INL Highlights Battery Innovation at Tokyo Seminar on Portugal-Japan Strategic Partnerships

Tokyo, Japan – On October 10^th, the Embassy of Portugal in Tokyo hosted the final seminar in a series organised with AICEP – the Portuguese Agency for Trade and Investment, aimed at promoting sectors where Portugal and Japan share common interests and opportunities for collaboration.

The seminar, titled “Portugal as a Strategic Partner in the European Battery Value Chain,” brought together government representatives, industry leaders, and research experts to explore how Portugal can contribute to building sustainable and resilient supply chains in the fast-growing battery sector.

The program opened with remarks from His Excellency Gilberto Jerónimo, Ambassador of Portugal to Japan, who reminded attendees of the historic ties between the two nations, dating back to Portugal being the first European country to set foot in Japan. He described the seminar’s theme as “timely and essential,” emphasising that partnerships are key to achieving sustainability and resilience in global supply chains. As the world accelerates, Portugal is committed to strengthening these ties, “looking forward to prosperity and shared growth,” the Ambassador stated.

Following the opening, Philomène Dias, Administrator Board Member of AICEP, presented compelling reasons for Japanese investors to consider Portugal as a strategic partner. She highlighted Portugal’s geographic advantage, bilateral agreements that ensure stability in growing markets, and its reputation as a safe and stable location for investment. Dias also pointed to the Iberian strength in automotive markets and green energy stability, which reduces speculation and provides confidence for long-term investments. She concluded by noting that Portugal ranks as the fourth most open country for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) among 104 countries, according to OECD indicators.

The seminar then shifted to industry insights with Tanaka Yoshiaki from Yano Research Institute, who shared trends shaping the global battery industry. To provide a perspective on Portugal’s resources, Emanuel Proença, CEO of Savannah Resources, discussed the country’s lithium ecosystem and its role in supporting Europe’s energy transition.

Innovation was at the heart of the final session, featuring Miguel Muñoz, Research Group Leader at INL, who presented advances in battery innovation and materials science. Muñoz highlighted the Next Generation Storage (NGS) PRR project, which focuses on developing cutting-edge solutions for energy storage to meet the demands of future mobility and renewable energy systems. He was joined by Naoki Orita, Division Manager of the CNT Division at Zeon Corporation, who offered insights from Japan’s cutting-edge research in carbon nanotube technologies.

The event concluded with a networking session, fulfilling the Ambassador’s vision to “open doors for Portugal and Japan” and foster partnerships that drive shared growth and sustainability.