The European Union and Japan have announced an expanded level of regulatory, research and industry cooperation across key digital technologies, including artificial intelligence, data governance, quantum computing and semiconductors.
The agreement was announced at the fourth meeting of the EU–Japan Digital Partnership Council in Brussels, where both sides outlined steps to strengthen collaboration between regulators, researchers and industry.
A central focus of the discussions was improving cross-border data flows and aligning data governance frameworks. The two sides agreed to establish a Data Strategy Working Group to support interoperability between their systems, with the aim of enabling more efficient data sharing for research and innovation.
‘Enhanced innovation’
“The success of our partnership is rooted in our continued trusted discussions and collaboration,” commented Henna Virkkunen, executive vice-president for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy.
“This cooperation enhances innovation and is essential for competitiveness and economic security. I am pleased that we are already seeing concrete outcomes and benefits, and I am looking forward to accelerating our close partnership.”
Digital identity was another area of agreement, with both sides reporting on a pilot project that demonstrated the feasibility of interoperable digital identity systems. Using prototype digital identity wallets, the initiative showed that cross-border use is possible even when technical and governance structures differ.
AI collaboration
In artificial intelligence, the EU and Japan committed to strengthening cooperation in both research and safety. Japan’s planned association with Horizon Europe is expected to support joint work in areas including AI, while a new cooperation arrangement is set to formalise collaboration on innovation and governance.
On quantum technology, meanwhile, both sides agreed to advance joint research projects such as Q-Neko, which focuses on hybrid computing and applications ranging from materials science to satellite data analysis. Further opportunities for collaboration, including industry partnerships, are under consideration.
The partnership extends to digital infrastructure, including submarine cables and next-generation telecommunications. Ongoing cooperation on 6G research and standardisation aims to support secure and resilient connectivity, while discussions on semiconductor supply chains address shared concerns about dependencies and non-market practices.
Cooperation on online platforms will also deepen, with new arrangements to improve transparency in content moderation and strengthen oversight of digital markets. Existing agreements between competition authorities in the EU and Japan will continue to support this work, the parties noted. Read more here.
