Communications

Tokyo, 28-30 June 2007
 
From June 28-30, 2007, Finmeccanica took part in the event "Italian Spring in Japan", a major showcase for Italian products officially inaugurated in Tokyo on March 19.
 
Our participation took the form of a series of workshops devoted to the Group's various activities, as well as a press conference given by Finmeccanica's President-CEO Pier Francesco Guarguaglini for an audience made up of the leading Japanese and international press agencies; a display area for the Group's main products and systems at the Conrad Tokyo Hotel; and a Gala evening with a concert by the orchestra of the "Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia" at the Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall, followed by a reception.
 
The five workshops involved Italian and Japanese speakers chosen from the academic, institutional and industrial fields as well as members of the Finmeccanica management. The workshops focused on the following themes:
 
- "The evolution of energy sector: new products, new technologies and new markets"
- " The use of helicopters in "Disaster Relief" situations: operating problems and technological solutions"
- "Finmeccanica's Earth observation activity through the combined use of optical technology and radar"
- " Technological co-operation: experiences and opportunities for Finmeccanica in Japan"
- " New areas for co-operation in the Defence industry"
 
In particular, the first workshop on 28 June dealing with energy was moderated by R. Maali, Commercial Director Ansaldo Energia, with presentations by Takao Kashiwagi, Tokyo Institute of Technology (The Evolution of Energy Demand: Growing Needs in a Changing World), Richard Maali (Technological Trends and Market Change in Power Generation), Yoshiaki Tsukuda, SVP, Deputy Gen. Manager, Power Systems H/Q, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (The Power Generation Market and Technological Innovation), Haruhiko Ando, Dir. of Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Promotion Off. and Dir. of New and Renewable Energy Div. METI (Prospects in the Fuel Cell Sector), Kazuaki Mori, Sumitomo Corporation (Market prospects and technological evolution in the new and renewable energy sector).
 
The same day, the second workshop focused on the helicopter sector, moderated by Toshi KANEHIRA, General Manager, Marubeni Aerospace. Mr. KANEHIRA made the first presentation (Overview, market size and future forecasts for disaster relief/emergency services in Japan). Next up was Roberto GARAVAGLIA, VP Product Marketing - Civil Business, AgustaWestland (Introduction to AgustaWestland Company, Products and Customer Support, followed by a discussion of the technologies we have developed and introduced in response to needs within Europe for Disaster Relief, Fire-fighting, SAR and EMS - AW139 and Grand). The following presentations were those of MAJ. General JGSDF (RET) Mineharu YAMANE, Advisor, FHI Aerospace Company (Interaction between the emergency services in Japan and the specific role of JGSDF in disaster relief in Japan - Operational examples from Japan and overseas, with an overview of the organizational and operational challenges), Yoshihiro KOUKETSU, Commander, Aviation unit Aichi Prefectural Disaster Prevention Department (Civil Government use of helicopters for disaster management and fire-fighting operations in Japan), Kuniyoshi MASHIKO, Chiba Medical University Hospital (Introduction to Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) operations in Japan; Current operations, recent changes in legislation, and future needs and growth plans for the service), Alan POTTER, Business Development Manager, AgustaWestland (EH101 SAR, Civil Protection, Disaster Relief - Capabilities and international experience), Naomi ITO, Head of Aviation Management Office, Guard and Rescue, Japan Coast Guard (Use of helicopters and Patrol Vessels for rescue and civil protection roles; Operational challenges and future strategies).
 
The following day opened with a workshop on Space, moderated by Marco Lupo, Head of Project Office Marketing and Commercial Affairs, with presentations by M. Maranesi, CEO E-GEOS (EO applications for security: rapid mapping and near real time monitoring), Yasushi Horikawa, Exec. Dir., Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) (Future requirements for the Japanese market), Paolo Salvato Vice President Strategy & Business Development (From Cosmo SkyMed to future SAR missions), Yoichi Kamiyama, Mitsubishi Corp., General Manager, Ship, Aerospace & Transportation Systems Division (Participation from a Japanese Company).
 
The second workshop of the day, devoted to technological co-operation, was moderated by Giuseppe Pezzotti, Professor Ceramics & Physics Lab, Kyoto Inst. Of Technology, and included presentations by Marina Grossi, Managing Director, Selex Sistemi Integrati (FINMECCANICA Technological Excellences in Electronics and Large Systems Integration), Yuuko Yasunaga, Director Res. and Dev. Div. , Ind. Science and Tech. Policy and Envir. Bureau METI (Technological Trends in the Japanese Industries: Scenarios for a Cooperation in Innovation), A. Sarti, SVP Technical Dep., Finmeccanica (The Policy of Japan in High Technology (The R&D activities of the Finmeccanica Group: Programs, Sectors of Interest and a Culture of Innovation), Keiichi Shiotani, Head, Monodzukuri Techn., Infrastr.and Frontier Research Unit, NISTEP Head Monodzukuri Technology, Infrastructure and Frontier Research Unit, Science and Technology Foresight Center,NISTEP, MEXT (The Policy of Japan in High Technology), Luciano Berardi, Vice Director Engineering, Alenia Aeronautica (High Technology Partnerships in the Field of Aeronautics: the Boeing 787 Program and the Eurofighter Program), Hidetugu Horikawa, VP Engin. and 787 Prog., Kawasaki H.I. Aerosp. Comp. (Technological Cooperation in the Japanese Aerospace Industry).
 
The third and last workshop of the day was devoted to the Defence sector, moderated by G. Maresca, SVP Marketing & Comm. Affairs, Finmeccanica, followed by a welcome address from Ambassador Mario Bova, Italian ambassador in Japan, and by the introduction of Hon. Shigeru Ishiba, former Japanese minister of Defence, with presentations by Pier Francesco Guarguaglini, President-CEO of Finmeccanica (Product and Market Strategies for Finmeccanica Group on the International Markets for Defense), YASUE Masahiro, Dir. General, Techn. Research and Devel. Inst., Min. of Defense (Japanese Defence), Giuseppe Orsi, Managing Director AgustaWestland (Collaboration between AgustaWestland and Kavasaky on EH101 programme), Tatsuo Sato, Corporate Advisor Mitsubishi Corp. (The Evolution of the Japanese Defense Industry), Stefano Silvestri, President of IAI -International Affairs Institute - (The Benefits of Cooperation in Today's Defense Industry), Hirofumi Katase, Director Aerospace & Defense Industry Division METI (Aerospace and Defence Industry in Japan) and the conclusions of Shiro Takegami, Chief Dep. Dir., Sec. Export Control Policy Div., Trade and Econ. Coop. Bureau, METI.
 
All the workshops enjoyed notable success, with considerable participation from the political-institutional world and Japanese industry. The latter, in particular, dedicated to the Defence sector, created strong interest, also in light of the recent creation of a Ministry of Defence in Japan, the establishment of which was made possible by a modification of the Japanese constitution which had banned the existence of such a ministry after the signing of the peace treaty in 1945.
 
Within this initiative, and the customary union between technology and culture that distinguishes Finmeccanica, the group also promoted a series of eight concerts in eight different Japanese cities by the orchestra of the "Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia", with a repertoire that ranged from Paganini to Respighi and Mahler. One of the eight concerts took place during the Finmeccanica gala evening, Saturday 30 June, at the Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall. Conducted by maestro Antonio Pappano, for the first time in Japan, and with the splendid execution of a solo by the very young Japanese violinist, Sayaka Shoji, the orchestra enthralled an audience of more than 1,600, including more than 200 Finmeccanica guests. The performance was rewarded with enthusiastic applause and requests for four encores which were willingly granted.

The concert was followed by a reception on the 54th floor of the Tokyo Opera City Tower. In the presence of the numerous guests, Mr Guarguaglini, Ambassador Bova and the Vice-Minister of METI, Takao Kitabata toasted the success of the event, thanking and paying homage to maestro Pappano and violinist Shoji for the magnificent concert. Subsequently, Ambassador Bova and Mr. Guarguaglini thanked the Japanese dignitaries for attending. To cite only a few: Adm. Takashi Saito, chief of staff of the Japanese Defence Ministry's Joint Staff Office, Morio Ito, Deputy Director General, Technical Research and Development Institute at the Defence Ministry, Lt. Gen. Noboru YAMAGUCHI, Director General, Ground Research & Development Command, Ground Self-Defence Force at the Ministry of Defence, Lt Gen Kazushige IZUMI, Vice Chief of Staff, Joint Staff Office Ministry of Defence, Masaru TSUJI, Director General for International Affairs at Ministry of Defence, Masao HOSOYA, Director of Aircraft Division, Logistics Department, Maritime Staff Office at the Ministry of Defence, KIKUKAWA Tadatsugu, Director, Logistics Department, Air Staff Office at Ministry of Defence, Michio ISHII, President, National Institute for Defence Studies at Ministry of Defence, Masahiro Yasue, Director General, Technical Research and Development Institute at Ministry of Defence, Eiichi FUKAMI, Vice Commandant for Operations of the Japan Coast Guard, Yuuko Yasunaga, Director, Research and Development Division at METI, Yutaka KAWASHIMA, Grand Master of Ceremonies of Imperial Household Agency, Hiroharu Itahara, General Manager International Affairs Division (Society of Japanese Aerospace Companies), Masayoshi Yamazaki, CEO Kaigai Aviotech Corp., Atsushi Yasukawa Managing Director, Aero Asahi Corporation, Yukinori TOGO, Maritime Self-Defence Force, Shiro Takegami, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), Hirotsugu Ota, CEO of Japan Association of Defence Industry, Michihiko Ota, Corporate Vice President, COO of Marubeni Corporation, Shinichi Suzuki, Vice president of Kawasaki Heavy Industry, Akihiro YAMAURA, General Manager Mitsubishi Corporation, Shoichi UENO, owner of the largest Japanese newspaper, Asashi Shinbun News. Among the Italian institutions present, we would like to mention Prof. Bruno Cagli, President - Superintendent of the "Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia", Archbishop Mons. Alberto Bottari De Castello, Apostolic nuncio in Tokyo, Umberto Donati, Director of the Italian Cultural Institute, Federico Balmas, Director of the Foreign Trade Institute office in Tokyo, and the staff of the Italian embassy in Tokyo.

The "Italian Spring in Japan" was an initiative of the Italian embassy in Japan in collaboration with the Institute for Foreign Trade, the National Tourism Agency, the Italian Cultural Institute, the Italian Chamber of Commerce and the Bank of Italy, with the support of public and private sponsors, both Italian and Japanese, including Finmeccanica. The initiative took the form of a series of more than 200 events between March and June to promote all sectors of Made in Italy, from high technology to fashion, from cuisine to culture - in other words, Italian excellence in the 21st century.
 
"Italian Spring in Japan" followed in the wake of the initiatives realised in the past five years ("Italy in Japan 2001", the "Italian Festival Tokyo Dome 2005", "Italian Exhibition Hall at the EXPO in Aichi 2005"), that testify to Italy's commitment to intensify relations with Japan also on a political level.
 
In the specific sphere of high technology, Finmeccanica's participation in the event was centred on the symposiums and meetings on nanotechnology, energy, technology for Defence and Homeland security, aerospace and the prevention of natural disasters.
 
Photogallery Finmeccanica Meets Japan