The United States and Japan intend to provide Manila at least $8 million for the development of emerging technologies and a reliable information communications technology ecosystem in the Philippines.

The two countries made the commitment in the joint vision statement of President Marcos, US President Joe Biden, and Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Friday, April 12 (Manila time) with an aim to develop critical and emerging technologies. 
 

"We commit to harnessing the talents and ingenuity of our citizens to seize cutting-edge technological opportunities," the countries said.  

"The United States, subject to Congressional notification, and Japan, with support from Japanese industry, intend to provide at least $8 million for Open Radio Access Network (RAN) field trials and the Asia Open RAN Academy based in Manila, to enable future commercial deployment and an open, interoperable, secure, reliable, and trusted information communications technology ecosystem in the Philippines," they stated.

This builds on prior US and Japanese investment of over $9 million for these projects in the Philippines.

Japan also further stated that it is "seriously considering further investments for the potential commercial deployment of Open RAN technology in the Philippines, including from the Global South Future-Oriented Co-Creation Project."

The United States and Japan also welcomed the Philippines’ plan to pilot Open RAN in its national broadband program and free Wi-Fi project and commended the country's commitment to develop a national Open RAN policy framework.

"This year, our three countries look forward to holding the first trilateral Cyber and Digital Dialogue to explore additional cooperation opportunities," the statement read.

Semiconductor investments

The countries also intend to pursue a new semiconductor workforce development initiative, through which students from the Philippines will receive world-class training at leading American and Japanese universities. This move aims to help secure the three nation's semiconductor supply chains.

They underscored that the initiative complements the expansion of semiconductor investments in the Philippines which would strengthen supply chain resiliency among the three nations.

"Furthermore, through the CHIPS and Science Act’s International Technology Security and Innovation Fund, the United States and the Philippines plan to coordinate our efforts to develop and expand the Philippine semiconductor workforce to strengthen the global supply chain," they said.

Clean energy

The three countries also seek to expand trilateral cooperation in the Philippines on the deployment of clean energy technologies, including renewable energy projects such as solar and wind, to support energy requirements in the country and help ensure a just energy transition.

"Recognizing the Philippines’ request for further training and capacity building for scientists, engineers, and relevant personnel and policy-makers, our three nations seek to expand our partnership on safe and secure civil-nuclear capacity building," they stated.

Under the Foundational Infrastructure for Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor Technology (FIRST) program, the US and Japan plan to co-host a nuclear energy study tour in Japan for nuclear experts and policy decision-makers from the Philippines and other FIRST partner countries.

They also plan to deepen trilateral cooperation on civilian nuclear workforce development through a trilateral dialogue this year.

"Japan, the Philippines, and the United States support critical minerals industries in all of our countries as a way to promote resilient and reliable global supply chains for critical minerals. We share the goal of producing and supplying battery materials and batteries for electric vehicles and energy storage systems for the global marketplace," the three leaders said.

The US, under the International Visitor Leadership Program, also bared plans to manage a clean energy supply chain training program for select participants from Japan and the Philippines.