August 28, 2024, saw the 17th annual meeting of the United States-Japan Joint Working-Level Committee (JWLC) on Science and Technology Cooperation held in Washington, D.C.
The JWLC was co-chaired by H.E. KAJI Misako from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, and Rahima Kandahari of the United States Department of State.
For this forward-looking conversation, participants from a wide range of government agencies in both nations were brought together by the JWLC Meeting. They discussed policy related to science and technology, current collaboration, and potential new areas for collaboration. Participants assessed the state of collaboration in fields like quantum, fusion, and artificial intelligence that were highlighted at the Tokyo 2023 Joint High-Level Committee Meeting. The delegates engaged in significant discussions on health research, workforce development, research security, open science, and the Arctic, ocean, and atmospheric research. They also furthered the collaboration between world-class scientific organizations in innovation, entrepreneurship, and emerging technologies, including high performance computing.
First convened in September 1988 in Washington, D.C., this working level science and technology dialogue offers a regular forum for exchanging perspectives on some of the most significant science and technology initiatives in our nations, as well as for setting priorities for future cooperation. In order to inform future discussions at the Joint High-Level Committee Meeting the following year, the United States and Japan reiterated their commitment to maintaining a close partnership and coordination on science and technology cooperation at the 2024 JWLC Meeting.
