On February 6, Tohoku University hosted MEET India, an immersive event that gave students a feel for what studying, working and collaborating with India can look like. The day blended big-picture policy with real-life stories.

In his opening remarks, Yashawant Dev Panwar of the Embassy of India, Tokyo, noted that 2025-26 has been designated the Japan-India Year of Science, Technology and Innovation Exchange. His message was simple and upbeat: "India's talent and Japan's technology is a winning combination."

That spirit carried through messages from Kuniaki Sato of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and Shireesh B. Kedare, director of the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay. Tohoku University and IIT Bombay signed an agreement last April to create a Joint Academy of Excellence, designed to spark industry-academia co-creation in areas such as disaster science, robotics, semiconductors, AI and quantum technologies.

Industry voices added a practical edge. In two keynote speeches, representatives from Daikin Industries, Ltd. and Maruichi Steel Tube Ltd. spoke about the scale - and excitement - of the Indian market.

"Our message, especially to students, is to give India a chance," said Shoya Kamiaka, a team manager at Daikin's Technology and Innovation Centre. "There's a growing population, a growing market and lot of passion and motivation. The feeling of doing business in India now is something you have to be there to understand. You can learn a lot from the experience."

Tomoya Suzuki, a physics student who took part in the Global Immersion Programme at IIT Bombay last year, talked about the start-up culture and hands-on approach to entrepreneurship there.

"The co-creation and collaboration between companies and students is very ambitious at IIT Bombay. It's similar to our Aobayama Garage, but with much more space and many more students making use of the resources." The pace, he added, is energetic and purposeful. "People sometimes call India chaotic, but the energy is positive. I saw how they turn that energy into systems that work."

The afternoon leaned into culture and colour. Indian students studying at Tohoku University gave presentations introducing different regions of the country, led yoga sessions and showcased traditional clothing. Conversations were also held over light Indian snacks such as samosa and laddu, and cups of chai, sweet, milky tea brewed with spices.

"We want to show the diversity and beauty of India, and break stereotypes," said Avin Sharma, a fourth-year student on the International Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Course (IMAC). "Some students think Japan and India are very different, but there are actually many similarities in the culture, the food, the traditions and even the language. Hopefully we can inspire more Japanese students to visit."

With another group of Tohoku University students heading to IIT Bombay in March under the Global Immersion Programme, and with the two countries set to mark 75 years of diplomatic ties in 2027, MEET India was an invitation to a partnership that is clearly gathering momentum.

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Tohoku University Global Strategy Office
Email: kokusai-rgrp.tohoku.ac.jp