The UK-Japan Tech Forum took place on 4 April 2025, convened by techUK and JEITA.
The UK-Japan Tech Forum, co-organised by techUK and JEITA, is a platform for both the UK and Japanese tech sectors along with their respective governments to come together to explore collaboration opportunities in technology and innovation. This year, we heard from both the UK and Japanese Governments, highlighting the status of the relationship, key technologies shaping it and where the UK-Japan tech partnership could be deepened.
Summary:
Antony Walker, Deputy CEO, techUK, opened the meeting by speaking about the recent developments in the UK-Japan tech partnership, his recent experience as part of an industry delegation to Tokyo for the bilateral Economic 2+2 meeting, and techUK and JEITAs joint statement released in January.
techUK’s and JEITA’s joint statement focuses on 7 key recommendations for both governments, including initiating ministerial dialogues, improving bilateral R&D activities, and cooperation on digital trade and data free flow with trust (DFFT). This was followed by an update from senior UK and Japanese Government (Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications and Department for Science Innovation and Technology) representatives on the role of tech within the bi-lateral relationship.
Both governments spoke about the importance of collaborating across the four pillars of the UK-Japan Digital Partnership, a ministerial-level framework which aims to enhance the digital technology collaboration between the two countries across AI, data flows, and the development of bilateral Industrial Strategy Partnership.
They highlighted the importance of the regular ministerial meetings and the UK-Japan Tech Forum. Both governments also touched upon the inaugural UK-Japan Economic 2+2 dialogue where both the Foreign and Business Ministers of both the UK and Japan met in Toyko in March 2025. The meeting reaffirmed the governments respective support for the international rules-based trading systems, and detailed where deepening partnerships in economic security, clean energy, and the industrial strategy could be mutually beneficial. Both governments reflected that they were keen to hear from industry about how they would like an Industrial Strategy Partnership to look.
Regarding AI, recent conversations and frameworks have emphasised the similarity between the approach from both countries. The UK Government highlighted how the AI Opportunities Action Plan focuses on accelerating the adoption of safe and effective AI across all parts of the UKs landscape. The UK aims to scale up the UKs AI Research Resource by 20-fold by 2030, with Japan seen as a key partner in this journey. The Japanese Government’s Hiroshima AI Process is a comprehensive framework aimed at promoting safe, secure and trustworthy AI development. Representatives mutually agreed on the need to continue collaboration between governments and industry to exploit future opportunities presented by AI.
Both nations reaffirmed their support for the Data Free Flow with Trust (DFFT) initiative and will continue to collaborate on shared views on cross-border data transfers, privacy rules and data governance, through the Global Cross Border Privacy Rules (CBPR) Forum, other multilateral fora, and bilaterally through the UK-Japan data adequacy arrangements. Going forward, UK Government officials will continue discussions with the Japanese Government on digital trade, highlighted in the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), in the upcoming months.
Open dialogue between JEITA & techUK Members & Government Representatives
In the open dialogue section, we heard from both representatives of JEITA and techUK members including Fujistu, KIOXIA, NTT Data and Helsing.ai, as well as many others on a range of topics including on AI collaboration, data security, semiconductor partnerships and more.
Regarding data, members acknowledged that Japan is already taking large steps to accelerate the digital transformation of society, outlined in the Society 5.0 Vision. The UK-Japan Digital Partnership and work to operationalise Data Free Flow With Trust are further examples of implementing data driven innovation to advance the digital relationship between countries.
Members noted that support from the government on co-developing semiconductor facilities and implementing workforce initiatives will be key in avoiding the risks of a fragmented semiconductor supply chain.
Around data spaces and security, there is already positive signs of collaboration and R&D funded opportunities such as the Moonshot Research and Development Program. Members welcomed the current cooperation at multilateral fora such as the G7 and OECD to promote effective and safe access measures and operationalisation of DFFT. Additional sectors such as space tech, life sciences and health tech are also seeing on-going collaborative research but implementing concrete research models supported by both governments should be formulated.
Members mentioned the need to intensify the collaboration around AI and sovereign infrastructure, not just between government to government, but also public-private dialogue from organisations within both countries.
One member mentioned areas of concern when developing defence AI capabilities and how both governments can work together to safely and efficiently find collaborative solutions. Specifically, the UK and Japan could begin to develop bilateral military models (like radar detection models), sequentially training the models on sovereign data, in classified environments, sharing the model, rather than the data. In relation to AI assurance, the acceptance of shared standards for the exchange of assurance cases would help move the dial on UK-Japan AI collaboration. Models could be quickly shared, assured, and deployed on each country’s different assets, without delays relating to starting the assurance process from zero each time a model is shared.
The Forum was concluded with closing remarks from both techUK and JEITA, who recognise the commitment in building and deepening this bilateral relationship between the UK and Japan, and welcome member feedback on what more can be done.
For more information on any of the above, or contributions to techUK’s and JEITA’s work, please email [email protected].
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Sabina Ciofu is Associate Director – International, running the International Policy and Trade Programme at techUK.
Based in Brussels, she leads our EU policy and engagement. She is also our lead on international trade policy, with a focus on digital trade chapter in FTAs, regulatory cooperation as well as broader engagement with the G7, G20, WTO and OECD.
As a transatlanticist at heart, Sabina is a GMF Marshall Memorial fellow and issue-lead on the EU-US Trade and Technology Council, within DigitalEurope.
Previously, she worked as Policy Advisor to a Member of the European Parliament for almost a decade, where she specialised in tech regulation, international trade and EU-US relations.
Sabina loves building communities and bringing people together. She is the founder of the Gentlewomen’s Club and co-organiser of the Young Professionals in Digital Policy. Previously, as a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Shapers Community, she led several youth civic engagement and gender equality projects.
She sits on the Advisory Board of the University College London European Institute, Café Transatlantique, a network of women in transatlantic technology policy and The Nine, Brussels’ first members-only club designed for women.
Sabina holds an MA in War Studies from King’s College London and a BA in Classics from the University of Cambridge.
Policy Manager for International Policy and Trade, techUK
Daniel Clarke
Policy Manager for International Policy and Trade, techUK
Dan joined techUK as a Policy Manager for International Policy and Trade in March 2023.
Before techUK, Dan worked for data and consulting company GlobalData as an analyst of tech and geopolitics. He has also worked in public affairs, political polling, and has written freelance for the New Statesman and Investment Monitor.
Dan has a degree in MSc International Public Policy from University College London, and a BA Geography degree from the University of Sussex.
Outside of work, Dan is a big fan of football, cooking, going to see live music, and reading about international affairs.
Theo joined techUK in 2024 as EU Policy Manager. Based in Brussels, he works on our EU policy and engagement.
Theo is an experienced policy adviser who has helped connect EU and non-EU decision makers.
Prior to techUK, Theo worked at the EU delegation to Australia, the Israeli trade mission to the EU, and the City of London Corporation’s Brussels office. In his role, Theo ensures that techUK members are well-informed about EU policy, its origins, and its implications, while also facilitating valuable input to Brussels-based decision-makers.
Theo holds and LLM in International and European law, and an MA in European Studies, both from the University of Amsterdam.
Lewis' programmes cover a range of policy areas within Market Access (international trade regulation, sanctions and export controls, technical standards and product compliance, supply chains) and Consumer Tech (media and broadcast policy, consumer electronics, and connected home technology).
Prior to joining techUK, Lewis worked in government affairs and policy roles for international trade associations in Southeast Asia including the American Malaysian Chamber of Commerce and the European Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia.
He holds an undergraduate degree in Social and Political Sciences from the University of Cambridge and an MSc in Public Policy & Management from SOAS University of London.
Tess joined techUK as an Policy and Public Affairs Team Assistant in November of 2024. In this role, she supports areas such as administration, member communications and media content.
Before joining the Team, she gained experience working as an Intern in both campaign support for MPs and Councilors during the Local and General Election and working for the Casimir Pulaski Foundation. As well as working for multiple charities on issues such as the climate crisis, educational inequality and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). Tess obtained her Bachelors of Arts in Politics and International Relations from University of Nottingham.
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