Events to look out for
Nanotechnology Mission to Japan – 29 January – 1 February 2019, Japan. The EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation will bring European small companies and Cluster representatives to participate at the International Nanotechnology Exhibition and Conference in Tokyo. During the three-day fair, participants will attend B2B meetings and meet with Japanese visitors and industry stakeholders. Applications are open until 4 October 2018.
Funds available
EUR 15 million of EU financing for micro-entrepreneurs in Latvia. The European Investment Fund (EIF) and ALTUM, a state-owned development institution in Latvia, have signed a microfinance guarantee agreement. Micro-entrepreneurs will now be able to benefit from loans at a reduced interest rate with lower collateral requirements under this EU supported programme. The new guarantee agreement allows ALTUM to provide loans to 600 micro-entrepreneurs over the next three years across Latvia.
EU policies for better business
International data flows: European Commission launches the adoption of adequacy decision on Japan. Following the conclusion of the EU-Japan talks on personal data protection in July 2018, the Commission launched last week the procedure for the adoption of its adequacy decision. This procedure means additional safeguards that Japan will apply to EU personal data transferred to Japan, as well as commitments regarding access to personal data by Japanese public authorities for law enforcement and national security purposes, guaranteeing that their level of data protection is adequate to that of the EU's.