TOKYO -- Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs plans to hire foreign experts knowledgeable in dual-use technologies, seeking to bring promising tech to Japan and encourage overseas venture capital firms to invest in Japanese companies.

The ministry will sign outsourcing contracts with specialists, with an aim of hiring them at 10 or so diplomatic missions in the U.S. and Europe in fiscal 2027. Candidates include individuals affiliated with venture capital firms that focus on defense-sector investment and think tanks with expertise in dual-use technologies -- those with both military and civilian applications.

Individuals with experience working at military research organizations, such as the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, are also under consideration. The Foreign Ministry sought tens of millions of yen (10 million yen equals about $63,600) for the effort in its budget request for fiscal 2027.

Overseas diplomatic missions will be responsible for recruitment, accounting for the advanced technology fields developed in their respective regions. The consulate in the American city of San Francisco, home to artificial intelligence developers OpenAI and Anthropic, could hire personnel with AI expertise, for example.

The specialists will be expected to promote collaboration between local companies and their Japanese counterparts, and to help bring advanced technologies and investment into Japan. They will gather information on area businesses seeking partners for technology development and joint research. When Japanese companies look for collaboration partners, the specialists will connect them with suitable overseas counterparts. The specialists will also provide local venture capital firms and other investors with information on dual-use technologies developed by Japanese companies, helping to encourage investment in promising domestic startups and research institutions.

The specialists will also provide local venture capital firms and other investors with information on dual-use technologies developed by Japanese companies, helping to encourage investment in promising domestic startups and research institutions.

Traditionally, Japan's trading houses have served as a link between foreign and Japanese businesses. But a Foreign Ministry official said overseas companies with dual-use technologies often contact Japanese diplomatic missions to ask about how they should expand into Japan. By using specialists, the ministry aims to provide advice and ensure that such opportunities are not missed. The Japanese government plans to revise three key national security documents, including the National Security Strategy, by the end of the year.

The Foreign Ministry is focusing on strengthening security-related technologies, an effort that includes information-gathering through overseas diplomatic missions. The ministry this year instructed missions in the U.S., Europe and other like-minded countries to report useful information that could help Japanese companies working with dual-use technologies establish connections with overseas peers.

The Foreign Ministry is focusing on strengthening security-related technologies, an effort that includes information-gathering through overseas diplomatic missions. The ministry this year instructed missions in the U.S., Europe and other like-minded countries to report useful information that could help Japanese companies working with dual-use technologies establish connections with overseas peers.

Japan's ruling coalition has also emphasized the importance of using overseas diplomatic missions to advance dual-use technologies. Recommendations compiled by the Liberal Democratic Party in June said Japan "should also promote collaboration with overseas companies and other parties by making maximum use of its diplomatic missions abroad."