Extensive UK-Japan projects agreed | Electronics Weekly

The UK is the only European country to participate in the Japan-led Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact, and shares similar views with Japan on economic policy, technology investment and security.

The projects are:

Tokyo Electric Power and others will spend up to £9 billion over the next 10 years to build an offshore wind farm in the U.K. Prior to the meeting, the U.K. said Japanese companies would invest a total of £18 billion in the country, including offshore wind power. The investment will support the development of 5.9GW of floating offshore wind projects  including the Ossian and Green Volt projects in the North Sea, alongside the Erebus project in the Celtic Sea.

The Japan Atomic Energy Agency,  Rolls-Royce and others will work to develop high-temperature gas-cooled nuclear reactors, a next-generation model considered safer than light-water reactors. The two countries’ national nuclear laboratories (UKAEA and QST) and leading private companies will deepen their collaboration on fusion energy.

An MoU was signed establishing a collaboration between  Rapidus and the UK Semiconductor Centre.

The private contracts for the  Combat Air Programme – a project  between Japan, the UK and Italy to develop a new  fighter jet – will be renewed.

Tokyo and London will establish a bilateral council comprised of vice minister level officials to promote joint development of defence equipment.

Hitachi Energy UK will create at least 500 new jobs over the next five years, providing vital expansion of the UK grid. This includes 100 roles at Hitachi Energy’s Glasgow Centre of Excellence, and over £18 million investment in a purpose-built facility in Stafford.

 The Japanese life sciences company Eisai will invest £48 million in a new Hatfield-based packaging facility for its innovative dementia treatment, backed by government funding.

A new Defence Capability and Industrial Council will foster greater industrial cooperation between the UK and Japan, accelerating the development of each other’s dual-use technologies such as drones and artificial intelligence, helping UK defence firms access significant Japanese investment.

Mitsubishi will invest £2 billion over five years to deliver a UK pipeline worth £5.3 billion, creating up to 17,000 jobs during construction.

Mitsui Fudosan is to invest £3.8 billion over five years to deliver a UK pipeline with gross development value of £5.8 billion, creating circa 15,000 jobs during construction.

Mizuho will invest £3 billion in energy transition.