Review of our participation at the EXPO 2025 in Osaka

A successful journey comes to an end

The EXPO 2025 world exhibition in Osaka was not just a major international event for us at Selmo, it was a strategic milestone. We were one of the few Austrian companies to represent Austria at the EXPO and present our solution to an audience of millions.

The Austrian Federal Economic Chamber made this participation possible by selecting innovative companies through a selection process. These companies were given the opportunity to present themselves in the Austria Pavilion on the EXPO grounds. The design of the pavilion was inspired by music. As well as serving as an exhibition space, it also functioned as a central stage for events and exchanges.

The EXPO presence was accompanied by a high-ranking conference led by Federal Minister Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer, together with Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen and WKÖ Vice President Philipp Gady. Our CEO, Markus Gruber, was part of the delegation at Austria's National Day, where he represented Selmo to politicians, businesspeople and industry leaders.

Credit: Expo Austria

Our industry event: future technology from Austria takes center stage

The highlight of the year was our industry event in October, which we organised in the Austrian pavilion in collaboration with the company, ANDRITZ.

Around 30 companies took part, including global industry giants such as HIRATA and AGC.

"Our technology is not only made in Austria - it is ready for the global market," says CEO Markus Gruber.

In discussions with decision-makers, it became clear that Japanese companies are keeping a very close eye on developments in Europe, particularly with regard to upcoming regulatory requirements such as the EU Machinery Regulation, Data Act and cyber resilience. This is precisely the area in which Selmo is attracting interest, as we provide a solution to these new legal requirements.

Business development on site: from Osaka to Kumamoto

However, the EXPO was just one part of our broader Japan strategy. Parallel to our appearance, we traveled across the country several times, from Osaka to Tokyo to Kumamoto, to further expand our business unit in Japan.  Through personal discussions with our partners and leading companies, we were able to initiate specific projects and gain valuable cultural experience.

The EXPO provided us with a platform, opened doors for us and acted as an accelerator. It demonstrated the importance of Austria having an international presence with concrete content and innovations.

'We didn't just present our solution — we showcased Austria as a leading technology hub.'
- Markus Gruber, CEO Selmo

Personal impressions from Japan

In addition to the exciting discussions, one thing in particular has stayed with us: experiencing Japan in all its diversity.

Each city, whether Kumamoto, Tokyo or Osaka, had its own character. We were equally impressed by the Japanese hospitality and the culinary experience, which included everything from ramen and sushi to regional specialities.

Japan also impressed us with its landscapes. It is a truly diverse country that is definitely worth a visit.

About EXPO 2025

EXPO 2025 took place from 13 April to 13 October 2025 in Osaka, Japan, under the motto 'Designing Future Society for Our Lives'. Over 160 countries were represented, with more than 28 million visitors expected.