The National Cyber Advisory Board of the United Kingdom and Keidanren (Japan Business Federation) (hereinafter referred to individually as a "Participant" and collectively as the "Participants");

Recognising the centrality of a "whole of system" approach and public-private partnership for an inclusive and engaged national and international dialogue on cyber;

Committing to a cyberspace that is free, fair, and secure, adheres with international law, maximises opportunities for economic growth and realises Society 5.0 for UN Sustainable Development Goals and Data Free Flow with Trust;

Seeking to ensure a Free and Open Indo-Pacific; build on the enhanced global strategic partnership between the UK and Japan as outlined in the Hiroshima Accord: an Enhanced Japan-UK Global Strategic Partnership; and deliver on the UK-Japan Cyber Partnership and the Memorandum of cooperation on people-to-people exchanges;

Have reached the following recognition.

Paragraph 1
Purpose

1. The purpose of this Memorandum of Cooperation (hereinafter referred to as the "MoC") is to deepen public-private partnerships in cyber between the UK and Japan.

Paragraph 2
Areas of cooperation

Participants will cooperate in the following areas:

1. Building on the first "Japan-UK Cyber Partnership Mission" held in January 2024, convene regular engagements to deepen the Participants collaboration, share updates on national approaches and discuss current and emerging trends in cyberspace.

2. Develop and improve board of directors awareness on the need for cyber resilience, including supply chain protection.

3. Identify solutions to the cyber skills shortage with a focus on professionalisation, best practice recruitment and targeted training support for entry level talent.

4. Strengthen public-private collaboration on cyber resilience in context of future crises or conflicts.

5. Foster the growth of sustainable, innovative and internationally competitive cyber and information security sectors, harnessing quality products and services to meet the needs of government and the wider economy.

6. Build a broader understanding of the threat posed by the irresponsible proliferation and use of advanced commercial cyber capabilities.

7. Discuss current and anticipated cyber regulation, balancing the need for safety and innovation. Where possible, assist in realising harmonisation of regulation and standards to generate cross-border value creation.

8. Where practicable, expand cooperation to include like-minded organisations with shared values.

Paragraph 3
Implementation and Governance

1. The Participants intend to implement the MoC through existing channels of engagement, bringing in relevant senior officials and experts as needed and where relevant.

2. The Participants will oversee the implementation of the MoC using relevant channels, including public and private engagements.

3. Any dispute arising out of the implementation of this MoC will be settled amicably through consultation between the Participants.

Paragraph 4
Commencement, Duration, Modification and Discontinuation

1. This MoC is not legally binding and does not give rise to any rights or obligations under domestic or international law, nor does it preclude any new areas of cooperation as identified by the Participants.

2. This MoC will commence on the date of its signature by the Participants. Each Participant may discontinue this MoC by giving written notice to the other Participant of the intention to discontinue three (3) months in advance.

3. This MoC may be modified at any time in writing by mutual consent of the Participants. Such modification will commence on the date mutually determined by the Participants and form an integral part of this MoC.

4. The discontinuation of this MoC will not affect the ongoing collaboration activities unless otherwise decided by the Participants.

The foregoing represents the recognitions reached between the National Cyber Advisory Board of the United Kingdom and Keidanren (Japan Business Federation) on the matters referred to therein.

Signed in London, United Kingdom on 17 January 2024, in two originals in English, both copies having equal value.