The 7th EU-Japan Joint Scientific and Technological Cooperation Committee (JSTCC) meeting

Research and innovation (R&I) are among the key areas of cooperation between the EU and Japan. At the 7th JSTCC meeting, the co-chairs highlighted the importance of research and innovation (R&I) in the overall EU-Japan relations and emphasised mutual benefits stemming from enhancing it. Collaboration in R&I has a huge potential to promote excellence of research and talent development, to stimulate international talent mobility and circulation and innovations, to strengthen the capacity to tackle global societal challenges, and to secure supply chains.

Both sides presented the recent developments of their respective Science, Technology and Innovation policies. They underlined that in the very worrying geopolitical context, a comprehensive strategic approach to an open and evolutional research ecosystem based on trust is important, taking into account economic security.

The EU Global Approach to Research and Innovation plays an important role as a strategic framework for international scientific and technological cooperation. Japan expressed its commitment to continued cooperation in the Multilateral Dialogue on Values and Principles in Research and Innovation, launched under this Approach. Both sides confirmed their keen interest to cooperate under G7 and to strengthen a culture of Open Science, Research Ethics and Integrity and Gender Equality. Both sides shared the view to intensify multilateral collaboration, including under Mission Innovation, and to enhance a dialogue between the two sides on science diplomacy in view of finding common ground for cooperation.

Referring to the Joint Statement of the 29^th EU-Japan Summit (2023) both sides shared the view to work together on the full implementation of its commitments, including STI collaboration under the Green Alliance and Digital Partnership, the cooperation on foresight and the continued dialogue on Japan’s possible association to Horizon Europe. Both sides shared the view to continue research and innovation cooperation actions in the areas of mutual interest such as renewable energy, soil research, connected automated mobility, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, high performance computing, quantum technology, and advanced materials.

A shared understanding was achieved on the importance to reinforce cooperation in fusion research and in particular, in the DEMO Design (ITER's successor). The Joint Research Centre (JRC) and its Japanese partners expressed agreement to pursue and strengthen the ongoing collaboration on issues such as foresight, clean energy technologies, disaster risk management, marine and earth science as well as on nuclear safeguards and security (through the cooperation agreement between EURATOM and Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA)). The grants of the European Research Council (ERC), the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA), Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) and Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) were highlighted as very important instruments to promote researcher capital development and mobility.

Both sides expressed their intention to hold the next Joint Committee Meeting in Tokyo in 2025. The date will be coordinated through diplomatic channels.

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Summary of the meeting

International cooperation with Japan