Ukraine and Japan have discussed the launch of a new strategic digital cooperation initiative aimed at strengthening ties between their technology sectors, supporting startups, and expanding joint innovation projects.
The details of the upcoming partnership were addressed during a meeting with Japan’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Ukraine, Masashi Nakagome. It marked the diplomat’s first meeting with Oleksandr Bornyakov in his role as Acting Minister of Digital Transformation. Deputy ministers Valeriia Koval and Nataliia Denikeieva also took part in the discussions.
A central topic of the meeting was the preparation for the launch of the Japan-Ukraine Digital Tech Cooperation initiative. The project is designed to help Ukrainian tech companies and startups find international partners, exchange research and development experience, and expand into the Japanese market.
Officials emphasized that the initiative reflects a broader effort to build a digital economy in which the state acts as a reliable partner for the technology sector. Ukraine highlighted Japan’s position as a global innovation leader and identified several key areas for potential collaboration, including robotics and unmanned systems, cybersecurity, broadband infrastructure and electronic communications, artificial intelligence, and digital skills development. The cooperation also aligns with Ukraine’s WINWIN 2030 digital strategy.
During the meeting, Ukrainian officials also presented developments in the Diia.AI system and the country’s digital education platform Mriia. Diia.AI, described as the world’s first national-scale AI agent, already assists around one million Ukrainians in accessing public services such as document extraction and fine payments.
Ukrainian representatives stressed that Diia does not store personal data permanently, instead temporarily retrieving information from state registries. They also highlighted the Trembita data exchange system, which records and tracks every instance of data access to ensure transparency and security.
The Japanese side showed strong interest in Ukraine’s experience in building resilient digital infrastructure under wartime conditions, particularly in defending against daily cyberattacks.
Ukraine’s Ministry of Digital Transformation noted that this experience could be valuable for Japan and other international partners seeking to strengthen cybersecurity and digital resilience.
Officials also confirmed ongoing discussions with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on potential future joint projects, particularly in digital governance and education.
Ukrainian representatives expressed appreciation for Japan’s consistent support and emphasized that bilateral technological cooperation continues to deepen, with further joint IT initiatives expected in the future.
