Join us for our December Luncheon with Mr. Urs Gantner, CEO of VAT Group, as he takes us into the world of Swiss vacuum technology and its global impact. Discover how innovations born in the Rhine Valley have become essential to semiconductor manufacturing, powering the digital age – from AI data centers to precision healthcare. Learn how ultra-high-vacuum solutions are driving breakthroughs across continents and why Japan, as one of the world’s most advanced semiconductor nations, plays a central role in shaping the future of electronics, energy, and science.
For 60 years, Swiss vacuum technology from the Rhine Valley – the home of Heidi – has shaped scientific and industrial progress worldwide. What began with ultra-high-vacuum solutions for CERN and leading research institutions evolved into a technological backbone for the semiconductor industry, the driving force of today’s digital world.
With more than four decades of presence in Japan, one of the world’s most advanced semiconductor nations, our innovations have enabled breakthroughs in wafer fabrication. As global demand accelerates for microchips, renewable energy, and medical technology, our vacuum solutions empower the next wave of innovation: from AI data centers to precision healthcare.
Today, our expertise is also opening new frontiers in energy – from solar to nuclear and fusion – where ultra-pure and extreme high vacuum environments are mission-critical. Building on our heritage of Swiss precision and innovation, we are committed to expanding our footprint in Japan and beyond, supporting customers as they shape the future of electronics, energy, and human health.
What started in the Rhine Valley now drives technological progress across continents, reflecting a Swiss journey from a small alpine region to a global catalyst for science and industry.
| Date: | Monday, December 15, 2025 |
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| Schedule: | 12:00 – 14:00 (D.O. 11:45) |
| Venue: | The Tokyo EDITION @Meeting Studios I-III (2F) 4-1-1 Toranomon, Minato City, Tokyo 105-0001 (MAP) The entrance to the Hotel is shown here |
| Fee: | • Members: JPY 6,500 or 1 SCCIJ voucher 2025 • Non-members: JPY 9,600 |
| Registration: |  *Deadline: December 10, 2025; 12:00 JST.* *Until November 28, registration is prioritized for SCCIJ members. After this date, seats will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.* *No-shows and cancellations after the deadline will be fully charged.* *Please inform us in advance of any dietary restrictions. |
| Concept: | • This event consists in a 3-course lunch followed by a presentation (and Q&A). The setting is ideal for networking. • Participants are typically members of the Swiss-Japanese business community, but non-members are also welcome to join. • Seats are not attributed (free seating). • Dress code is business / business casual. |
| Disclaimer: | • The SCCIJ may film and take photographs of this event. If you participate, please be noted that these pictures and videos may be used in various media, such as the SCCIJ website, SCCIJ social networking sites, and SCCIJ promotional materials. If you do not want to appear on these pictures and/or videos, kindly notify the SCCIJ staff at the event. • The views expressed by the speaker(s) do not reflect those of the SCCIJ as an organization. |
| Inquiries: | By e-mail to info@sccij.jp |
Biography of the Speaker
Mr. Urs Gantner was appointed CEO of VAT Group as of January 2024. He was previously EVP Semiconductor Solutions Group of VAT since August 2022. Mr. Gantner joined VAT in 2004 as a product manager and development engineer and was appointed head of the Semiconductor business unit in 2015. Prior to joining VAT, Mr. Gantner was an R&D engineer at Hamilton Medical AG. He also worked at Switzerland’s Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) as a scientist in the comprehensive assessment of energy systems. Mr. Gantner holds a Master of Science degree in mechanical engineering from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH).
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