Japan and the United States agreed on June 4, 2026, to jointly invest $1 billion over five years in AI-driven scientific technology development under the U.S. Genesis Mission project [1, 2, 3]. Each country will contribute $500 million to the effort [1, 2, 3].

The partnership makes Japan the first international collaborator in the Genesis Mission, a national initiative launched by the U.S. in November 2025 to accelerate breakthroughs in AI, quantum computing, nuclear fusion, biotechnologies, and advanced materials [1, 2, 3].

The cooperation aims to create next-generation autonomous laboratories capable of performing complex experiments automatically using AI and robotics technology [1]. Joint research projects will involve 12 U.S. Department of Energy national laboratories and dozens of Japanese research institutions, including Riken and the University of Tokyo [1, 2, 3].

The collaboration establishes bilateral working groups focused on 11 specific scientific challenges and involves shared resources such as computational environments, data, infrastructure, and expertise [2]. Researchers from both countries will have equal access and permissions to participate in joint projects as their domestic counterparts [2].

U.S. Energy Department Deputy Secretary Dario Gil, who leads the Genesis Mission, described the cooperation as "not just a memorandum but substantive collaboration involving hundreds of scientists and important infrastructure." He added it would "bring together industry and academia from both countries to fundamentally transform research and development through AI" [2, 3].

U.S. officials have compared the scale and ambition of the Genesis Mission partnership to landmark efforts such as the Manhattan Project and Apollo Program [1, 3]. The U.S. aims to double scientific productivity within 10 years through this project [1, 3].

Japanese Ministry of Education official Kyoyoshi Kakita said Japan will "increase investments in this area and advance efforts rapidly" [3].

The Genesis Mission was announced by U.S. President Trump in November 2025 via executive order, setting the framework for the collaboration [1, 3]. The formal Japan-U.S. agreement was signed on June 4, 2026 [1, 2, 3].