Tohoku University and Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT-B) have inked a Joint Statement to establish the Tohoku University IIT Bombay Joint Institute of Excellence (JIE). The document was signed at a ceremonial ceremony organized by Tohoku University in Japan.

The agreement is to facilitate high-level research collaboration, student and teacher exchange, and collaborative programs in the fields of green energy, artificial intelligence, material science, and disaster resilience. With the establishment of the JIE, the two universities signed a new agreement to implement a Dual Doctoral Degree Program. The project has been touted as a giant step forward to promote bilateral research collaboration between the two countries.

This joint effort is a significant milestone in Indo-Japanese academic co-operation", says Prof. Shireesh B. Kedare, Director, IIT Bombay, during the function. "We expect that the Joint Institute of Excellence will be a center for innovation and long-term co-operation in matters of international significance".

Senior officials of both organizations, as well as government and diplomatic officials, participated in the reception. These included Mr Sibi George, Indian Ambassador to Japan, and Mr Gakuji Ito, Director-General of the Higher Education Bureau, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), Japan. Mr Kanji Fujiki, of the Japan Science and Technology Agency, and Mr Kazuhiro Aoki, Managing Director of The 77 Bank Ltd, were also present.

Tohoku University President Prof. T. Tominaga led the host team, and IIT Bombay was represented by Chairman of the Board of Governors Mr Sharad Kumar Saraf, Deputy Director (ART) Prof. Milind Atrey, Dean of International Relations Prof. Sudarshan Kumar, and other senior faculty members.

During the ceremony, Prof. Masahiro Yamaguchi gave an overview of the new Joint Institute of Excellence and Prof. Daisuke Komori gave Tohoku University's ongoing collaborative activities. Prof. P. Seshu, also convenor of the JIE Committee at IIT Bombay, spoke about the long-term vision of the institute partnership.

The pact follows a Global Immersion Programme at IIT Bombay in March, when a group of Tohoku University students came to India. "The reaction of our students was extremely positive", says Prof. Komori. "They experienced the visit to IIT Bombay as intellectually enriching and culturally enriching".

Representatives of the two nations indicated that the new programs would help address global challenges through cross-disciplinary studies and cross-border academic collaboration. While the long-term impact remains to be seen, the creation of the JIE is being viewed as a concrete step towards establishing enduring academic and cultural ties between India and Japan.