UK-Japan collaboration in robotics research

Monday, 10 March 2025

The memorandum was signed by Fukushima Institute for Research, Education and Innovation (F-REI) President Koetsu Yamazaki and UKAEA Executive Director Rob Buckingham on 4 March during a visit by an F-REI delegation to UKAEA's Culham Campus in Oxfordshire, England.

The agreement fosters collaboration between the organisations, enhancing joint research opportunities and advancing science and innovation in key technical areas, such as: robotics and autonomous systems supporting nuclear decommissioning, operations in challenging environments and advanced manufacturing; facility management and collaboration, sharing best practices in research facilities, harnessing a culture of innovation and commercialisation; and talent and skills, including initiatives to drive partnerships and support talent and skills development. 

The UKAEA carries out fusion energy research on behalf of the UK government, overseeing the country's fusion programme. Established in 2014, UKAEA's world-class robotics centre, RACE (Remote Applications in Challenging Environments), has been at the forefront of research and development in the deployment of robotics within extreme industrial environments where human intervention is challenging. Among RACE's recent achievements is the successful development of next-generation robotics technologies for decommissioning through the LongOps project, funded by the UK's Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), UK Research and Innovation and Japan's Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco).

UKAEA is a member of the Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Collaboration (RAICo) alongside the NDA, Sellafield Ltd and the University of Manchester. The collaboration accelerates deployment of robotics and AI to solve shared nuclear decommissioning and fusion engineering challenges.

F-REI, established by the Japanese government in April 2023 under the Act on Special Measures for the Reconstruction and Revitalisation of Fukushima, is dedicated to becoming a world-class core centre for creative reconstruction. The institute conducts research and development in the following five key areas: robotics; agriculture, forestry, and fisheries; energy; radiation science, medicine, drug development, and industrial applications for radiation; and the collection and dissemination of data and knowledge on nuclear disasters.

"We are delighted to collaborate with F-REI, as both organisations share a strong commitment to advancing science and innovation in key technical areas, including robotics and autonomous systems," Buckingham said. "UKAEA has established robust partnerships with leading Japanese organisations, and this collaboration marks an exciting opportunity to expand those connections. By leveraging our shared experience and expertise, I am confident we can further strengthen UK-Japan engagement across government, industry, and academia, driving cutting-edge advancements with real-world impact."

Yamazaki added: "F-REI and UKAEA share complementary objectives in research, innovation, education, and commercialisation. The UKAEA's extensive experience in developing productive research programmes, educational initiatives, innovation and commercialisation pipelines, and collaborative research facilities offers valuable lessons that can significantly benefit F-REI's startup goals. We are also excited to enhance Japan's scientific and technological capabilities and industrial competitiveness through this international collaboration."