First Joint Nordic Event “Startup Day” Concludes with Great Success
On May 6, 2025, the first Joint Nordic Event organized by Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden, “Startup Day,” was held in the Nordic Pavilion.
Although the morning began with rainy weather, clear blue skies appeared in the afternoon, and the venue buzzed with the excitement of enthusiastic attendees. As the first Joint Nordic Event, the day left a strong impression as a meaningful step toward building new relationships between the Nordics and Japan.
The opening remarks were delivered by Sindre Borstein, Managing Director of Nordic Innovation, who warmly welcomed the audience. Special guest Sara Modig, State Secretary at Sweden’s Ministry of Climate and Enterprise, also took the stage, speaking about the potential for collaboration between Japan and the Nordics. The Ministry oversees climate policy, sustainable growth, and industrial and enterprise development and plays a key role in supporting startups and driving innovation across the Nordic region.
Each session featured speakers from diverse backgrounds, who shared insights into the strengths of the Nordic startup ecosystem and its future prospects.
Session 1: The Secret Sauce of the Nordic Startup ecosystem : Powerhouse behind he unicorn factory
Representatives from Helsinki Partners, Swedish Incubators and Science Parks, Businss Iceland and Business Vanttaa discussed why the Nordic region produces an outstanding number of unicorn companies relative to its population. The panel highlighted key factors such as a mindset geared toward scalability, close-knit networks among startups and support organizations, and a culture that embraces risk-taking and learning from failure.
Session 2: University's role as innovation Catalysts
Representatives from Aaltoes (Aalto Entrepreneurship Society), Aarhus University, and the University of Helsinki emphasized how universities are not just places of learning but also hubs of experimentation and practice, where students play a central role in generating new innovations.
Session 3: Nordic Cleantech Pitch
Eleven promising startups from the Nordics took the stage to present their latest technologies and services, ranging from carbon credits, vertical abalone farming, and fungal-derived upcycled products to commercial DX software and glass 3D printing. The presentations sparked lively questions from investors and attendees, with experts such as Marek Kiisa (NordicNinja VC) providing commentary, adding to the energetic atmosphere.
Session 4: Investment Opportunities in the Nordics for Japanese Companies
Venture capital and municipal representatives discussed concrete opportunities and challenges for Japanese companies investing in or entering the Nordic market. The session emphasized strong complementarities in cleantech and digital fields, as well as the appeal of the Nordics as a gateway to the European market, raising expectations for future collaboration and investment projects.
As the successful “Startup Day” came to a close, Sindre Borstein shared his comments:
“It was truly an inspiring day. Being able to introduce the business and investment opportunities of the Nordic region to the Japanese audience was a major achievement. While each of our countries may be small, together the Nordics hold immense potential. I also would like to highlight once again that the presence of Nordic Innovation House Tokyo, which led today's event, is a crucial bridge connecting Nordic and Japanese startups. It serves as a hub that can maximize this potential and create exciting new opportunities. I am very optimistic about the future of bilateral collaboration and the new developments it will bring between Japan and the Nordic region.”
Building on the momentum of this “Startup Day,” the Nordic Pavilion will continue to host a range of Joint Nordic Events on various themes throughout the EXPO 2025 Osaka. We invite you to stay tuned for upcoming opportunities to learn more about the concrete initiatives driving the Nordics’ priority fields.