Autodesk Launches Clean Tech Partner Program in Japan

By DE Editors

Autodesk, Inc. has announced the expansion of its Clean Tech Partner Program to Japan. The Japan program marks the first step in a planned expansion into Asia Pacific. The Autodesk Clean Tech Partner Program provides digital prototyping software to clean technology companies, with the goal of accelerating innovation and addressing some of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges.

The program is open to all early-stage clean tech companies in Japan and has an initial focus on the electric vehicle market. SIM-Drive and Nano-Optonics Energy are the first Japanese companies to have joined the Autodesk Clean Tech Partner Program. SIM-Drive develops in-wheel motors for electric vehicles. Nano-Optonics Energy is a nanotechnology, environment and energy research and development company.

Autodesk defines the clean tech industry as companies engaged in developing products or services to address the causes of environmental problems through technology and related business models.

“As the world’s fifth largest emitter of greenhouse gases,  Japan is committed to being a part of the solution to this global challenge,”  says Morio Kizawa, president of Autodesk Japan. “Japanese companies are redefining themselves through environmental leadership. For example, Japan accounts for 70% of the electric vehicle patents filed globally. The Autodesk Clean Tech Partner Program aims to help Japanese clean tech entrepreneurs create a more sustainable world. It enables companies to accelerate innovation and bring their unique technologies to the global market, while reducing costs and development time.”

The Autodesk Clean Tech Partner Program supports early-stage clean technology companies by providing design and engineering software that helps them accelerate their development of solutions to environmental challenges. Each Autodesk Clean Tech Partner in Japan will receive up to 22 million JPY of design software for only 10,500 JPY.

For complete program information, including application process details for the Clean Tech software grant in Japan, visit Autodesk.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.