The European Union and Japan have formalized a new phase of collaboration in quantum science and technology with the signing of a Letter of Intent on May 13, 2025, in Tokyo. The agreement was signed 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, during the third EU-Japan Digital Partnership Council.
The Letter of Intent strengthens the framework for cooperation between EU and Japanese stakeholders in quantum technologies, and builds on the broader EU–Japan Digital Partnership established in 2022. It follows joint statements by both governments to enhance ties in high-priority areas such as AI, 6G, semiconductors, cybersecurity, and quantum computing.
As a concrete outcome of this enhanced cooperation, the newly launched Q-NEKO project has been selected for funding under a joint EU-Japan call. The project will receive €4 million in EU support and includes 16 European and Japanese partners. Q-NEKO focuses on advancing both quantum and hybrid HPC-quantum computing architectures, with applications in biomedical research, material science, climate modeling, and natural disaster simulations. The initiative emphasizes integration with quantum-enhanced machine learning and AI technologies.
These developments reinforce a strategic transnational alliance on quantum innovation, aiming to pool resources, coordinate standards, and accelerate technological progress. The EU and Japan also reaffirmed commitments to shared governance models for data, secure digital infrastructure, and sovereign technology development in light of geopolitical shifts.
Full documentation is available in the official announcement of the Letter of Intent, the Joint Statement of the Digital Partnership Council, and supporting documents published by the European Commission here, here, and in the Digital Strategy partnerships overview.
May 14, 2025
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