The EU – Japan Digital Partnership: Going Forward

New technologies are profoundly reshaping the global geopolitical landscape. The ability to access, develop, and govern cutting-edge technologies has become not only a prerequisite for boosting economic competitiveness, but a key strategic advantage in an increasingly volatile international security context. While digital transition and connectivity are much-needed drivers of innovation and prosperity, dual-use technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), quantum computing, or advanced semiconductors are at the heart of intensifying geoeconomic competition. Against this backdrop, cooperation among like-minded partners is essential to pool R&D resources, stay ahead of the curve in the mounting technological competition, and promote responsible and inclusive governance globally.

The European Union (EU) has made digital connectivity a priority in its engagement with Indo-Pacific partners, with Japan playing a central role in these efforts. The EU – Japan Digital Partnership Agreement, en force since 2023, underscores the shared commitment and political willingness of both partners to join forces on key areas, including semiconductors, AI, high-performance computing and quantum, Beyond 5G, data governance and Data Free Flow with Trust (DFFT), digital connectivity platforms, and cybersecurity. What may be the regulatory, institutional and technological barriers to furthering EU -Japan digital connectivity? And what potential pathways can be explored to address these challenges effectively?

To address these questions, the Centre for Security, Diplomacy and Strategy (CSDS) and the Institute of Geoeconomics (IOG) convened a half-day closed-door seminar bringing together leading European and Japanese experts and relevant policy practitioners. The closed-door roundtable was organised as part of the EU-Japan Digital Week, an initiative under the EU-Japan Digital Partnership.