Agreement on Tech Advancement Cooperation between U.S. and U.K. Governments, Outlining Technology Prosperity Partnership

The United States and the United Kingdom have expressed mutual interest in enhancing cooperation in science and technology, particularly in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), civil nuclear, fusion, and quantum technologies.

One of the key areas of focus is AI, where the participants aim to harness AI and high-performance computing to accelerate quantum algorithm development and system readiness through coordinated research collaboration. They also plan to establish AI infrastructure, facilitate research community access to compute, and leverage their expertise in metrology and evaluations to enable adoption and advance their collective security.

The partnership will also see the launch of a transatlantic Quantum Code Challenge, aiming to mobilize researchers to discover and deploy breakthrough AI algorithms aligned with real-world use cases.

In the realm of AI, the two nations will collaborate with major companies and institutions, including Microsoft, Google, NVIDIA, OpenAI, and the US investment firm Blackstone, together with government bodies and academic institutions. Microsoft, for instance, plans a $30 billion investment in the UK over four years focusing on cloud computing and AI infrastructure, while Google has pledged $5 billion in AI investment. NVIDIA and OpenAI support a UK AI growth zone creating 5000 jobs, especially around Newcastle.

The participants also aim to collaborate closely in building AI infrastructure, facilitating research community access to compute, and harnessing their expertise in metrology and evaluations to enable adoption and advance their collective security.

Another significant area of collaboration is nuclear technology. The participants plan to collaborate in the areas of advanced nuclear reactors, advanced nuclear fuels, and fusion energy, ensuring they remain at the forefront of fission and fusion innovation. They aim to lead the world in a nuclear sector that will play a defining role in the future of energy, security, and economic might, and intend to pioneer breakthrough technologies, streamline and accelerate regulatory processes, and more.

The focus areas for nuclear collaboration also include deepening collaboration on non-proliferation and security programs, facilitating commercial partnerships, supporting regulatory bodies to streamline and accelerate licensing, ensuring a secure and reliable supply chain, advancing global markets and leadership, and more.

The participants also aim to explore opportunities for novel applications of advanced nuclear energy, including civil maritime applications, and playing a leading role informing the establishment of international standards.

In addition, the participants intend to advance trusted, interoperable standards for quantum technologies through complementary multilateral and bilateral pre-standardization activities in quantum computing, sensing, and networking. They also aim to establish a U.S.-UK benchmarking taskforce to accelerate breakthroughs in AI hardware, software, and algorithms.

The partnership will also see the creation of a U.S.-UK AI Industry Exchange Program to spur adoption across defense, health, finance, and energy through reciprocal industry engagements, aligned inputs on trade and technology policy, and targeted end-user showcases.

Lastly, the participants aim to enhance cooperation on initiatives to improve timing resilience and collaborate on research, development, and use of experimental facilities and data, including through AI, to lay the path toward cost-competitive fusion power plants. They also plan to expand their partnership in telecommunications innovation and supply chain resilience, including joint research and development in 6G-relevant technologies.

The participants also intend to deepen collaboration to protect their technologies and their people in the context of shared research security goals across critical and emerging technology research and development. This collaboration is set to strengthen the defense capabilities of both nations and contribute to their energy resilience, particularly in the areas of maritime shipping.

Agreement on Tech Advancement Cooperation between U.S. and U.K. Governments, Outlining Technology Prosperity Partnership