Today the UK and Japan have unveiled details of a new digital
partnership to turbocharge their joint working in an era of
increasing global competition on tech and data.
The UK and Japan are modern tech powerhouses, with combined IT
sectors worth more than £406 billion. The newly launched
partnership will develop the unique strengths of both countries
and deliver on the UK’s ambition, set out in this year’s Digital Strategy, to
increase international collaboration on complex tech issues.
The partnership will structure engagement between the UK and
Japanese governments on a range of digital issues, including how
to improve the resilience of globally significant supply chains
such as semiconductors and telecommunications. The countries will
develop joint research and development initiatives to share
expertise about these vital technologies.
The UK and Japan will strengthen foundations for trade and
investment between their tech economies and make it easier for
businesses to operate in both countries by aligning approaches to
digital regulation.
Improving cyber resilience is a priority for the partnership,
which will see the UK and Japan promote initiatives to
standardise the security of internet-connected products and apps
and address the risks of digital services in supply chains.
Collaboration between the UK’s data regulator, the Information
Commissioner’s Office (ICO), and Japanese regulators will be
supported through the partnership to give businesses and citizens
greater certainty about the security of data sharing between both
countries.
At the centre of the partnership will be the UK-Japan Digital
Council, an annual meeting between ministers from the UK’s
Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and
representatives from the Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs
and Communications, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
and the Digital Agency to drive forward new priorities.
UK Digital Secretary said:
The UK’s relationship with Japan has grown from strength to
strength in recent years based on a foundation of shared goals
and values. Our thriving tech sectors are another opportunity for
us to work together to benefit citizens and businesses across
both countries. I look forward to deepening our relationship
through the UK-Japan Digital Partnership in the future.
Both governments will use international settings such as Japan’s
G7 Presidency and the G20 to tackle shared goals and challenges
with other global partners.
This new partnership further delivers on the UK’s goal, set out
in the Integrated
Review, to become the European nation with the broadest
presence in the Indo-Pacific region which is increasingly
critical as global tech competition and international
assertiveness intensifies.
