(SeaPRwire) – TOKYO, April 3, 2026 — JERA Co., Inc. announced today that its U.S. branch, JERA Americas Inc., has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the University of California, Berkeley—the nation’s top-ranked public research institution—to create a partnership focused on scientific, cultural, and educational cooperation.
This agreement represents a major milestone in fostering international ties and promoting open innovation within the energy sector for the JERA Group. By merging JERA’s extensive global energy expertise—spanning technology, industry knowledge, and international networks—with UC Berkeley’s premier research capabilities and talent pool on the U.S. West Coast, the collaboration seeks to develop next-generation energy technologies, cultivate talent, and launch business initiatives that will define future energy systems.
The partnership will be managed by JERA Ventures, the company’s corporate venture capital division, in coordination with other JERA Group departments. Acting as a strategic hub, JERA Ventures will bridge internal and external innovation networks to transform academic research into practical societal solutions.
On the UC Berkeley side, the initiative will be spearheaded by the Institute for Business Innovation (IBI) at the Haas School of Business. The IBI is dedicated to research, instruction, and programs centered on entrepreneurship, innovation, and the commercialization of technology.
Under the terms of the MOU, JERA and the IBI will pursue collaboration in several key areas:
- The commercialization and real-world application of technologies and startups emerging from UC Berkeley.
- Collaborative research focusing on robotics, physical AI, digital technologies, and decarbonization.
- Support for UC Berkeley’s research and educational initiatives that integrate JERA Group’s projects and green transformation (GX) goals.
- The development of internship and career pathways to train future leaders in the energy and GX sectors.
“The energy landscape is undergoing a significant shift as industry, talent, and technology evolve in tandem,” stated Takeshi Kodama, Managing Partner and Head of JERA Ventures. “Through this partnership with UC Berkeley, we intend to be a driving force in this transformation. As a hub that connects capital, talent, and knowledge within and beyond JERA, JERA Ventures will work with UC Berkeley to build platforms that turn innovation into tangible, real-world impact.”
“Energy industry innovation is accelerating, fueled by both the rising demand for power and the necessity of transitioning to more sustainable, cleaner energy sources,” said Chris Bush, executive director of the Institute for Business Innovation at the UC Berkeley Haas School of Business. “JERA’s dedication to leading the energy transition and its investment in research make it an ideal partner for our campus. We look forward to working with JERA Ventures to move concepts from the lab to the market, commercializing everything from new battery technologies to advanced computing for the energy sector.”
“JERA’s long-term vision, reach, and assets make it a compelling partner for UC Berkeley students, researchers, and innovators who want to create change at scale,” added Jon Metzler, Director at Haas IBI and Continuing Lecturer at the UC Berkeley Haas School of Business. “We are eager to collaborate with JERA across decarbonization, digital technologies, and physical AI.”
JERA is committed to providing innovative solutions to global energy challenges. By tackling issues such as energy security, resource scarcity, and climate change, JERA strives to deliver affordable, stable, and cleaner energy. Through JERA Ventures, the company continues to partner with like-minded organizations that share its innovative spirit and social responsibility, challenging traditional paradigms to find transformative solutions.
About JERA
JERA is a global energy leader and Japan’s largest power generator, dedicated to providing advanced solutions to the world’s energy needs. Founded in 2015, the company generates one-third of Japan’s electricity and is among the world’s largest buyers of LNG. JERA maintains a global presence across the energy supply chain, including upstream gas production, LNG projects, fuel procurement, and international power generation. JERA is committed to a responsible energy transition, with a goal of achieving net-zero CO₂ emissions across its global operations by 2050.
About JERA Ventures
JERA Ventures is the corporate venture capital arm of the JERA Group, possessing a strategic investment fund of USD 300 million. Beyond investing in startups with innovative business models and cutting-edge technology, JERA Ventures actively engages with a diverse network of stakeholders in government, industry, and academia to foster an open innovation ecosystem within the energy sector.
About UC Berkeley
Established in 1868, the University of California, Berkeley is the flagship institution of the University of California system. Consistently ranked as the world’s top public university, it counts 74 Nobel laureates among its community. The UC Berkeley Haas School of Business, founded in 1898, is the oldest business school at a public university in the U.S. The Institute for Business Innovation at Berkeley Haas facilitates corporate and startup innovation, trains entrepreneurial leaders, and produces pioneering research.
SOURCE JERA Americas, Inc
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