Insider Brief:
- The EU and Japan signed a Letter of Intent on 13 May 2025 to strengthen cooperation in quantum science and technology, aligning with broader goals under the EU-Japan Digital Partnership.
- The agreement establishes joint funding mechanisms (Horizon Europe and Japan’s SIP) and supports reciprocal participation in quantum research initiatives.
- The Q-NEKO project, involving 16 institutions and €4 million (approximately $4.5 million) in EU funding, was selected to advance quantum-AI applications in areas like biomedicine and climate modeling.
- Both sides committed to expanding collaboration in related fields such as quantum communications, semiconductors, and cybersecurity, with a progress review scheduled for 2026 in Brussels.
On 13 May 2025, the European Commission and the Government of Japan signed a Letter of Intent to strengthen bilateral cooperation in quantum science and technology, according to a release from the European Commission. The document was signed in Tokyo by Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, and Minoru Kiuchi, Japan’s Minister of State for Science and Technology Policy.
According the release, this Letter of Intent is part of a broader effort to address shared global challenges such as climate change, disaster resilience, and cybersecurity through joint advancement in quantum technologies. It also serves as one of the concrete deliverables under the EU-Japan Digital Partnership, launched in May 2022, which is intended to deepen cooperation on core digital technologies ranging from semiconductors and AI to high-performance computing and quantum systems.
The Letter of Intent lays out a structured framework for collaboration between European and Japanese research communities in quantum science and technology. It calls for coordinated funding mechanisms—specifically Horizon Europe on the EU side and Japan’s Cross-ministerial Strategic Innovation Promotion Program (SIP)—to support joint research efforts. The agreement emphasizes reciprocal access to research programs and the development of joint calls for proposals, with a shared focus on practical outcomes relevant to digital transformation, sustainability, and national resilience.
Q-NEKO Project and Research Priorities
As noted in the joint statement from the Third EU-Japan Digital Partnership Council, held in Tokyo on 12 May 2025, this collaboration includes the launch of a joint call for quantum computing research. The call is designed to support projects focused on advanced algorithms and hybrid computing applications that integrate quantum and high-performance computing systems. These applications are particularly relevant in fields such as biomedicine, materials science, and environmental modeling.
A direct outcome of this initiative is the selection of the Q-NEKO project, a collaborative effort involving 16 European and Japanese institutions. Backed by €4 million (approximately $4.5 million) in EU funding, Q-NEKO will advance software, hardware, and hybrid computing architectures with an emphasis on quantum-enhanced machine learning and artificial intelligence.
The Letter of Intent also outlines principles for implementation, including transparency around funding priorities, fair treatment of participants, and joint monitoring of project outcomes. It includes provisions for intellectual property management aligned with the rules of each party’s respective funding mechanisms. While the Letter of Intent is non-binding and imposes no legal or financial obligations, it provides a formal basis for expanding EU-Japan quantum cooperation over the coming years.
Building on Longstanding Collaboration and Future Commitments
This development follows years of joint scientific and technological collaboration between the EU and Japan, and builds on a range of intergovernmental frameworks including the EU-Japan Strategic Partnership Agreement and the Partnership on Sustainable Connectivity and Quality Infrastructure.
Looking ahead, both sides have expressed commitment to deepening coordination across additional domains such as quantum communications, semiconductors, cybersecurity, and trusted data flows, reinforcing their shared vision for economic resilience and secure digital infrastructure.
The next EU-Japan Digital Partnership Council is scheduled for 2026 in Brussels, where progress on these collaborative efforts, including those in quantum, will be reviewed.
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