The Kansai region in central Japan is a major economic hub with a GDP of about $876 billion, home to leading global companies in aerospace, electronics, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals. Within this ecosystem, the Kansai Aircraft Industry Platform NEXT drives industrial growth and collaboration.

Kobe, capital of Hyogo Prefecture, is one of Japan’s main ports and hosts diverse industrial clusters, from heavy industries to advanced SMEs. Hyogo also concentrates many foreign‑affiliated firms and major Japanese aerospace companies with research and manufacturing facilities.

Japan is investing JPY 20 trillion ($150 billion) to mobilize JPY 150 trillion over the next decade for its green transformation, prioritizing hydrogen and synthetic fuels. The updated Basic Hydrogen Strategy targets increasing hydrogen supply to 12 million tons by 2040, a sixfold expansion.