Press Releases
The 13th Japan-UK Joint Committee Meeting on Science and Technology Cooperation
October 9, 2026
On October 9th, the 13th Japan-UK Joint Committee Meeting on Science and Technology Cooperation and the Japan-UK Strategic and Critical Technology Roundtable were held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan in Tokyo.
- The Joint Committee was co-chaired by Mr. KAWAMURA Hiroshi, Ambassador for Science and Technology Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, and Professor Sir John Edmunds, Chief Scientific Adviser and Director for Research and Evidence at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office of the UK. Officials from relevant ministries, agencies, and institutions of both Japan and the UK attended in a hybrid format.
- The Joint Committee was held as a follow-up to the “Japan-UK Frontier Technology Partnership” issued by the leaders of both countries during the visit of Ms. TAKAICHI Sanae, Prime Minister of Japan, to the UK in June. Based on Japan's 7th Science, Technology and Innovation Basic Plan and the updated "Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)”, both sides exchanged views on strengthening the cooperation in science, technology, and innovation between the two countries. Furthermore, the discussions focused on potential Japan-UK cooperation in priority areas such as quantum, AI, compute, space, and research security, and a Joint Statement, including a factsheet outlining specific future cooperation projects, was issued.
- At the closing of the Committee, a Ministerial-level session was held with the participation of Dr. FURUKAWA Toshiharu, Minister of State for Science and Technology Policy (Cabinet Office), Mr. SEKI Yoshihiro, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and Mr. Chris McDonald MP, Minister of State (Minister for Science, Innovation and Investment) in the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade. During this session, the Ministers exchanged views on further strengthening future Japan-UK cooperation.
- On the morning of the same day, prior to the Joint Committee, the Japan-UK Strategic and Critical Technology Roundtable was held with the participation of representatives from industry, government, and academia. At this roundtable, the latest initiatives, including dual-use technologies, were introduced by Japanese and UK startups, academia and other relevant entities in fields such as AI, quantum, space, and engineering biology. Both sides agreed that stakeholders from industry, government, and academia in each sector would continue discussions towards concrete cooperation in future bilateral dialogue schemes and other forums.
(Reference) Attachment
Joint Statement (English (PDF)
/Japanese (PDF))