Japamburg Dialogue: Hamburg x Osaka Nr. 3

Japamburg is a non-profit German-Japanese network founded in 2020 and based in Hamburg. The community aims at linking business representatives in Hamburg, Germany and Japan even more closely via regular event formats covering innovation topics of German-Japanese interest. Since 2023, Japamburg is organized within DJW as working group creating deepening synergies between our two organizations.

Join us for an inspiring morning of cross-border innovation and exchange! On October 9, 2025, Japamburg brings its signature Hamburg–Osaka Startup Dialogue to Osaka for the very first time. As part of the Creative Cities Connect program during the Expo year, we will spotlight innovative solutions from two of the most dynamic startup ecosystems in Japan and Germany. The focus: impact-driven technologies and creative business models that shape the future of our societies.

Whether you are a startup founder, an ecosystem builder, or a business professional interested in collaboration, this event offers you the opportunity to: - Discover promising solutions from Hamburg and Osaka that address ecological and societal challenges - Learn from experts about how our ecosystems foster impact innovation - Connect directly with potential partners, investors, and like-minded innovators.

Why this Dialogue?

Hamburg and Osaka have been sister cities for 35 years, and business city partners since 2019. Both cities are home to vibrant startup ecosystems and thriving creative industries, producing innovative responses to some of the most urgent challenges of our time. The Japamburg Dialogue format, launched in 2021, has already featured forward-thinking solutions from both cities and created valuable connections between their business communities. This year’s edition in Osaka builds on that momentum — connecting the Expo 2025 theme “Designing Future Society for Our Lives” with real-world startup innovation.

Language

English

Participation Fee

Free of charge

Agenda

• 10:45 – Registration & Welcome Reception
• 11:00 – Opening Words
• Johannes Budkiewitz | Network Lead Japamburg

• 11:05 – Opening Keynote on the theme of ‘Innovation ties between Germany and Japan’
• Nikolaus Boltze | Hamburg Ambassador

• 11:15 – Hamburg Startup Pitches
• Gregor Kindelmann | CEO Cellcolab
• Joana Gil Chavez | CEO & Founder Lignopure
• Erik Jung | COO WAIV-FTIR

• 11:40 – Panel Discussion on the theme ‘Joined Ecosystem Development for Scaling Innovation’
• Gregor Kindelmann | CEO Cellcolab
• Joana Gil Chavez | CEO & Founder Lignopure
• Kanako Murase | Senior Program Manager Innovation Dojo Japan
• Trung Pham | Investment Promoter IBPC Osaka

• 12:15 – Open Get-together & Networking
• 13:00 – End of event

Contact

Japamburg
Johannes Budkiewitz
Network Lead
contact@japamburg.com

Everybody from Hamburg’s innovation ecosystem is most welcome to join the event, meeting with business representatives from Osaka and within the Hamburg-Japanese community. We look forward to seeing you then and there!