Notice

Joint Statement between Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan on Semiconductors Partnership

Published 19 May 2023

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1. The UK’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan (METI), recognise that semiconductors are vitally important to the modern world. They maintain the functioning of critical sectors, such as healthcare, defence and communications, and enable advances across world-changing digital technologies such as artificial intelligence, electrification, 5G and quantum computing.

2. Japan and the UK have different, but complementary, world-leading strengths in the semiconductor sector. We concur on the importance of staying on the frontier of technological advancement. The sector also faces challenges and we recognise that recent semiconductor shortages have exposed the fragility of the supply chain. We share a recognition that joint efforts are required to improve supply chain resilience.

3. This bilateral partnership builds on a strong history of collaboration between the UK and Japan in science, innovation and technology, including the 1994 Agreement on Co-operation in Science and Technology, the recently launched bilateral Digital Partnership, and the new Science, Innovation and Technology Implementing Arrangement.

4. This partnership sets out an ambitious framework for UK and Japan collaboration in semiconductor technologies that encourages the UK and Japan to draw on each other’s strengths, expertise and physical infrastructure in the sector. This framework aims to deliver:

  • ambitious joint semiconductor research and development activity in areas of mutual strength, including in cutting-edge chip design, chip fabrication, advanced packaging, advanced materials and compound semiconductors

  • exploration by DSIT and METI of ways to harness their respective R&D budgets

  • sharing of expertise, organising skills exchanges and opening up access to key infrastructure, such as research or prototyping facilities

  • joint activity with industry to launch a UK-Japan semiconductor industry dialogue to promote further cooperation, including with respect to trade and investment

  • expert missions to facilitate exchanges between industry, academia and government to scope opportunities for bilateral projects and strengthen commercial links

  • joint activity to strengthen the resilience of semiconductor supply chains, both through bilateral initiatives and working together to promote collaboration on this issue in international fora

6. We will swiftly act on today’s joint statement by facilitating discussions between UK and Japanese innovation and research agencies to identify and implement next steps.

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