Visit of HRH the Hereditary Grand Duke and Stéphanie Obertin to Osaka

As part of Expo 2025, HRH the Hereditary Grand Duke and Stéphanie Obertin, Minister for Digitalisation and Minister for Research and Higher Education, led an economic mission to Osaka on 15, 16 and 17 July 2025. The mission was supported by a substantial economic delegation comprising more than 60 companies from various sectors of the Luxembourg economy.

On 15 July, HRH the Hereditary Grand Duke, accompanied by Luxembourg's Ambassador to Japan, Michel Leesch, travelled to Kyoto to visit the Centre for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA) at Kyoto University, a globally recognised institution in the field of regenerative medicine. The delegation was welcomed by the President of Kyoto University, Nagahiro Minato, and the Director of CiRA, Professor Jun Takahashi. The visit provided the Luxembourg delegation with valuable insight into major advances in cell therapies, regenerative and personalised medicine, and showcased the cutting-edge technologies employed in CiRA’s laboratories.

On 16 July, HRH the Hereditary Grand Duke and Minister Stéphanie Obertin began the day with a visit to Iwatani Corporation, one of Japan's leading industrial gas and energy infrastructure companies, notably in the field of hydrogen. The delegation was briefed on the company's expertise across the hydrogen value chain — from production and transportation to storage and distribution. Following a guided tour of the facilities, potential avenues for collaboration between Iwatani Corporation and Luxembourg were discussed.

At the same time, a delegation from the Ministry for Digitalisation and the Ministry for Research and Higher Education, accompanied by a scientific delegation, visited Osaka Prefecture to learn more about the "Osaka Supercity Initiative" and to gain insight into the city's data governance framework and smart city infrastructure. 

To provide Luxembourg companies with an opportunity to connect with local economic players, an official reception was held, bringing together the Luxembourg and Japanese delegations, companies and institutions. The event featured speeches by HRH the Hereditary Grand Duke, Minister Stéphanie Obertin, Osaka Prefecture Vice Governor Shigeki Watanabe, and Fernand Ernster, President of the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce. 

At Expo 2025 in Osaka, HRH the Hereditary Grand Duke and Stéphanie Obertin were welcomed at the Luxembourg Pavilion by Commissioner General André Hansen and Pavilion Director Daniel Sahr for a guided tour highlighting the pavilion’s core values, particularly its commitment to circularity. HRH and Minister Obertin also took the opportunity to meet with students from the Luxembourg School of Hospitality and Tourism (EHTL), who are responsible for the gastronomic component of the pavilion.

The official delegation continued their visit of the Expo site, notably exploring the "Grand Ring" — a striking, massive wooden structure measuring around 2 kilometres in circumference and 12 metres in height. The day concluded with a visit to the Japan Pavilion, hosted by the Expo’s host nation.

In addition to the wider exhibition on space, a key highlight of the space-related segment of the economic mission was the "Space Afternoon" event, organised by the Luxembourg Space Agency (LSA) at the Luxembourg Pavilion. On this occasion, HRH the Hereditary Grand Duke, Minister Stéphanie Obertin, Takeshi Hakamada (Founder and CEO of Japanese company ispace), and Mathias Link (Deputy CEO of LSA) all delivered speeches. Attendees also visited the "Space for Earth – How space contributes to our planet" exhibition, which showcased the vital role space plays in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (Agenda 2030). Attendees were able to view models of ispace’s lunar rover and lander—the former designed in Luxembourg. 

The comic book "The Adventures of Renya", created in collaboration with the LSA to raise awareness among young people about the importance of the space sector, was also unveiled. This was followed by a signing session with author and scriptwriter Lucien Czuga and illustrator Dan Altmann.

On 17 July 2025, Minister Stéphanie Obertin began her day at the NTT Pavilion with a working meeting with representatives from NTT Data Management, followed by a visit to the NTT Pavilion, which focuses on the telecom infrastructure of the future. This immersive exhibition highlights how cutting-edge technology, sustainability, and human-centric design intersect. It showcases the IOWN (Innovative Optical and Wireless Network), a next-generation telecommunications system designed to transform digital infrastructure. 

The minister then delivered the opening speech at the "Circular Economy Conference", held at the Luxembourg Pavilion and dedicated to the transition towards a circular economy. Dedicated to circular construction and sustainability, the event brought together Luxembourgish and Japanese experts to exchange insights, using the pavilion itself as a concrete example of circular design. 

Finally, the minister visited several national pavilions, as well as the Health Pavilion, which is dedicated to technological advances in healthcare and medicine.

Press release by the Ministry for Digitalisation and the Ministry for Research and Higher Education