UK and Japan collaboration: A renewed science and technology deal

Building on decades of ‘close cooperation’, the UK and Japan have signed a renewed science and technology deal with the aim to bring cutting-edge new technologies to market

Agreeing to renew the two countries’ longstanding Science and Technology Agreement for the 21st Century, the UK and Japan plan to focus on innovation and game-changing new technologies.

A global approach to science and innovation

Signed today (Monday, 15 May) in Tokyo, the new Implementing Arrangement forms the latest part of the UK’s push to take a global approach to science and innovation.

The arrangement was signed by UK Science Minister George Freeman and Minister State Minister Nakatani Shinichi from Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

The renewed deal opens up more opportunities for close collaboration to bring cutting-edge new technologies to market.

opportunities for close collaboration to bring cutting-edge new technologies to market

According to Freeman, “Japan is the world’s third-largest economy and a science and technology powerhouse. They have produced more Nobel Prize laureates than any other Asia-Pacific country”

This continued collaboration focus on priority areas like semiconductors and clean tech, which will be critical to growing the UK economy.

“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 biggest challenges facing the world, all whilst growing our economies and creating jobs” explained Science Minister Freeman.

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

Becoming a global science superpower

By strengthening international ties, Minister Freeman has been making a case for the world’s leading democracies to work closer together while in Japan this week.

“Deepening collaboration on the science and technology of tomorrow with like-minded nations like Japan, as well as the rest of the G7, will help secure our collective future, drive economic growth and improve lives”, he goes on to say.

The renewed science and technology deal will ensure that scientific advances deliver security and prosperity while tackling the key issues facing our planet, from climate change and bio-security to space sustainability.

The G7 Science and Technology Ministers’ meeting

Hosted in the Japanese city of Sendai, the recent meeting has provided an important platform to demonstrate how the UK’s leadership in science and innovation.

The last week has also provided an opportunity to further cement the UK’s close relationship with Japan.

A continued relationship between the UK and Japan

Even before this renewed science and technology deal, the UK and Japan share many of the same science and innovation priorities.

Japan’s Moonshot R&D Programme includes a focus on quantum, one of the five critical technologies identified in the UK Science and Technology Framework.

Last year, the UK government committed a further £15.5 million investment to the Hyper-Kamiokande (Hyper-K) project, which is a next-generation global neutrino experiment in Japan. This 15-storey physics experiment is helping scientists discover more about the fundamental particles that make up the Universe.

The UK-Japan Science and Technology commitments

The new arrangements for the UK-Japan Science and Technology Agreement commit both countries to work together on joint R&D programmes, as well as academic and industrial exchange schemes.

The two governments will encourage collaboration between UK and Japanese companies by creating new networking and investment opportunities and through closer connections between public bodies like UKRI and Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO).