The United Kingdom and Japan have announced a wide-ranging package of science and technology collaborations that significantly strengthens ties between the two countries and reinforces their roles as leading global innovation hubs. The initiatives, confirmed during the UK Prime Minister’s recent visit to Japan and detailed on 3 February, span life sciences, quantum technologies, and advanced digital connectivity, with a shared focus on driving economic growth, improving health outcomes, and building resilient infrastructure.
A major element of the partnership is new investment in life sciences, including around £11 million from Orchard Therapeutics, the UK subsidiary of Japanese pharmaceutical company Kyowa Kirin. Subject to final agreements, the investment will support research and development in gene therapies within the UK, helping advance treatments for severe and rare genetic diseases while supporting high-skilled jobs and strengthening domestic manufacturing capacity. This builds on existing successes in gene therapy and reinforces the UK’s position as a leader in advanced therapies.
Further strengthening life sciences cooperation, UK-based Oxford Nanopore Technologies and Japan’s Genesis Healthcare are entering a multi-year strategic partnership to deliver a national rare disease genomics pilot in Japan. The initiative aims to improve screening for under-diagnosed genetic conditions by applying advanced genome testing technologies, supporting earlier diagnosis and better patient outcomes while creating long-term demand for UK-developed sequencing platforms and expertise.
The collaboration also extends into quantum technologies, with the launch of three new joint research projects bringing together leading researchers from both countries. Jointly funded by the UK’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and the Japan Science and Technology Agency, the projects will focus on applications such as accelerating drug discovery, enabling secure communications, improving navigation in GPS-denied environments, and laying foundations for future quantum computing and quantum internet capabilities.
In addition, both governments have announced a new £6 million UK–Japan research and innovation programme focused on advanced connectivity technologies. Co-funded by the UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and the Japanese government, the programme will support research into artificial intelligence for telecoms, satellite and non-terrestrial networks, and high-capacity optical networks. These technologies aim to deliver seamless mobile coverage, improve energy efficiency, and strengthen network resilience against cyber threats and natural disasters.
Beyond individual projects, leaders also agreed to reconvene the Japan–UK Joint Committee on Cooperation in Science and Technology for the first time in three years and to establish a new space consultation mechanism. Together, these measures underline a shared commitment to deepening scientific and technological cooperation, unlocking new opportunities for trade and investment, and ensuring that innovation continues to deliver tangible benefits for economies, patients, and societies in both countries.
