Press Releases
Signing of the Protocol Extending and Amending the Agreement between Japan and the U.S. on Cooperation in Research and Development in Science and Technology
October 2, 2026
On October 2, commencing at 5:00 p.m. in Tokyo, the Protocol Extending and Amending the Agreement between the Government of Japan and the Government of the United States of America on Cooperation in Research and Development in Science and Technology was signed by Mr. MOTEGI Toshimitsu, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, and Mr. Michael Kratsios, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy of the U.S. and President’s Science and Technology Advisor. Following the ceremony, Minister MOTEGI and Director Kratsios held a meeting.
- Through the signing of this Protocol, the duration of the Agreement has been extended indefinitely, and amendments have been made to the annex on intellectual property rights, among others. The indefinite extension of the Agreement through this Protocol is expected to further strengthen the legal foundation for science and technology cooperation between the two countries and promote various cooperation projects.
- During the meeting held after the signing ceremony, Minister MOTEGI stated his intention to realize a "golden age" of Japan-U.S. cooperation in the field of science and technology under the amended Agreement. Touching upon Japan-U.S. initiatives in advanced technology fields, including AI (SI (Super Intelligence)), Minister MOTEGI expressed his expectation for further promotion of Japan-U.S. cooperation in this field in the Indo-Pacific region and emphasized the importance of Japan and the U.S. working together to build a "safe, secure, and trustworthy” AI(SI) ecosystem in countries of the Global South.
- In response, Director Kratsios emphasized the importance of further promoting Japan-U.S. cooperation in science and technology fields, and stated his intention to advance concrete cooperation between Japan and the U.S.
- The two sides concurred to further advance bilateral science and technology cooperation based on the newly amended Agreement and confirmed that they will commence coordination for the next Japan-U.S. Joint Committee meeting.