UK and Japan seal $24 billion technology partnership on AI, chips and quantum

The United Kingdom and Japan have agreed a technology and investment partnership valued at over £18 billion (about $24 billion). The deal, signed during a meeting between UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in London on 14 June 2026, covers artificial intelligence, semiconductors, quantum computing and dual‑use defence technologies. It includes the creation of a new fund to support start‑ups developing dual‑use applications such as drones, space systems and AI, and builds on earlier collaborations like the 2022 UK‑Japan Digital Partnership and joint quantum funding announced in February 2026. The governments project that the partnership will generate tens of thousands of jobs in both countries and aim to combine the UK’s software and research strengths with Japan’s hardware and manufacturing capabilities, fostering a secure, trustworthy AI ecosystem and reinforcing economic and national security amid geopolitical uncertainty.