JERA announced that its U.S. subsidiary has entered into a memorandum of understanding with the University of California, Berkeley, to establish a framework for collaboration across education, science, and energy innovation.
The agreement is designed to strengthen international cooperation and accelerate open innovation in the energy sector by combining JERA’s global energy expertise with UC Berkeley’s research capabilities and talent ecosystem. The partnership will focus on developing next-generation technologies, cultivating talent, and launching business initiatives to shape future energy systems.
The collaboration will be driven by JERA Ventures, the company’s corporate venture capital arm, which will serve as a strategic hub connecting internal and external innovation ecosystems. On the UC Berkeley side, the initiative will be led by the Institute for Business Innovation at the Haas School of Business, which focuses on research, teaching, and programs related to innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology commercialization.
Key areas of collaboration include the commercialization of UC Berkeley-developed startups and technologies, joint research on decarbonization, digital technologies, robotics, and physical AI, and support for educational programs aligned with green transformation initiatives. The partnership will also explore internship and career development opportunities to help cultivate future leaders in the energy sector.
JERA, established in 2015 and responsible for producing approximately one-third of Japan’s electricity, aims to achieve net-zero CO2 emissions across its global operations by 2050. Through this collaboration, the company is looking to accelerate innovation and deliver scalable, real-world solutions to global energy challenges, including climate change, resource constraints, and energy security.
KEY QUOTES:
“The energy world is undergoing a profound transformation as technology, talent and industry evolve simultaneously. Through this collaboration with UC Berkeley, we aim not only to participate in this transformation, but to help drive it. As an implementation hub connecting knowledge, talent and capital within and beyond JERA Group, JERA Ventures will work closely with UC Berkeley to build platforms that translate research and innovation into real-world impact that creates societal value.”
Takeshi Kodama, Head of JERA Ventures and Managing Partner
“Innovation in the energy industry is rapidly advancing, driven by both an increased need for power and the challenge of transforming to cleaner, more sustainable generation. JERA’s commitment to helping lead the energy transition and investing in research and technology makes it a great partner for campus. We’re looking forward to engaging with JERA Ventures to put research and concept into practice and commercialize technologies ranging from new battery approaches to novel computing applications for the energy sector.”
Chris Bush, Executive Director of the Institute for Business Innovation at the UC Berkeley Haas School of Business
“JERA’s assets, reach and long-term vision make it a compelling partner for UC Berkeley researchers, students and innovators who are looking to make a difference at scale. We look forward to collaborating with JERA across the field of physical AI, digital technologies, and decarbonization.”
Jon Metzler, Continuing Lecturer at the UC Berkeley Haas School of Business and Director at Haas IBI
