Historic Memorandum of Understanding Aims to Secure Global Leadership in Frontier Technologies and Strengthen Economic and National Security.
In a move signaling a new era of transatlantic cooperation, the United States and the United Kingdom have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to create a “Technology Prosperity Deal.”
The agreement, signed at Chequers, Buckinghamshire, outlines ambitious plans for collaboration across several key scientific and technological sectors, including artificial intelligence (AI), civil nuclear energy, and quantum technologies.
The document states that the two nations, already close security and defense partners, are seeking to leverage their shared values and expertise to “maintain and strengthen their strategic leadership” in science and technology.
The primary goal is to address global challenges and secure a competitive edge for their economies.
The MOU details a wide range of planned initiatives under three main pillars:
Accelerating AI Innovation: The agreement recognizes AI as a “defining technology of our age.” It includes plans for joint flagship research programs, such as those for AI-enabled science in biotechnology and fusion energy. The countries will also work to align their pro-innovation policies, develop AI for space applications, and explore ways to build secure AI infrastructure. A key focus is a partnership between the U.S. Center for AI Standards and Innovation and the UK AI Security Institute to promote secure AI development.
Unleashing Civil Nuclear Energy: Citing the dawn of a “golden nuclear age,” the deal aims for the U.S. and UK to lead the global nuclear sector. The nations intend to accelerate regulatory processes, streamline licensing for advanced nuclear reactors, and secure supply chains to become independent from Russian nuclear fuel by the end of 2028. The collaboration will also extend to fusion energy, with a focus on developing cost-competitive power plants and harmonizing policies.
Securing Quantum Advantage: The MOU positions the U.S. and UK as the world’s leading quantum nations, committing them to be the first to “realize true quantum advantage.” Plans include establishing a joint benchmarking taskforce, launching a “Quantum Code Challenge” for researchers, and creating a U.S.-UK Quantum Industry Exchange Program to spur adoption of quantum technologies in areas like defense, finance, and healthcare. The agreement also prioritizes the development of secure and interoperable quantum standards.
Strengthening Foundational Technologies
Beyond these three key areas, the deal also includes provisions for collaboration on foundational technologies to ensure secure development. These include:
- Research Security: Both nations will deepen their cooperation to protect their technologies and research from threats, sharing information and best practices.
- Securing 6G: The agreement outlines a plan for joint research and development in 6G-relevant technologies to shape global telecommunications standards.
- Secure Investment: The countries will work together to attract private capital for the development of advanced critical technologies.
The MOU is not legally binding but represents a strong statement of intent. It is set to become operative alongside progress on the broader U.S.-UK Economic Prosperity Deal. The agreement also outlines a plan to establish a ministerial-level working group within six months to guide the implementation of joint initiatives and assess progress annually.
By combining their scientific capabilities and economic influence, the U.S. and UK are positioning themselves to lead the next generation of technological innovation and address the most pressing challenges of the 21st century.
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