The EU and Japan held their second Digital Partnership Council meeting in Brussels, reaffirming their commitment to a collaborative approach to digital transformation, that puts people at the centre and respects fundamental rights. The partners welcomed the successful implementation of the Digital Partnership and took stock of the progress achieved since the first Digital Partnership Council in 2023. They agreed on a list of new deliverables to further cooperate on core digital technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), 5G, 6G, semiconductors, high-performance computing (HPC) and quantum technology, strengthening the collaboration in data and platform economy, submarine cables, eID and cybersecurity.
A few key outcomes of the second Digital Partnership Council include:
- Strengthened Cooperation on Core Technologies: The partners agreed to further collaborate on AI, 5G, 6G, semiconductors, high-performance computing, and quantum technologies.
- Digital Identity and Trust Services: A Memorandum of Cooperation was signed to facilitate data flow and boost e-commerce opportunities through a shared understanding of digital identity initiatives.
- Semiconductors and 6G: A team of experts will be established to develop a research program on semiconductors, and collaborative research projects have been launched for 6G, with a focus on global standardization.
- Cybersecurity and AI Governance: Cooperation on cybersecurity standards and addressing the skills gap, as well as supporting the G7 AI initiatives, were highlighted.
- Submarine Cables and Online Platforms: Both sides agreed to enhance cooperation on secure submarine cable infrastructure and explore information sharing on online platform regulations.
The next meeting of the Digital Partnership Council will be held in Tokyo, Japan, in 2025. This partnership signifies the EU and Japan's commitment to a human-centric digital future built on shared values and collaboration on new, cutting-edge technologies.
In this context, INSTAR aims to support all Digital Partnerships — including the EU-Japan digital collaboration. The discussions that took place during this second Digital Partnership Council highlighted areas of cooperation that INSTAR supports, such as AI, Quantum Technologies, and 5G/6G.
If you want to learn more about INSTAR and how we support Digital Partnerships, make sure you watch our latest webinar.
