Cross U Expands Cooperation with Leading Space Organizations in the U.S. and Europe
International cooperation in the space business accelerates further from our base in Nihonbashi
Joint statement with Florida’s Space Florida and MOU with Europe’s largest research organization, Fraunhofer INT, announced
October 28, 2025
Cross U
Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd.
TOKYO — Japanese developer Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Takashi Ueda; hereinafter “Mitsui Fudosan”) and Japan’s space business platform Cross U (Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President: Shinichi Nakasuka, Professor, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo; hereinafter “Cross U”), a Tokyo-based general incorporated association established with space sector players from industry, government, and academia, issued a joint statement on October 28 to strengthen cooperation with the State of Florida and Space Florida, Florida’s space industry development agency. The statement was announced at Nihonbashi Space Week 2025, one of the largest space business-related events in Asia. On the same day, Cross U also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Fraunhofer -Gesellschaft (Fraunhofer), Europe’s largest applied science and technology research organization, to promote cooperation in the space sector.
Including this joint statement and MOU signing, Cross U has now formed partnerships with 13 overseas space organizations, further accelerating international cooperation in the space business from our base in Nihonbashi. Going forward, Cross U will strengthen its relationship with these organizations while aiming to promote collaboration between domestic and overseas companies in the space field and create joint projects to promote entry into the sector from non-space fields.
■Joint statement issued with the State of Florida and space industry development agency Space Florida
Space Florida is an independent financing and development organization that serves as the central agency for aerospace industry promotion in Florida, providing multifaceted support including spaceport infrastructure investment, research and development, workforce development, and funding. Cross U and Space Florida signed an MOU in April 2025, establishing a foundation for deepening cooperation between the Japanese and U.S. space industries. This joint statement was issued based on discussions at the “U.S.-Japan (Florida) Space Industry Roundtable” held in Nihonbashi on October 27, 2025. Cross U, Space Florida, SelectFlorida, and Florida Commerce confirmed their commitment to strengthen cooperation in the rapidly growing international space economy. Specifically, the four parties agreed to promote collaboration in the following four areas:
Agreement details contained in the joint statement:
- Spaceport cooperation: Exploring the operation of spaceports between Japan and Florida, as well as the sharing and mutual utilization of expertise
- Cooperation between industries: Creating new business opportunities through business matching and joint projects between companies and startups
- Investment and fundraising: Promoting investment in the space business by utilizing funding support programs in Japan and Florida
- Research and educational exchange: Developing the next generation through joint research and workforce exchange with universities and research institutions
(Full text of the joint statement) https://www.crossu.org/20251027it/
■MOU signed with Fraunhofer , Europe’s largest applied science and technology research organization
The MOU is signed to establish a collaboration between CrossU and Fraunhofer INT, which serves as the host institution for Fraunhofer AVIATION & SPACE, representing all Institutes of Europe’s leading applied research network specializing in the aerospace field.
Through this MOU, Cross U will further promote cooperation among research institutions, startups, and companies in both Japan and Europe through its partnership with Fraunhofer INT, accelerating the creation of new innovation and the formation of an international industrial ecosystem.
Through this MOU, Cross U will further promote cooperation among research institutions, startups, and companies in both Japan and Europe through its partnership with Fraunhofer, accelerating the creation of new innovation and the formation of an international industrial ecosystem.
Commenting on these new partnerships, Cross U President Shinichi Nakasuka said, “This new cooperation with the State of Florida, Space Florida, and Fraunhofer represents a major step forward in enabling Japan’s space industry to forge closer ties with the U.S. and Europe and produce tangible results across a wide range of fields, from research to commercialization. Cross U will continue to promote international cooperation from our base in Nihonbashi and develop an ecosystem where diverse players, from startups to large corporations to research institutions, come together.”
Cross U’s Partnerships with Overseas Space Organizations
Including this MOU signing with Fraunhofer INT, Cross U has now formed partnerships with 13 overseas space organizations and agencies. Going forward, Cross U will further accelerate international cooperation and develop an international exchange platform for the space business from its base in Nihonbashi.
- December 2023: MOU signed with Australian deep tech incubator Cicada Innovations
Cross U signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with an incubator specializing in deep tech based in Sydney, Australia. It is the organization responsible for operating the National Space Industry Hub, Australia's space industry hub, and promotes collaboration and exchange between Japan and Australia. - November 2024: Partnerships signed with three leading organizations in the European space industry
Cross U signed a Letter of Intention (LOI) with the European Space Agency (ESA) to promote cooperation in the space sector. Additionally, Cross U signed Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with The National Centre for Space Studies (CNES) in France and Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in the United Kingdom. - April 2025: MOU signed with Space Florida, a leading global space industry hub
Cross U signed an MOU with Space Florida, Florida’s space industry development agency, to promote cooperation between the Japanese and U.S. space industries. Through collaboration with this organization, which has strengths in funding support and spaceport infrastructure investment, Cross U is expanding the foundation for Japanese companies to expand into the U.S. and promoting exchange. - June 2025: MOU signed with Innovation Agency Lithuania
Cross U signed an MOU with Innovation Agency Lithuania, expanding cooperation with the Central and Eastern European region. The agency is a public organization responsible for industrial and technological development, and plays a role in connecting Japan with emerging European markets through startup support and research exchange. - August 2025: MOUs signed with African countries where space technology applications are anticipated
Cross U signed MOUs with five African organizations (Ghana’s Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation; the Embassy of Ethiopia in Japan; the Embassy of Sudan in Japan; the Zimbabwe National Geospatial and Space Agency; and the Institut National Polytechnique Félix Houphouët-Boigny of Côte d’Ivoire), launching new international cooperation with the African region. - October 2025: Joined the Asia-Pacific Alliance of Space Technology Associations (AASTA) as the only member organization from Japan
Cross U signed an MOU with Singapore Space & Technology Think Tank (SST Think Tank), a space industry organization in Singapore, and officially joined the “Asia-Pacific Alliance of Space Technology Associations (AASTA)” led by that organization. As the only member organization from Japan, Cross U will promote industry collaboration and support for international expansion in the Asia-Pacific region.
Furthermore, Cross U is scheduled to sign an MOU with the Nigerian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Japan regarding the promotion of international cooperation at "NIHONBASHI SPACE WEEK 2025" on October 29th. We will work toward international collaboration with Nigeria, which aims to develop a global space industry, including announcing plans to become the first African nation to achieve manned spaceflight by 2030.
About Cross U
https://www.crossu.org/
Cross U is a space industry co-creation platform established in September 2022 and started operation in April 2023 by Mitsui Fudosan and other players in the space sector with the aim of revitalizing space industries. The number of Cross U special members has grown to more than 330 (as of October 2025) in the two years since operations began, making it one of the largest space business communities in Japan, operating from its base in Nihonbashi.
The space industry encompasses a very broad range of sectors, including not only space-related businesses such as research and projects for global sustainability and deep space exploration that opens new horizons for humanity, but also various technology fields created in the process. While the development of these technologies is expected to contribute to solving challenges facing all of humanity, co-creation among space industry players is essential for further development of the space sector.
In addition to providing a "place" and operating a "community," Mitsui Fudosan and Cross U aim to create an open co-creation platform that, together with domestic international space-related players from industry, government, and academia, promote not only existing space industry players, but also entry into the space industry by non-space companies. By collaborating with many players across industries and sectors both domestically and internationally, we aim to revitalize the global space industry from our base in Nihonbashi and promote a sustainable society by using space technology to help solve issues facing the world.
(Reference)
Press release on the establishment of Cross U:
https://www.mitsuifudosan.co.jp/corporate/news/2023/0213/
Sustainability in the Mitsui Fudosan Group
Based on the meaning of its “& mark,” “to generate new value with society through cooperation, coexistence and co-creation, we forge ahead, innovating,” the Mitsui Fudosan Group views the “creation of social value” and the “creation of economic value” as two wheels of a cart. Accordingly, we believe that the creation of social value leads to the creation of economic value, and that this economic value then creates even greater social value.
Moreover, we identified six Group Materiality priority issues when formulating our new management philosophy in April 2024. These Group Materiality priority issues are (1) Contribute to industrial competitiveness, (2) Coexist with the environment, (3) Health and Vitality, (4) Safety and security, (5) Diversity and inclusion, and (6) Compliance and governance. The Mitsui Fudosan Group will work to address each of the materialities through its core business activities and contribute to the promotion of sustainability.
(References)
・ Group Management Philosophy and Long-Term Vision
https://www.mitsuifudosan.co.jp/english/corporate/innovation2030/
・ Group Materiality
https://www.mitsuifudosan.co.jp/english/esg_csr/approach/materiality/