Tokyo/Washington, June 2026 – The Japanese government has announced it will participate in the US-led “Genesis Mission”, a national project designed to harness artificial intelligence to accelerate scientific discovery. Japan becomes the first country to join the initiative, which is spearheaded by the US Department of Energy (DOE).
Together, the governments of Japan and the United States will invest USD 1 billion over the next five years, with Japan contributing USD 500 million. The collaboration will focus on priority areas including biotechnology, nuclear fusion, and quantum information science, while integrating US federal scientific databases and supercomputing resources into a new AI platform.
The project aims to use AI to test hypotheses, automate research processes, and accelerate innovation, positioning it as a transformative effort comparable to historic undertakings such as the Manhattan Project and the Apollo Program.
Major technology companies including Microsoft, Google, and NVIDIA will also participate, providing advanced AI models and expanding supercomputing capabilities. Japan’s involvement will grant access to cutting-edge US supercomputers and vast scientific datasets, strengthening its role in global AI-driven research.
Officials from Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry are expected to visit the US in early June to formally announce the partnership alongside DOE representatives.
By joining the Genesis Mission, Japan signals its commitment to advancing frontier science through AI, while deepening its strategic partnership with the United States in shaping the future of global research and innovation.
