The UK and Japan renewed their 21st-century Science and Technology Agreement to focus on innovation and game-changing technology.
UK Science Minister George Freeman and Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry Minister State Minister Nakatani Shinichi signed the revised Implementing Arrangement in Tokyo.
The governments believe the extended arrangement allows for close coordination to sell cutting-edge new technology. This might prioritize semiconductors and clean tech, which will strengthen the economy.
“Japan is the world’s third-largest economy and a science and technology powerhouse,” Freeman stated before the G7 Summit in Japan later this week. They have the most Nobel Prize winners in Asia-Pacific.
Science and technology agreement between the United Kingdom and Japan
“Bringing Japan’s unique strengths even closer together with the UK’s world-class science and research expertise is a massive opportunity for both our countries to pool our skills and expertise as we tackle some of the world’s biggest challenges while growing our economies and creating jobs.
“This deal is just another demonstration of the UK’s ambition to become a truly global science superpower, by deepening collaboration on tomorrow’s science and technology with like-minded nations like Japan, as well as the rest of the G7, to secure our collective future, drive economic growth, and improve lives.”
The UK believes the nations share many research and innovation priorities: Japan’s Moonshot R&D Programme focuses on quantum, one of the UK research and Technology Framework’s five essential technologies.
The next-generation global neutrino experiment Hyper-Kamiokande (Hyper-K) in Japan received £15.5 million from the UK government last year. This 15-story physics experiment is revealing the universe’s core components.
The UK-Japan Science and Technology Agreement now requires coordinated R&D and academic and industry exchange programs. UKRI and Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) will collaborate to foster UK-Japanese business partnership.
The UK and Japan will also coordinate science governance and standards.
