Martel will be travelling to Japan next week to attend the second edition of the EU-Japan Digital Week 2026, which will take place in Tokyo from 23rd-30th the March 2026 and bring together policymakers, industry leaders, researchers, and innovators from Europe, Japan, and across the Indo-Pacific. The event serves as the annual flagship of the EU-Japan Digital Partnership, aiming to deepen collaboration on emerging digital technologies and strengthen ties between the European Union and Japan in building a secure, resilient, and human-centred digital economy.
Building on the first edition
The inaugural EU-Japan Digital Week 2025, held in Tokyo from 31 March to 7 April 2025, attracted more than 400 participants from government, industry, academia, and research institutions. Discussions focused on key areas such as 6G development, data spaces, smart connectivity and computing, and trustworthy artificial intelligence.
The 2026 edition will expand this agenda by placing greater emphasis on emerging and disruptive technologies, including artificial intelligence, semiconductors, quantum computing, and high-performance computing (HPC). Participants will also examine issues related to the resilience of digital infrastructure, standardisation efforts, and cross-border interoperability. Through workshops, high-level dialogues, and collaborative sessions, the programme aims to promote joint research initiatives and align policies and standards that support a trusted global digital ecosystem.
Hackathon ahead of the main programme
Ahead of the main programme, innovators will gather in Tokyo on 20 March for the 2026 Hackathon on the Interoperability of Digital Public Infrastructure. Teams from Europe, Japan and the Indo-Pacific will collaborate to develop prototypes linking the European Digital Identity (EUDI) framework with Japan’s digital identity ecosystem and systems such as MOSIP. The winning teams will be invited to present their solutions at the final INPACE event in Brussels in 2027.
Deepening cooperation on emerging technologies
A two-day semiconductor workshop starting on 24 March will focus on the INPACE cluster dedicated to “Enabling technologies – Chips for the future.”
A policy workshop will explore cooperation between the European Union and Japan on emerging and disruptive technologies, as well as the protection of critical infrastructure. In the context of rising geopolitical tensions and rapid digital transformation, participants will discuss how collaboration in areas such as AI, quantum computing and advanced semiconductor technologies can be strengthened while safeguarding infrastructure such as undersea cables and satellite networks.
The programme will also include a session organised by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute examining how European and Japanese standards bodies can contribute to the objectives of the EU–Japan Digital Partnership. Other highlights include a technology business exchange presenting complementary digital solutions from European and Japanese companies, as well as discussions on Japan’s association with Horizon Europe and the opportunities it creates for deeper cooperation in research and innovation. The programme will also feature a closed ICT Stakeholder Roundtable hosted by Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, followed by a concluding panel at the Delegation of the European Union to Japan on digital and technology diplomacy and opportunities to strengthen partnerships between Europe and the Indo-Pacific.
EU–Japan AI4Good Cooperation
Dr. Monique Calisti, CEO of Martel Innovate, will present “Environmental and Societal Sustainability: Challenges and Priorities” during a half-day workshop that explores how high-performance computing and artificial intelligence can help address major societal challenges through stronger collaboration between Europe and Japan. The event will also highlight high-performance computing cooperation among three flagship infrastructures.
- RIKEN (Japan), operator of the Fugaku supercomputer
- Forschungszentrum Jülich (Germany), host of the upcoming JUPITER supercomputer
- National Academic Infrastructure for Supercomputing in Sweden (NAISS), Sweden’s national high-performance computing infrastructure and a gateway to Nordic and European research communities
Together, these infrastructures represent complementary strengths in exascale systems, AI-accelerated simulations, and large scientific user communities. The workshop will examine how these ecosystems can work together to advance AI for Good (AI4Good) applications aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Why Martel’s participation matters
Martel’s participation in the event is particularly relevant given its strong involvement in several European research and innovation projects that address many of the same themes discussed during the week, including artificial intelligence, with initiatives such as Nexus Forum, SkillAIbility or AIExpert, but also International Cooperation on Standards and Policy for Digital with Indico Global advanced computing, semiconductors, and secure digital infrastructures. By taking part in the discussions, Martel will have the opportunity to exchange expertise with international partners, follow the latest policy and technological developments, and strengthen collaboration with Japanese and Indo-Pacific stakeholders working on similar challenges.
Good news: registration is still open!
