10th edition of biennial awards to acknowledge Japanese companies making impact in the Netherlands
On Monday 8 December, 2025, the Deshima Netherlands Awards for 2025 were announced. Ms Hilde van der Meer, Commissioner Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA), presented the awards which are given jointly by NFIA and the Dutch-Japanese Trade Federation DUJAT to acknowledge Japanese companies that are making a positive contribution to sustainability, society and Japan-Netherlands relations.
The award in the category ‘well-established’ was presented to Toray Advanced Composites. The award for new company was given to Nikon BioImaging Lab.
The other nominated companies in the category ‘well-established’ were Certis Belchim and MN Seafood Connection. In the category ‘newcomer’, the two nominated companies were JCR Europe and Sumitomo Heavy Industries.
The awards presentation took place during the annual reception of DUJAT in the Netherlands. It was the 10th edition of the biennial event.
Award for well-established company for Toray Advanced Composites
Toray Advanced Composites is a global leader in advanced materials, including fibers, textiles, resins, films, and carbon fiber composites. It serves aerospace, satellite and communications, space exploration, high-performance automotive, motorsport, and industrial markets. Toray also supports tooling, adhesives, and composite parts via its CCS business unit.
Toray Advanced Composites Netherlands B.V. (TACNL) represents a powerful synergy between Japanese innovation and Dutch ingenuity, driving forward regional economic growth, community development, and international collaboration.
Since the acquisition of TenCate Advanced Composites in 2018 by Japan’s Toray Group, the largest Carbon fiber supplier in the world, Nijverdal has become a pivotal location for high-value composite production. Toray’s commitment to the region is evident through consistent investment in jobs and infrastructure. It’s manufacturing site provides employment for over 170 employees in advanced materials, polymer chemistry, engineering and production, directly strengthening the local economy. In 2020, the EU Technical Center was launched in Nijverdal to support mainly the aerospace sector. In 2021, Toray Japan’s Composite Materials Research Laboratory further amplified regional R&D collaboration with institutions like the University of Twente and the ThermoPlastic composites Research Center (TPRC).
Societal and Environmental Contributions
TACNL champions sustainable innovation. In early 2024, the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) program was launched—allowing customers to evaluate the full carbon footprint of Toray Cetex thermoplastic composites, aligning with strict ISO standards and CO₂ reduction goals. By advancing lightweight materials for aircraft and satellites, TACNL actively contributes to emission reduction across global transportation sectors.
Internally, Toray fosters a dynamic, empowering work culture, with over 8 different nationalities united in Nijverdal. Employees are encouraged to innovate and grow, forming part of a truly international team that values expertise and creativity.
Toray’s involvement goes beyond business. Four highly specialized Japanese R&D researchers are seconded in Nijverdal, contributing to immediate and medium -term cutting-edge innovation while nurturing cross-cultural bonds. The company is deeply embedded in the Dutch innovation ecosystem alongside the University of Twente, Fraunhofer Institute, Royal Netherlands Aerospace Centre (NLR), and the TPRC. This partnership approach—so typical of the Netherlands—benefits both nations, driving forward advances in thermoplastic composites and sustainable manufacturing.
Award for well established company to Nikon BioImaging Lab
Nikon Corporation is a Japanese multinational headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, and is one of the world’s most renowned manufacturers of optics and imaging products. The Imaging Products segment is a key part of Nikon’s identity, producing high-performance digital cameras and lenses, with a strong focus on mirrorless systems for professionals.
In September 2021, Nikon expanded its presence in the Dutch life sciences ecosystem by opening the Nikon BioImaging Lab (NBIL) in Leiden, within the Leiden Bio Science Park—Nikon’s first in Europe and one of Europe’s leading biomedical innovation hubs.
Since its founding, NBIL has pioneered cutting-edge imaging solutions that accelerate R&D for global clients, combining state-of-the-art technology with deep biological expertise. Its pioneering character is evident in its unique service offerings, scalable lab design, and technology transfer capabilities that enable clients to move from research to clinical application faster and more efficiently.
NBIL has become a platform for start-ups, larger companies, and academic institutions, offering access to advanced imaging technologies and image analysis platforms that are often too complex or cost-prohibitive to implement in-house. A number of Dutch and European start-ups and research groups have progressed their discoveries through NBIL’s pipelines, in some cases, shortening timelines to preclinical validation and reducing the need for animal testing. NBIL has also partnered with leading universities and companies to develop new imaging pipelines, translating cutting-edge technologies into practical solutions for the life sciences sector.
Corporate social responsibility
NBIL delivers measurable impact on the Dutch economy; its activities have created high-value jobs in R&D, operations, and business development, while its collaborations with local biotech and pharma companies stimulate knowledge transfer and long-term growth.
NBIL is also committed to sustainability by implementing environmentally conscious lab practices, such as reducing single-use plastics, minimizing lab waste, and investing in energy-efficient equipment, we contribute to global initiatives. It also supports The Ocean Movement in their mission to reduce plastic pollution. NBIL recently helped capture high-resolution images of microplastics, demonstrating how science and sustainability can work together to create tangible impact.
NBIL embodies the spirit of the Deshima Awards by strengthening the ties between Japan and the Netherlands, fostering collaboration, innovation, and shared values across continents.
Deshima Netherlands Awards for companies contributing to economy and society
The Deshima Netherlands Awards were established in 2007 by the Dutch-Japanese Trade Federation DUJAT and the NFIA as a token of appreciation to the Japanese business community in the Netherlands. The biennial awards are given to two Japanese companies in the Netherlands that make a positive contribution to the economy, society and Japan-Netherlands relations. One award is presented to a well-established Japanese company, and the other to a Japanese company that has recently located in the Netherlands.
The Deshima Awards reflect the long history of trade relations between Japan and the Netherlands. They are named after the Japanese island of Deshima which was a Dutch trading post from 1641 to 1854.
Previous winners of the Well-Established Awards:
- FUJIFILM Europe (2007)
- Teijin Group in the Netherlands (2009)
- Astellas Pharma (2011)
- Canon (2013)
- Omron (2015)
- Kikkoman (2017)
- Yakult (2019)
- Kubota Holdings Europe (2021)
- Yanmar Europe / ELEO (2023)
Previous winners of the Newcomer Awards:
- Hitachi Construction Machinery (2007)
- Sekisui S-Lec (2009)
- Menicon (2011)
- Kobelco Construction Machinery Europe (2013)
- Omori-Selo (2015)
- Mitsubishi Corporation Life Sciences (2017)
- MM Metal Recycling (2019)
- ACE (Mitsui Prime Advanced Composites Europe) (2021)
- Sekisui Design Studio (2023)