Public Support Services in Yokohama City
For companies aiming for global business expansion, selecting a base of operations is an extremely critical management decision. Within Japan, Yokohama City is attracting attention as a strategic hub, especially from companies in the life science and healthcare sectors. This document explains why Yokohama City is attractive to both domestic and international companies, and the support systems behind it.
1. Yokohama's Advantages as a Business Hub
The appeal of Yokohama City lies in the excellent balance between its business and living environments.
Excellent Access and Business Efficiency
One of Yokohama's greatest strengths is its excellent access.
Global Access: Its location, approximately 30 minutes from Haneda Airport, is a significant advantage for international travel.
Domestic Network: It takes about 30 minutes to reach Tokyo Station, the center of business, and the Shinkansen network provides rapid access to major domestic cities such as Nagoya, Kyoto, and Osaka, enabling efficient business activities.
A Growing Life Science Ecosystem Cluster
Yokohama City is strategically promoting the clustering of industries in the life science field.
Industry-Academia-Government Collaboration Platform: The city promotes "LIP.Yokohama (Life Innovation Platform Yokohama)," forming an ecosystem where companies, universities, and research institutions collaborate closely. This accelerates the process from research and development to commercialization.
Cluster of Cutting-Edge Research Institutions: World-class research institutions are clustered here, creating opportunities for collaborative research and access to the latest technologies.
RIKEN: https://www.riken.jp/
Yokohama City University: https://www.yokohama-cu.ac.jp/
Venue for Asia's Largest Events: "BioJapan" (https://jcd-expo.jp/), Asia's largest partnering event attracting biotech-related companies and organizations from over 30 countries, is held annually at the "PACIFICO Yokohama" (https://www.pacifico.co.jp/) international convention center. This symbolizes Yokohama's position as a central hub for information and networking in the life science field, offering an excellent opportunity for companies based here to grasp the latest trends and create business chances.
High Quality of Life (Livability) to Support Business
Yokohama's appeal is not limited to its business environment. It is also highly regarded as a "place to live" that attracts talented human resources.
Comfortable Living Environment: The cityscape, which harmonizes a beautiful port view, a rich international culture, and abundant nature such as parks, contributes to an improved work-life balance.
Cost Merit and Educational Environment: Housing costs are lower compared to central Tokyo, reducing the financial burden on employees. Furthermore, the educational environment is well-established, with international schools and other facilities, creating an environment where expatriates and their families from overseas can live with peace of mind.
Concrete Support Systems Offered by Yokohama
Yokohama City and its related organizations offer a wide range of specific support programs for companies entering the market or aiming for overseas expansion. IDEC Yokohama, a support base for small and medium-sized enterprises in Yokohama, serves as the central point of contact for this comprehensive support.
[For Foreign Companies] Support for Entering the Japanese Market
Generous support is available for foreign companies aiming to enter the Japanese market to ensure a smooth business start.
Consulting: Expert consultations on setup (company registration, permits, etc.), tax, labor, legal affairs, and entry into the life science/healthcare market.
Securing Offices and Facilities: Provision of information on office properties within the city, and introductions to incubation facilities.
Securing Human Resources: Collaboration with recruitment agencies and support for networking with universities, etc.
Fundraising and Subsidies: Information on subsidy and grant programs, and introductions to financial institutions.
Business Matching: Support for collaboration with companies, universities, and research institutions in the city.
Startup Visa: A system to support foreign entrepreneurs in obtaining residency status.
Lifestyle Support: Provision of lifestyle information for foreigners and housing consultations.
IDEC Yokohama Support for Foreign Companies: https://www.idec.or.jp/business/foreign/
[For Domestic Companies] Support for Overseas Expansion
Comprehensive support is also available for companies based in the city when they expand their business overseas.
Overseas Expansion Grants: Partial subsidies for expenses such as exhibition fees for overseas trade shows, travel costs, and interpretation fees.
Overseas Support Desk: On-site support through overseas offices (Frankfurt, New York, etc.) for market research, setting up business meetings, and information gathering.
Expert Consultation: Consultations with experts on overseas business, including trade practices, international legal affairs, and intellectual property strategies.
Joint Exhibition at Overseas Trade Shows: Providing opportunities to co-exhibit at overseas trade shows organized by IDEC Yokohama.
Global Human Resource Development: Implementation of seminars and training to learn the knowledge necessary for overseas expansion.
IDEC Yokohama Overseas Business Support: https://www.idec.or.jp/kaigai/
Contact Information
Foreign companies considering entering the Japanese market and Japanese companies considering overseas expansion can obtain information about support by first consulting with the organization below.
Yokohama Industrial Development Corporation (IDEC Yokohama), International Business Support, Innovation Support Department
https://www.idec.or.jp/en/support.html
E-mail: global [at] idec.or.jp
@K.Kamitani
1. Yokohama's Advantages as a Business Hub
The appeal of Yokohama City lies in the excellent balance between its business and living environments.
Excellent Access and Business Efficiency
One of Yokohama's greatest strengths is its excellent access.
Global Access: Its location, approximately 30 minutes from Haneda Airport, is a significant advantage for international travel.
Domestic Network: It takes about 30 minutes to reach Tokyo Station, the center of business, and the Shinkansen network provides rapid access to major domestic cities such as Nagoya, Kyoto, and Osaka, enabling efficient business activities.
A Growing Life Science Ecosystem Cluster
Yokohama City is strategically promoting the clustering of industries in the life science field.
Industry-Academia-Government Collaboration Platform: The city promotes "LIP.Yokohama (Life Innovation Platform Yokohama)," forming an ecosystem where companies, universities, and research institutions collaborate closely. This accelerates the process from research and development to commercialization.
Cluster of Cutting-Edge Research Institutions: World-class research institutions are clustered here, creating opportunities for collaborative research and access to the latest technologies.
RIKEN: https://www.riken.jp/
Yokohama City University: https://www.yokohama-cu.ac.jp/
Venue for Asia's Largest Events: "BioJapan" (https://jcd-expo.jp/), Asia's largest partnering event attracting biotech-related companies and organizations from over 30 countries, is held annually at the "PACIFICO Yokohama" (https://www.pacifico.co.jp/) international convention center. This symbolizes Yokohama's position as a central hub for information and networking in the life science field, offering an excellent opportunity for companies based here to grasp the latest trends and create business chances.
High Quality of Life (Livability) to Support Business
Yokohama's appeal is not limited to its business environment. It is also highly regarded as a "place to live" that attracts talented human resources.
Comfortable Living Environment: The cityscape, which harmonizes a beautiful port view, a rich international culture, and abundant nature such as parks, contributes to an improved work-life balance.
Cost Merit and Educational Environment: Housing costs are lower compared to central Tokyo, reducing the financial burden on employees. Furthermore, the educational environment is well-established, with international schools and other facilities, creating an environment where expatriates and their families from overseas can live with peace of mind.
Concrete Support Systems Offered by Yokohama
Yokohama City and its related organizations offer a wide range of specific support programs for companies entering the market or aiming for overseas expansion. IDEC Yokohama, a support base for small and medium-sized enterprises in Yokohama, serves as the central point of contact for this comprehensive support.
[For Foreign Companies] Support for Entering the Japanese Market
Generous support is available for foreign companies aiming to enter the Japanese market to ensure a smooth business start.
Consulting: Expert consultations on setup (company registration, permits, etc.), tax, labor, legal affairs, and entry into the life science/healthcare market.
Securing Offices and Facilities: Provision of information on office properties within the city, and introductions to incubation facilities.
Securing Human Resources: Collaboration with recruitment agencies and support for networking with universities, etc.
Fundraising and Subsidies: Information on subsidy and grant programs, and introductions to financial institutions.
Business Matching: Support for collaboration with companies, universities, and research institutions in the city.
Startup Visa: A system to support foreign entrepreneurs in obtaining residency status.
Lifestyle Support: Provision of lifestyle information for foreigners and housing consultations.
IDEC Yokohama Support for Foreign Companies: https://www.idec.or.jp/business/foreign/
[For Domestic Companies] Support for Overseas Expansion
Comprehensive support is also available for companies based in the city when they expand their business overseas.
Overseas Expansion Grants: Partial subsidies for expenses such as exhibition fees for overseas trade shows, travel costs, and interpretation fees.
Overseas Support Desk: On-site support through overseas offices (Frankfurt, New York, etc.) for market research, setting up business meetings, and information gathering.
Expert Consultation: Consultations with experts on overseas business, including trade practices, international legal affairs, and intellectual property strategies.
Joint Exhibition at Overseas Trade Shows: Providing opportunities to co-exhibit at overseas trade shows organized by IDEC Yokohama.
Global Human Resource Development: Implementation of seminars and training to learn the knowledge necessary for overseas expansion.
IDEC Yokohama Overseas Business Support: https://www.idec.or.jp/kaigai/
Contact Information
Foreign companies considering entering the Japanese market and Japanese companies considering overseas expansion can obtain information about support by first consulting with the organization below.
Yokohama Industrial Development Corporation (IDEC Yokohama), International Business Support, Innovation Support Department
https://www.idec.or.jp/en/support.html
E-mail: global [at] idec.or.jp
@K.Kamitani