Intralink Hosts UK X Japan Deeptech Business Connect in London to Link UK Deeptech Firms with Japanese Companies in Europe

Intralink, a global business development consultancy, held the “UK X Japan Deeptech Business Connect” event in London on May 6, 2026, connecting UK deeptech companies with Japanese companies based in Europe. The event was held as part of the UK government’s UK-APAC Tech Growth Programme, with support from Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG). Around 70 participants attended, including UK government representatives, venture capital firms, 12 UK startups, and eight Japanese companies in Europe. The program featured panel discussions, one-on-one meetings, and active networking. The UK government launched the UK-APAC Tech Growth Programme in 2023 to support UK scaleups entering the Asia-Pacific region and to strengthen the country’s technology sector. Intralink was appointed as the programme’s delivery partner. To date, Intralink has supported 12 trade missions, provided individual consultations to more than 75 companies, produced 11 market opportunity reports, and held 13 technology business matching events of this kind. As a result, it has helped more than 400 UK tech startups expand into Asia-Pacific, generated over 250 business opportunities, and contributed to deal opportunities worth £168 million. The panel discussion featured Atsushi Nishikawa of MUFG Bank’s UK branch, Jessica Reilly of the UK government, and Graham O’Keeffe of Amadeus Capital Partners. They discussed ways to accelerate innovation collaboration between Japan and the UK and the potential for new business creation. Nishikawa said many UK startups, compared with US startups, possess advanced technologies that can be commercialized even at an early stage, making them a strong fit for Japanese companies. He also noted that UK companies increasingly view Japan not only as a collaboration partner but also as a gateway for broader Asian expansion. Reilly said total bilateral trade between Japan and the UK has reached around £33 billion, with Japanese investment making a major contribution to the UK economy. She added that there remains significant room for UK companies to enter Japan and that the UK government hopes to support more exports and investment into Japan, including through joint research schemes in AI, quantum technology, and nuclear energy. O’Keeffe noted that the UK startup market faces a structural shortage of capital from Series B onward, creating an opportunity for Japanese companies to act not only as investors but also as strategic partners supporting growth through business and technology collaboration. During the Q&A session, participants asked practical questions about working with major Japanese corporations, including how to navigate corporate culture and decision-making processes. The panelists shared candid, experience-based insights. The business matching sessions focused on four fields: decarbonization, aerospace, semiconductors, and communications. UK and Japanese companies held rotating one-on-one meetings, enabling efficient and substantive discussions within a limited time. Networking also continued in an adjacent venue over refreshments, where participants exchanged information in a relaxed setting. Attendees said the event helped them understand the importance of reaching the right department and the right contact person from the start when approaching Japanese companies. Others commented that although they had not yet built business ties with Japan, the event gave them many useful insights and strengthened their interest in visiting Japan for business. Intralink said it will continue to hold such events regularly to support Japanese companies’ overseas business development and promote startup collaboration and investment. Intralink is a business development consultancy specializing in global business development for major Japanese corporations, international expansion for growth companies, and trade promotion and investment attraction for government agencies. Founded in 1990, the company is headquartered in Oxford, UK, and operates in more than 25 locations worldwide, including Tokyo, London, Paris, Düsseldorf, Helsinki, Poznań, Shanghai, Seoul, Taipei, Singapore, New Delhi, Silicon Valley, Los Angeles, Boston, Washington D.C., and Toronto.