Connecting Horizons: Insights from the Luxembourg-Japan Space Mission
- Mugen Links
- Jul 23
- 3 min read
At Mugen Links, we thrive on connecting innovative communities across continents. Our recent mission in Japan, led by the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce as part of a Space Trade Mission and organized in partnership with genten LLC, exemplified this spirit. The Chamber brought a delegation of Luxembourg space companies to engage directly with Japan’s vibrant ecosystem of space companies, research centers, and ambitious SMEs through a dynamic program that included, among other activities, a dedicated B2B session facilitated by Mugen Links and genten LLC.
The exchange was more than formal meetings—it was an opportunity for two countries with outsized influence in the global space sector to learn from one another. Luxembourg, known today as a European nucleus for NewSpace activity and space resources, is home to over a hundred organizations engaged in everything from advanced satellite operations to pioneering lunar technologies. With a deliberate national strategy, Luxembourg has created a regulatory framework that encourages the ownership and use of extracted space resources, attracting entrepreneurs, researchers, and top talent. Agencies such as the Luxembourg Space Agency and the European Space Resources Innovation Centre have provided fertile ground for collaborations and ambitious projects. Through partnerships, legal foresight, and robust education programs, Luxembourg is positioning itself as both a hub for technological discovery and a springboard for companies eyeing global expansion.
On the other side of this exchange stands Japan—a country where established aerospace leaders work in concert with a surge of start-ups redefining the boundaries of what’s possible in space. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) anchors widely respected research and exploration missions, while the country’s industry landscape also includes major players like NEC, Mitsubishi Electric, and Toyota; each contributes unique technologies for satellite infrastructure, robotics, and planetary mobility. Meanwhile, spirited young ventures—from Astroscale’s trailblazing work in space debris removal to ispace’s lunar exploration milestones—demonstrate that Japan’s start-up environment is anything but static.
Throughout the mission, open conversations emerged organically—ranging from the legal frameworks Luxembourg offers to support entrepreneurs, to the ways Japanese start-ups are breaking new ground in miniaturized satellites and orbital servicing. Luxembourg’s delegation gained new insights into Japan’s approach to commercialization, industrial partnerships, and public-private innovation. For Japanese researchers and executives, it was a rare chance to understand how Luxembourg’s policies and incentives can serve as a gateway to European markets and joint missions in fields like lunar resources and sustainable satellite operations.
Rather than simply exchanging formalities, both sides found themselves deeply engaged in brainstorming new research themes, discussing technology demonstration opportunities, and even marking the start of several partnerships that could shape future ventures.
The mission revealed not only common technological interests, such as responsible resource utilization and earth observation, but also a shared culture of experimentation and trust.
What stood out above all was the willingness—on both sides—to treat this mission as the beginning of an ongoing conversation. Participants left Japan with a sense that much of the real value had come from genuine networking: finding new partners, challenging their own assumptions, and mapping out collaborative projects that might not have materialized without this direct international dialogue.
Looking ahead, the Luxembourg-Japan mission stands as a testament to how carefully fostered, cross-border relationships can accelerate global innovation. At Mugen Links, we are proud to play a role in breaking down barriers and building the bridges necessary for ambitious ideas to take flight. The future of space is one of collaboration, and our recent experiences only reinforce our belief that when communities connect deeply and authentically, new frontiers become possible.
Comments