The US Department of Energy and Japan’s MEXT and METI ministries announced a $1 billion strategic partnership on June 4, 2026, making Japan the first international partner in the DOE’s Genesis Mission, according to Nikkei Asia and a DOE statement. Each country will contribute $500 million over five years, subject to future appropriations.
The agreement establishes eleven joint scientific teams uniting twelve DOE National Laboratories with twelve Japanese research institutions. Research priorities include quantum information science, fusion energy, biotechnology, advanced materials, particle physics, and autonomous laboratory systems.
Participating teams will gain access to DOE high-performance computing systems and Japan’s Fugaku supercomputer. The DOE framed the effort as advancing the Genesis Mission’s goal of doubling the productivity of American science within a decade through AI and computing.
For overseas investors, the pact signals Japan’s deepening role in US-aligned deep-tech and computing infrastructure and reinforces Tokyo’s positioning as a Western-aligned hub for frontier AI research.