UCL strengthens UK-Japan innovation partnerships at flagship tech event

UCL showcased its position as a partner of choice for global collaboration at the Japan–UK Tech Innovation Partnership Event in London on 11 June 2026, held as part of London Tech Week 2026, bringing together leading universities, industry and government to accelerate international R&D and commercialisation.

A cross-disciplinary delegation from UCL, spanning academic expertise, partnerships and innovation, engaged directly with major Japanese corporates and strategic stakeholders, reinforcing the university’s commitment to delivering research excellence and innovation through global partnerships.

A strong UCL presence driving collaboration

UCL was prominently represented throughout the programme, with Dr Catherine Perrodin (UCL Translational Research Office) delivering a high-impact talk highlighting the university’s breadth of expertise, global outlook and collaborative approach.

She emphasised, “UCL focuses on research excellence and takes a partnerships approach to maximise its global impact.” The message resonated strongly with attendees.

The university’s presence extended beyond the stage. Seven UCL researchers joined the delegation to discuss research collaborations, strategic partnerships and joint R&D opportunities with Japanese companies, supported by colleagues from UCL Innovation and Enterprise and UCL Business (UCLB). UCLB’s expertise in technology transfer and intellectual property, along with an overview of UCL’s spinout pipeline, added significant value to discussions.

Deep and enduring partnerships with Japan

The event provided a platform to showcase UCL’s long-standing and highly productive relationships with Japan.

With over 160 years of connection since the Choshu Five first studied at UCL and ignited the enduring relationship between UCL and Japan, the university continues to build impactful partnerships across academia and industry. Today, UCL has:

• 163 years of partnership since the Choshu Five—five intrepid Japanese noblemen who stowed away on a ship bound for London to pursue an education at UCL.
• strategic university partnerships with Tohoku University and Osaka University, with a total of 79 jointly seed-funded projects
• more than 3,200 co-authored research papers with Japanese collaborators – the highest among UK universities

This depth of engagement was clearly recognised by participants, reflecting both the strength of existing ties and the opportunity for future collaboration.

Showcasing world-class capability across sectors

The delegation highlighted its multidisciplinary strengths across areas critical to global innovation, including:

• Advanced therapeutics – cell and gene therapies, mRNA vaccines, regenerative medicine
• Energy and sustainability - hydrogen, fuel cells, energy materials, batteries, energy systems
• Advanced materials - advanced inorganic materials, nanomaterials, protein engineering, platform chemicals, critical minerals
• Manufacturing - process scale-up, automation, systems approach, mechanochemistry, biorefinery
• AI, automation and robotics - robot perception and learning, Bayesian optimisation, lab automation, sensors and control systems, AI
• Circular economy - plastics, food systems, batteries, wood and timber, systems approach

Backed by world-leading multidisciplinary facilities such as the Manufacturing Futures Lab, Institute for Materials Discovery, Advanced Propulsion Lab and SWIFT Bioprocessing platform, UCL offers partners the ability to translate cutting-edge research into real-world applications at scale.

These capabilities were a focal point in discussions with industry partners, particularly in areas aligned with Japan’s strategic priorities.

Looking ahead

Building on the momentum from the event, UCL will continue to deepen its engagement with Japanese partners, including a planned delegation visit to Tokyo in October 2026 for the bio-industry partnering event, BioJapan.

As global challenges increasingly require collaborative solutions, UCL remains committed to working with partners worldwide to translate research excellence into real-world impact.

Contact

Dr Catherine Perrodin
Senior Business and Innovation Manager, Translational Research Office (health and biomedical innovation)
UCL Innovation and Enterprise
c.perrodin@ucl.ac.uk

Polly Van Alstyne
Senior Innovation Networks Manager, Strategic innovation partnerships (non-biomedical)
UCL Innovation and Enterprise
p.vanalstyne@ucl.ac.uk

Links

• UCL Innovation and Enterprise
• UCL Global Engagement
• UCL Business

UCL-Japan innovation partnerships:

• UCL and Japan: 30 years of space exploration and collaboration
• UCL and Eisai collaborate in R&D to find solutions for neurodegenerative conditions
• Near Infrared Spectroscopy group at UCL's collaboration with Hamamatsu Photonics and Hitachi Medical 
• Advancing AI-driven eyecare innovation: a partnership between the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Topcon Healthcare
• Zero-emission transport a step closer thanks to new UCL-HORIBA partnership at UCL East
• A new partnership with Japanese manufacturer HORIBA: Accelerating the drive towards zero-emission transport
• UCL partners with Nikon to transform X-ray technology

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