Kansai Aircraft Industry Platform NEXT
Last update：April 30, 2026
About the Kansai Aircraft Industry Platform NEXT
With the aim of making the aircraft industry one of the pillars of next-generation industry in the
Kansai region, METI-Kansai has established the Kansai Aircraft Industry Platform NEXT, which brings
together major, medium-sized and small companies, industrial support organizations, financial
institutions, research institutions, universities and local authorities, and is run by a joint
secretariat of the Kansai Economic Federation and the New Industry Research Organization.
This platform promotes the creation of opportunities to enter the aircraft industry (matching,
dispatch of experts, etc.) and the construction and strengthening of supply chains, including the
establishment of QCD systems, for aircraft-related companies in the Kansai region and companies
aiming to enter the aircraft industry, as well as the dissemination of new technologies such as
electrification, hydrogen energy, lightweighting and innovative manufacturing technologies in line
with green trends.
Directions for 2026
Since the redefinition of the mission of our 'Kansai Aircraft Industry
Platform NEXT' in FY2022, the environment surrounding the industry has
also changed.
Passenger demand, which bottomed out during the COVID-19 pandemic, returned
to pre-COVID-19 levels in 2024, and the aircraft industry has been on a
recovery path, particularly in engine-related businesses.
In addition, further opportunities for taking on new challenges are expected, driven by factors such as efforts toward carbon neutrality; synergies with emerging industries such as flying cars, as well as related industries including defense and space; and the expansion of overseas business supported by the easing of restrictions on international transportation.
On the other hand, for companies engaged in the aircraft industry to seize
these opportunities and enjoy the fruits of growth, it is considered essential
to enhance production capacity and establish core competencies across the
entire supply chain through capital investment, as well as the recruitment
and development of human resouces.
Therefore, in FY2026, the focus will be on initiatives to address labor
shortages, including workforce recruitment and development as well as support
for labor‑saving initiatives, which remain ongoing challenges among the
existing initiatives. In particular, with regard to workforce development,
consideration will be given to necessary support measures, such as training
programs that contribute to in‑house human resource development within
companies.
Previous initiatives
●Initiatives in 2009-2015：「Kansai International Aircraft Market Entry Support Project」
●Initiatives in 2016-2018：「Kansai Aircraft Industry Platform」
●Initiatives since 2019：「Kansai Aircraft Industry Platform NEXT」
List of related links
- METI(Aircrafat Industry)
- The Society of Japanese Aerospace Companies(SJAC)
- Japanese Aero Engines Corporation(JAEC)
- Japan Aircraft Development Corporation(JADC)
- Japan Aeronautic Association(JAA)
- Japan Aeronautical Engineers' Association(JAEA)
- The Nationwide Network of Aircraft Manufacturing Clusters(NAMAC)
- The Japanese Society for Non-Destructive Inspection(NANDTB-Japan)
- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency(JAXA)
- Aircraft Industry Non-Destructive Testing Training Centre
【Kansai Aircraft Industry Platform NEXT Joint secretariat】
For enquiries about this page, please contact
Manufacturing Industries Division, METI-Kansai
Address：1－5－44, Ohtemae, Chuo-ku, Osaka 540-8535
TEL：06-6966-6022
Email：bzl-kin-aviation@meti.go.jp
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