regions like Japan)

• Atmospheric and meteorological studies using low-cost GNSS receivers

• Gravity and magnetic fields analysis for geophysical exploration

GReD’s approach—combining R&D with practical deployment—aligns perfectly with Japan’s focus on disaster resilience and infrastructure monitoring. Working together, we see tremendous potential to leverage GReD’s expertise in GNSS and geomatics to enhance early warning systems and environmental monitoring, especially in the context of integrated Earth observation data sharing between Europe and Japan.

Looking Ahead: Opportunities for Deeper Collaboration

The convergence of Japanese and European strengths—Japan’s engineering and resilience, Europe’s data infrastructure and regulatory frameworks—creates a fertile ground for innovation. For us at Mugen Links, and for our partner GReD, the new wave of partnerships offers:

• Access to new markets and research ecosystems

• Opportunities to co-develop solutions for disaster management, infrastructure monitoring, and data security

• Participation in joint missions and data-sharing initiatives that have global impact

As the space industry becomes more interconnected, at Mugen Links we are excited to help drive and benefit from this new era of transcontinental collaboration.

The future of space is not just international—it’s interdependent. And together with our partners in Europe and Japan, we’re proving that partnership is the ultimate launchpad.