On Thursday and Friday, April 24–25, 2025, a joint Japan-UK workshop was held at the University of Southampton in the UK, focusing on the three research projects selected under the ALCA-Next Japan-UK Semiconductor Joint Call.
The workshop was co-hosted by Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), the UK’s funding body Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), and the University of Southampton home to the UK project leaders.
A total of 44 participants from both countries—including researchers, technical advisors, university officials, and representatives from funding agencies—attended the event to promote mutual understanding of the research and strengthen bilateral collaboration.

Research Presentations and Lively Technical Discussions

During the project-specific research sessions, Japanese and UK principal investigators presented their respective research plans and the division of roles between the two countries. These were followed by active Q&A sessions involving researchers and technical advisors, which deepened understanding of the overall project structures and served as a valuable opportunity to confirm and share the collaboration frameworks between the two sides.

Multi-layered Exchange Linking Practice, Young Talent, and Policy

The workshop also featured poster presentations by early career researchers from both Japan and the UK. Through dialogue and discussion, the event fostered the development of the next generation of internationally minded researchers and promoted cross-disciplinary networking.Participants also had the opportunity to tour the UK’s largest cleanroom facility for photonic processing and attended presentations by both countries’ funding agencies on their initiatives to support research in the semiconductor area and expectations for future Japan-UK collaboration.

Bringing together researchers from both nations, the workshop not only facilitated in-depth discussions on research topics but also promoted mutual understanding of each other’s research environments and systems. This meaningful event is expected to accelerate outcomes from the respective projects and further advance international collaboration.