In mid-July, ARPA-E hosted Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) in Washington D.C. The two innovation agencies engaged in a day-long workshop to explore areas of potential collaboration.

ARPA-E and NEDO have a long-standing relationship. The organizations strengthen their partnership through meetings like this workshop, visits to review each other’s work, and NEDO’s regular participation in the ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit.

ARPA-E Director Dr. Evelyn N. Wang and Dr. Kikuo Kishimoto, Executive Director for NEDO’s Technology Strategy Center, opened the day with presentations recapping their respective agency’s recent work and focus. Later in the day, the two leaders engaged in a discussion to lay out next steps for continued collaboration.

“All of us gathered share the goal to accelerate clean, sustainable, viable energy technology,” said ARPA-E Director Evelyn N. Wang in her opening remarks.

The more than 40 participants spent the morning absorbing a series of presentations delivered by technical specialists from both agencies on shared topics of interest. These included industrial decarbonization, power electronics, the grid and storage, and blue carbon.

In the afternoon, the gathering split into focused breakout groups for in-depth discussions. Topics focused on the road to carbon neutrality including decarbonization of carbon-intensive sectors like iron, steel, and mining and using power electronics to create a less carbon-intensive, more resilient grid. ARPA-E and NEDO technical staff identified opportunities for the agencies to collaborate to support disruptive energy technologies with the potential to transform the global energy landscape. 

Going forward, ARPA-E and NEDO will continue to make the most of opportunities to meet joint mission areas. Together, ARPA-E and NEDO seek to accelerate the development of impactful technologies to support a sustainable and resilient energy future for the world.

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