CLAIR Paris

What CLAIR Paris does

CLAIR Paris (一般財団法人自治体国際化協会パリ事務所 / Centre Japonais des Collectivités Locales) is the Paris-based European overseas office of the Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR), a Japanese general incorporated foundation established in 1988 by Japanese local governments and headquartered in Tokyo. The office was opened in 1990 and operates from 10 rue de la Paix, 75002 Paris, with a staff of 6, serving as the European hub for Japanese municipal internationalization across eight countries: France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Monaco.

The organization's service portfolio centers on international exchange facilitation rather than commercial product delivery. Core programs include the JET (Japan Exchange and Teaching) Programme, which recruits French-speaking international exchange coordinators for placement in Japanese municipalities; sister city exchange coordination; the annual "Tradition and Innovation" exhibition series (now in its 14th edition), which showcases Japanese local crafts in European markets; activity support and logistics for Japanese officials traveling to Europe; commissioned research on European local administration systems; overseas municipal executive training seminars (ministage programs); the quarterly French-language é-CLAIR newsletter; and the Japan-EU Regional Cooperation Help Desk, jointly operated with CEEJA and JIECC since January 2021 to support industrial matchmaking. There is no proprietary technology platform; the organization functions as a coordinating, research, and relationship-building body.

CLAIR Paris is funded through its parent CLAIR foundation via membership contributions from Japanese local governments and Japanese government subsidies. All core services are provided free of charge to Japanese municipalities; revenue is not commercially generated and is not publicly disclosed. The organization's primary customer segment is Japanese local governments (municipalities and prefectures), which simultaneously serve as founders, members, and funders. Distribution relies on direct liaison at the Paris office, coordination with the Tokyo headquarters and CLAIR's six other overseas offices (New York, London, Singapore, Seoul, Sydney, Beijing), the JET coordinator network, and recurring physical events and webinars across Europe.

Name

CLAIR Paris

Legal name

一般コラー団法人自治体国際化協会パリ事務所 (Centre Japonais des Collectivités Locales : CLAIR Paris)

Website

https://clairparis.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CLAIR Paris is the European overseas office of Japan's Council of Local Authorities for International Relations, serving as a non-profit hub that coordinates Japanese local government internationalization across eight European countries through the JET program, sister-city exchanges, exhibitions, and research.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Government Relations and Municipal Exchange Services

NAICS

International Affairs (928120), National Security and International Affairs (928), International Affairs (92812)

SIC

Foreign Governments (8888), International Affairs (9721), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Multilateral Diplomacy & International Representation (UN, Regional Bodies) (BPAIAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Protocol, State Visits & Diplomatic Events Management (BPAIAIAJ)

Keywords

• International exchange services
• Sister city programs
• JET program coordination
• Municipal research services
• International exhibition hosting

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership contributions and government subsidies: CLAIR (the parent organization, Council of Local Authorities for International Relations) is a general incorporated foundation (一般財団法人) established through joint organization of Japanese local governments. Its primary funding comes from membership contributions from Japanese local government members and government subsidies, supporting its activities including overseas office operations, the JET program, training for municipal staff, international exchange programs, and research on local administration systems worldwide.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CLAIR Paris is the European hub office of Japan's Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR), providing coordination, research, information dissemination, and relationship-building services for Japanese local governments engaged in international activities across eight European countries. Its portfolio includes administering the JET Program for French-speaking international exchange personnel, facilitating sister city partnerships, hosting the annual 'Tradition and Innovation' exhibition to promote Japanese local products, conducting commissioned research on European local administration, supporting Japanese municipal officials visiting Europe, and organizing webinars and seminars on Japan-Europe regional cooperation.

Product overview

CLAIR Paris operates as the Paris office of the Japan-based Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR), functioning as a non-profit governmental organization rather than a commercial product company. Its service portfolio centers on international exchange facilitation for Japanese local governments, comprising the JET Programme for recruiting French international exchange coordinators, sister city exchange programs, the annual 'Tradition and Innovation' exhibition for promoting Japanese crafts in European markets, webinar programs on municipal internationalization, activity support services for Japanese officials in France, commissioned research on European local governance, overseas municipal executive training seminars, the é-CLAIR quarterly newsletter, CLAIR Reports publications, and the Japan-EU Regional Cooperation Help Desk operated jointly with CEEJA. The organization does not offer commercial software products but rather programs and services supporting international exchange and trade promotion.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• JET Program (Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme / JETプログラム) International exchange program that recruits language assistants and international exchange coordinators from France and other countries to serve Japanese local governments.
• Sister City Exchange Program (姉妹都市交流事業) Facilitates partnerships between Japanese municipalities and cities in France and other European countries, including city-to-city exchanges and cooperation agreements.
• Tradition and Innovation Exhibition (「伝統と先端と」展) Annual exhibition showcasing traditional Japanese crafts and industrial techniques applied to modern products, promoting Japanese local government products in European markets. Themes include clothing, food, and housing.
• Activity Support Services (活動支援サービス) Support services for Japanese local government officials' overseas activities including connections to French institutions, logistics support for events, and policy information provision.
• Commissioned Research (依頼調査事業) Research services on local government systems in France and European countries, providing information to Japanese local government officials and international exchange stakeholders.
• Overseas Local Government Executive Exchange Seminar / Ministage Program (海外自治体幹部交流協力セミナー) Short-term training programs where Japanese municipal officials study French local government administrative structures, cultural policies, and public works through on-site visits and internships at French local governments.
• Japan-EU Regional Cooperation Help Desk (日欧地域連携ヘルプデスク) Consultation service (operated jointly with CEEJA) supporting Japanese municipalities in developing industrial cooperation with European regions through webinars, matchmaking events, and information sharing.
• Webinar Programs (ウェビナー事業) Online seminars and webinars on topics related to Japanese local government internationalization, French JET utilization, and regional promotion strategies.

Quantifiable outcome

• Annual exhibition 'Tradition and Advanced' attracts municipalities from across Japan to participate in European markets, with events in Paris, regional French cities, and online.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Japan-EU Industrial Cooperation Center (JIECC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021The Japan-EU Industrial Cooperation Center (established jointly by the EU and Japanese governments) co-organizes the Japan-EU Regional Cooperation Help Desk with CLAIR and CEEJA. JIECC provides policy guidance and coordinates with the European Commission and European Cluster Collaboration Platform (ECCP).
• CEEJA (Centre d'Études Européennes Japon-Allemagne / Alsace European Japan Institute)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2020CLAIR and CEEJA (Alsace European Japan Institute) jointly operate the Japan-EU Regional Cooperation Help Desk, which provides consultation services, webinars, conferences, and matchmaking to facilitate industrial cooperation between Japanese and European regions and clusters. CEEJA is located in Colmar, France, and was established in 2001 by Alsace region, Bas-Rhin department, Colmar city, and local universities.
• bioXclusters Alliance (Germany, France, Italy, Spain)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016The bioXclusters Alliance, comprising BioM (Germany/Bavaria), Lyonbiopôle (France/Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes), bioPmed (Italy/Piedmont), and Biocat (Spain/Catalonia), partners with Osaka Bio Head-Quarter and supports small and medium enterprises in life sciences across Japan and Europe through annual business matching events in Osaka.
• Japanese Local Governments (Members of CLAIR)coreOthers · 1 January 1988CLAIR was established in July 1988 as a joint organization of Japanese local governments to promote internationalization at the regional level. Japanese municipalities and prefectures are both the founders and primary members of the organization, contributing to its funding and receiving its services.
• Vitagora (France)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVitagora is a French food innovation cluster based in Dijon. It has partnered with Kyushu Bio Cluster Council (KBCC) since around 2010, supporting joint product development, trade fair participation, and business matching between Japanese and French companies in the food and agriculture sector. Vitagora opened a Japan office within Kumamoto Prefecture in October 2020.
• Energy Agency Fukushima (EAF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnergy Agency Fukushima (EAF), established by Fukushima Prefecture, has partnered with Energy Agency NRW (Germany/North Rhine-Westphalia) since around 2017 to cooperate in renewable energy, hydrogen technology, and energy innovation. CLAIR Paris has featured this partnership in multiple webinars as a best practice in Japan-Germany regional cooperation.
• UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization)minorOthersWith UNESCO's headquarters located in Paris, CLAIR Paris facilitates opportunities for Japanese local governments to participate in UNESCO-related activities and international conferences held at the organization's Paris headquarters.
• OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development)minorOthersWith OECD's headquarters in Paris, CLAIR Paris connects Japanese local governments with OECD's programs and activities related to regional development and local governance.
• Council of Europe (European Cultural Foundation network)minorOthersThe Council of Europe is headquartered in Strasbourg, France. CLAIR Paris facilitates participation by Japanese local government officials in international conferences and activities organized by the Council of Europe.
• Osaka Bio Head-Quarter (Japan)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOsaka Bio Head-Quarter, supported by the Osaka Prefecture, has partnered with European life science clusters including the bioXclusters Alliance and individual clusters in Germany, France, Italy, and Spain. The partnership includes annual business matching events in Osaka for life sciences companies from both regions, facilitated through the Japan-EU Regional Cooperation Help Desk.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency): Japan's primary government development agency, much larger than CLAIR, also operating overseas offices that represent Japanese public interests abroad. Comparable in its quasi-governmental coordination role, though focused on development cooperation rather than local government exchange.
• EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation: Joint EU-Japan government initiative that supports business and cluster cooperation between the two regions. Comparable to CLAIR Paris's Japan-EU Regional Cooperation Help Desk and Help Desk activities, with broader industrial policy backing.
• Japan Foundation: Japan's official cultural diplomacy organization with overseas offices including Paris, operating programmes that intersect with CLAIR Paris's cultural exchange and sister-city missions. Broader in scope but shares the public-sector bridge model.

Direct peers

• CLAIR London: Sister overseas office of CLAIR covering the UK and Ireland, operating the same mandate of supporting Japanese local governments' international activities. Identical governance, funding model, and service portfolio as CLAIR Paris.
• CLAIR New York: Sister overseas office of CLAIR covering the United States and Canada, providing the same Japanese local government liaison services, JET programme coordination, and exchange support as CLAIR Paris.
• Sister Cities International: US-based non-profit that facilitates sister city and citizen diplomacy partnerships globally. Directly comparable to CLAIR Paris's sister city exchange coordination role, though focused on US municipalities.
• Maison de la Culture du Japon à Paris: Paris-based Japanese cultural institution that hosts exhibitions and cultural events, including CLAIR Paris's 'Tradition and Innovation' exhibition. Comparable in mission of promoting Japanese local culture in France and providing a venue for municipal-level cultural diplomacy.
• CEEJA (Alsace European Japan Institute): French-Japanese bilateral institute based in Colmar that co-operates the Japan-EU Regional Cooperation Help Desk with CLAIR Paris. Directly comparable in mission of Japan-Europe regional cooperation, with overlapping services and joint programming.

Emerging players

• JETAA (Japan Exchange and Teaching Alumni Association): Global alumni network of JET programme participants that CLAIR Paris engages with for community events. While CLAIR Paris manages the active JET pipeline, JETAA represents the alumni side and influences the same talent and exchange ecosystem.

Regional players

• Office for the Promotion of Japanese-language Education / Japan Foundation Paris: Paris-based operations of the Japan Foundation that coordinate Japanese-language and cultural exchange programmes with French and European institutions. Overlaps with CLAIR Paris's language and cultural exchange mission at the regional level.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/clair-paris

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about CLAIR Paris