Under the FY 2011 “Subsidy Program for Projects Promoting Asian Site Location in Japan”, submitted proposals were reviewed and ten of them were selected as listed in the Appendix.

This program is intended to sustain and strengthen high-value-added business locations in Japan and to achieve sustainable growth of the Japanese economy by assisting global companies' establishment of new high-value-added business locations in Japan, such as Head Sites (*1) or R&D Sites (*2), which have been proven to have a significant impact on the Japanese economy, as well as by attracting and concentrating high-value-added business operations that match the strength of the Japanese economy.

The government's New Growth Strategy (Cabinet decision on June 18, 2010) stipulates that the government will aim to revive Japan "as an Asian business center" by considering an incentive system that includes tax incentives tied to the degree of contribution to the employment of highly skilled persons in order to encourage foreign firms to build and concentrate their Asian head sites and R&D sites in Japan. The launch of such an incentive system is in view for FY 2011 as well as cross-cutting measures to improve the business environment. This system is expected to promote the establishment of new high-value-added business locations in Japan and thereby double employment by foreign firms and inward direct investment.

Likewise, the "Strategies to Revitalize Japan" (Cabinet decision on August 5, 2011), the "Comprehensive Package Responding to the Yen Appreciation - Establishing Robust and Resilient Economy against Risks" (Cabinet decision on October 21, 2011), and "Program for Promoting Japan as an Asian Business Center and Direct Investment into Japan" (the Conference decision on December 16, 2011) require the government to promote Japan as an Asian business center by providing incentives such as reduced corporate taxes and an improved business environment through the enactment of the bill on the promotion of Japan as an Asian business center, with the goal of inviting global companies to set up high-value-added business sites in Japan. Accordingly, making Japan an Asian business center has become one of Japan's key policies.

(Note 1) "Head Site" herein shall refer to a site for supervisory operations relating to project policy decisions or coordination for controlled group companies (i.e. operations essential to the execution of projects [sales and marketing, corporate planning, finance, personnel and training, R&D, production management, distribution, legal affairs, etc.]), where such projects involve a minimum of two controlled group companies (in two or more countries).

(Note 2) "R&D Site" herein shall refer to facilities needed to carry out R&D, such as industrialization through research, applied development, trials and product testing, in advanced industrial technologies in accordance with technological innovation.

Project proposals were accepted from August 23 (Tuesday) to October 31 (Monday), 2011.
Projects to be selected were decided based on examination by a third-party committee consisting of external experts.

See the Appendix.

List of projects selected under the FY 2011 Subsidy Program for Projects Promoting Asian Site Location in Japan

Selected projects: 10 projects

No.	Company Name	Global HQ	Type of Site	Industrial Field
1	DSM Japan Engineering Plastics K.K.	Netherlands	R&D	Chemicals (Plastic)
2	Intelligent Energy Holdings Plc	U.K.	R&D	Fuel cells
3	Medasys Japan K.K.	France	R&D	Medical information system
4	Mikado Kyowa Seed Co., Ltd. (Subsidiary of Vilmorin & Cie S.A.)	France	R&D	Vegetable seeds
5	NeoPhotonics Japan, Godo Kaisha	USA	R&D	Optical communication equipments
6	Nihon Cabot Microelectronics K.K.	USA	R&D	Materials for electronics component (Abrasive)
7	Sanofi-Aventis K.K.	France	Regional Head Quarters	Pharmaceuticals
8	Umicore N.V.	Belgium	R&D	Industrial chemicals (Catalyst)
9	Volvo Technology AB	Sweden	R&D	Technology development related to automobiles
10	3M Health Care Ltd.	USA	R&D	Healthcare products

• JETRO website

December 21, 2011

Trade and Investment Facilitation Division, Trade and Economic Cooperation Bureau