EU and Japan look to partner on A.I. and chips as China ‘de-risking’ strategy continues

The European Union is seeking to co-operate extra intently with Japan on key applied sciences equivalent to synthetic intelligence, the bloc’s business chief stated, because the coalition seems to be to scale back its reliance on China in sure areas.

EU Commissioner Thierry Breton is assembly with the Japanese authorities on Monday, and synthetic intelligence will likely be “very high” on his agenda, he stated in a video posted on Twitter on Sunday.

“I will engage with [the] Japanese government … on how we can organize our digital space, including AI based on our shared value,” Breton stated.

Breton additionally stated there will likely be an EU-Japan Digital Partnership council, to debate areas together with quantum and excessive efficiency computing. The EU held an identical council with South Korea final week, by which the 2 sides agreed to cooperate on applied sciences equivalent to AI and cybersecurity.

Partnerships with key Asian nations with sturdy know-how sectors come because the EU seems to be to “de-risk” from China — a distinct method from that of the U.S., which has sought to decouple its economic system from Beijing.

Part of that EU technique entails deepening the connection with allied nations round know-how.

Breton instructed Reuters on Monday that the bloc and Japan will co-operate within the space of semiconductors. Japan is a key nation within the semiconductor provide chain, and Tokyo has been seeking to strengthen its home business. Last week, a fund backed by the Japanese authorities proposed to purchase home chipmaking agency JSR for round 903.9 billion yen ($6.3 billion).

The EU has additionally been seeking to strengthen its personal semiconductor business throughout the bloc.

Semiconductors are important parts that go into every little thing from automobiles to smartphones and have potential army purposes. Countries world wide have been reassessing their provide chains, and a few, just like the U.S., have seemed to carry semiconductor manufacturing again onshore.

Semiconductors are additionally key to coaching synthetic intelligence fashions. AI and chips are seen as two key areas of know-how for the long run, which nations try to place themselves to reap the benefits of.

At the identical time, the U.S. particularly has sought to chop China off from important applied sciences, equivalent to semiconductors, by means of export restrictions and Washington has seemed to persuade European allies to hitch.

The Netherlands, dwelling to one of many world’s most crucial chip corporations ASML, final week introduced new export restrictions on superior semiconductor gear.