The UK and Taiwan signed a Science, Innovation and Technology Arrangement in London alongside the 28th annual UK-Taiwan Trade Talks, the UK Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade said in a statement published on 2 October 2026.
What was signed
According to the UK government, Ruth Bradley-Jones, British Representative, Taipei, and Vincent Yao, Taipei Representative, London, signed the UK-Taiwan Science, Innovation and Technology Arrangement. The signing was witnessed by the UK's National Technology Adviser, Dr Dave Smith, and Deputy Minister Bing-Yu Chen of Taiwan's National Science and Technology Council (NSTC).
The department said the Arrangement establishes a framework to support collaboration between the UK Department of Business, Innovation, Science and Trade and Taiwan's NSTC, focusing new bilateral efforts on joint research and development in areas such as semiconductors, space, telecommunications, net zero and AI standards.
In its notes to editors, the UK government described the Arrangement as a non-legally binding framework between the UK and Taiwan to support cooperation in science, innovation and technology.
The wider trade talks
The technology arrangement formed part of a broader trade announcement. The 28th annual UK-Taiwan Trade Talks were co-chaired by Minister for Trade Lord Sarwar and Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs Cynthia Kiang, with discussions covering trade and investment ties, digital trade, clean energy, advanced manufacturing and resilient supply chains, the government said.
The UK government said the two sides have held annual Trade Talks since 1991, and that Taiwan was the UK's sixth-largest trading partner in the Asia-Pacific region in 2025, with bilateral trade worth 8.9 billion pounds. Ministers also reviewed progress under the UK-Taiwan Enhanced Trade Partnership, including cooperation on investment, digital trade and energy and net zero.
Separately, the same two representatives signed a Memorandum of Understanding between UK Export Finance and Taiwan EximBank to strengthen cooperation on export credit opportunities, according to the statement. Ministers also met UK and Taiwanese business representatives during a visit by a Taiwanese business delegation.
What officials said
Dr Dave Smith said: "The UK and Taiwan are natural partners in emerging technologies – from semiconductors and photonics to space and next-generation communications." He added that the Arrangement "gives that partnership a lasting framework to deliver tangible outcomes for researchers and businesses on both sides", describing UK research, design and innovation as complementary to Taiwan's capability in advanced manufacturing and hardware.
Lord Sarwar said the talks "have helped identify new opportunities in digital trade, clean energy and advanced manufacturing to support our industrial ambitions and drive growth in every postcode".
The UK government said NSTC Minister Cheng-Wen Wu met separately, in advance of the launch, with Baroness Lloyd, Minister for Space, Cyber and Regulatory Reform, to discuss arrangements for the signing and exchange views on UK-Taiwan science and technology opportunities.
Key facts and where they come from
- The UK and Taiwan signed a Science, Innovation and Technology Arrangement alongside the 28th annual Trade Talks in London.
The two representatives also signed the UK-Taiwan Science, Innovation and Technology Arrangement
- The Arrangement targets joint R&D in semiconductors, space, telecommunications, net zero and AI standards.
joint research and development in areas of mutual interest, such as semiconductors, space, telecommunications, net zero and AI standards
- The framework is not legally binding.
The Science, Innovation and Technology Arrangement is a non-legally binding framework between the UK and Taiwan
- UK-Taiwan bilateral trade reached 8.9 billion pounds in 2025, the UK government said.
Taiwan is the UK's sixth-largest trading partner in the Asia-Pacific region, with total bilateral trade reaching £8.9 billion in 2025.
- UK Export Finance and Taiwan EximBank signed a Memorandum of Understanding on export credit cooperation.
signed a Memorandum of Understanding between UK Export Finance and Taiwan EximBank to strengthen cooperation on export credit opportunities