On May 29, 2025, a Japan-UK joint workshop was held in London to advance bilateral collaboration in the rapidly evolving field of engineering biology. This event was hosted by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) research councils—the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the Medical Research Council (MRC)—with the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) and the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) participating as partner organizations from Japan.

A total of 83 participants from both countries attended the workshop, including principal investigators from 8 research projects awarded through the Japan-UK joint call for proposals in engineering biology. This joint call was conducted under the Adopting Sustainable Partnerships for Innovative Research Ecosystem (ASPIRE) initiative, which is implemented by JST and AMED. For this specific call, JST and AMED collaborated with BBSRC and MRC to support bilateral research efforts. The UK-side funding was provided through the International Science Partnership Fund (ISPF), which supports global scientific collaboration in priority technology areas. Participants also included early-career researchers, subject-matter experts, and representatives from research funding agencies, reflecting the diversity and depth of engagement across both nations.

Exploring Collaborative Research Strategies

During the research presentation session, project leaders from both countries jointly introduced their research plans and strategies for building collaborative networks through research exchanges. These presentations were followed by active discussions with program officers, advisors, and other experts, deepening mutual understanding of future research directions and opportunities for synergy.

Cross-Generational and Cross-Disciplinary Dialogue

Expert-led panel discussions and small-group working sessions encouraged vibrant cross-generational and cross-disciplinary exchanges. Key topics included building effective international research teams, generating cross-disciplinary impact, fostering early career researchers, and ensuring the safety and integrity of international research collaborations in emerging technology areas.

Sharing Perspectives on Science Policy and International Collaboration

In the plenary session, Professor Hiroshi Shimizu, JST-ASPIRE Program Officer, and Professor Shigeo Okabe, AMED-ASPIRE Program Supervisor, delivered keynote talks highlighting the importance of engineering biology in Japan’s science and technology policy, its potential to drive industrial innovation through integration with AI and robotics, and the vision for expanding UK-Japan collaboration into a global research network. Professor Anne Ferguson-Smith, Executive Chair of BBSRC, emphasized that this joint call represents a strategic investment aligned with the UK’s National Engineering Biology Strategy, and expressed expectations for complementary strengths between the UK and Japan to lead new research collaborations and emerging fields.

This workshop is expected to serve as a catalyst for further advancement of international joint research and the strengthening of global networks in the field of engineering biology.

＜Reference＞

Project list for JST-ASPIRE 2024 Japan-UK Call

https://www.jst.go.jp/aspire/en/program_e/assignment_e/index.html#2024-jp-uk-jointcall

Project list for AMED-ASPIRE 2024 Japan-UK Call (AMED)

https://www.amed.go.jp/en/news/program/0301C_00031.html

UK-Japan collaborative investments in priority technologies (UKRI)

https://www.ukri.org/news/uk-japan-collaborative-investments-in-priority-technologies/