Harwell Japan Day 2026 Confirmed — Expanding Opportunities for Japan-Origin Innovation

We are pleased to announce that Harwell Japan Day 2026 will be held on October 21, 2026, at Quad3, Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire, UK.

Following the success of the inaugural 2025 event, which brought together Japanese SMEs, researchers, and UK innovation leaders, this year’s edition will further strengthen the bridge between Japan and the UK innovation ecosystems. The event continues to serve as a unique platform where industry, academia, and government converge to create tangible collaboration opportunities.

A Stronger Focus on Japanese SMEs and Startups

For 2026, we are placing a greater emphasis on providing presentation and engagement opportunities for Japanese “monozukuri” SMEs and deeptech startups.

In 2025, participation from Japanese manufacturing companies demonstrated strong interest and potential for collaboration with UK research institutions and companies. Building on this momentum, Harwell Japan Day 2026 will prioritise:

• Showcasing practical, implementation-ready technologies

• Increasing pitch and demonstration opportunities

• Facilitating direct interaction with UK partners, investors, and research organisations

Our objective is clear: move beyond “introduction” and accelerate real execution and collaboration on the ground at Harwell.

Pre-Event in Tokyo: Harwell Japan Night (May 27, 2026)

As a lead-up to the main event, we will host Harwell Japan Night in Tokyo on May 27, 2026.

This pre-session will bring together key stakeholders from both Japan and the UK, including researchers, business leaders, and ecosystem partners. Designed as a kickoff event toward Harwell Japan Day, it will feature:

• Talks and panel discussions

• Networking opportunities

• Early-stage matchmaking and collaboration exploration

The session will take place at Nihonbashi Life Science Building, providing an accessible platform for Japanese participants to engage before travelling to the UK.

From Connection to Execution

Harwell is not just a research campus—it is a global innovation hub where partnerships translate into real-world outcomes.

Harwell Japan Day is designed to unlock this environment for Japanese innovators by:

• Embedding them within the Harwell ecosystem

• Enabling direct dialogue with UK stakeholders

• Creating pathways toward joint research, PoC, and commercialisation

Looking Ahead

Harwell Japan Day 2026 represents the next step in building a sustainable Japan–UK innovation pipeline, with deeper participation, stronger execution, and broader global impact.

We look forward to welcoming more Japanese SMEs, startups, and partners to Harwell this October.