Japan-UK Joint Call for Collaborations in Advanced Connectivity Technologies
The Japan-UK Joint Call for Collaborations in Advanced Connectivity Technologies supports UK and Japanese research teams working on AI-enabled, non-terrestrial, and optical networks to strengthen connectivity.
Funder: UK Research and Innovation
Due Dates: September 8, 2026 (expression of interest) | October 6, 2026 (EPSRC full application) | October 7, 2026 (NICT full application)
Funding Amounts: Up to £897,000 from EPSRC and ¥200 million from NICT per collaboration; up to three years
Summary: Supports joint UK–Japan research in AI-enabled digital networks, non-terrestrial networks, and advanced optics and photonics.
Key Information: Each proposal needs an eligible Japanese project partner and parallel submissions to EPSRC and NICT.
Description
The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), part of UK Research and Innovation, and Japan’s National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) fund collaborative research in advanced connectivity technologies. The partnership has support from the UK’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.
Proposals must address at least one of three areas: integrating trustworthy AI into digital networks; developing non-terrestrial networks, including satellite and airborne systems; or advancing optical and photonic networks. The call seeks research within both agencies’ remits that strengthens secure, resilient and interoperable connectivity, builds lasting UK–Japan partnerships, and benefits future researchers. NICT’s programme focuses on foundational, early-stage research at Technology Readiness Levels one to three at the project’s start.
