• Sustained Collaboration: IITH and JICA fostered stronger ties, advancing design innovation together.
• Inspiring Speakers: Renowned architects shared insights, fuelling creativity among 100 participants
• Gateway to the Future: The event sets the stage for the JICA Lecture Series and “Ayaam” – Annual Fest of the Department of Design, IIT Hyderabad.

HYDERABAD: The collaboration between the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IITH) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) reached new heights as the JICA Chair Lecture Series concluded successfully. The event brought together 100 participants, setting the stage for future collaborations and educational initiatives. The event was also energized with the 2nd edition of “Ayaam” – Annual Fest of the Department of Design, IITH.

The JICA Chair Lecture Series featured distinguished speakers, each respected in their field, who shared insights into the world of design and innovation. Dr Yozo Fujino, President of Josai University and Professor Emeritus of the University of Tokyo, highlighted his expertise in bridge dynamics, control, and monitoring, drawing on lessons learned from 50 years of bridge research, including the iconic Akashi Kaikyō Bridge. Dr Hidetoshi Ohno, Professor Emeritus of the University of Tokyo and Principal at APL Design Workshop showcased his award-winning career, including notable projects like the University of Tokyo’s Institute of Physics and Mathematics and the Sports & Cultural Complex at IITH. Dr Yoshiyuki Kawazoe, Associate Professor at the University of Tokyo, shared his architectural works and design philosophy, emphasizing the importance of spaces like the “Hotel” and “General Library Annex at the University of Tokyo” in fostering creativity and community gathering and the idea behind the Design of Knowledge Centre at IITH.

Prof B S Murty, Director, IITH, expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating, “The second annual JICA Chair Lecture Series underscores the significance of the IITH-Japan relationship in fostering innovation and knowledge exchange in the field of design for both the Nations. I hope that this lecture series continues to build strong relations between IITH & JICA and also India and Japan.”

Saito, Chief of JICA, India, also emphasized the importance of such collaborations, saying, “JICA is proud to support initiatives that promote Japan – India knowledge-sharing and cultural exchange. Our partnership with IITH is a testament to the strong bond between Japan and India in nurturing design excellence.”

The event, held at the Auditorium, Convention Centre, IITH, witnessed an enthusiastic audience. The success of these engaging lectures and Ayaam has set a positive tone for future collaborations between IITH and JICA, further enhancing the academic and cultural ties between the two Nations – India and Japan.

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HYDERABAD: Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi, today inaugurated in virtual mode, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) – funded Campus Development Project of India Institute of Hyderabad, one of India’s most coveted institutions for higher education in science and technology for developing leaders and visionaries for India’s development and strengthening India-Japan relations.

The event was graced by the presence of esteemed guests in virtual mode including H.E. SUZUKI Hiroshi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to India, and IMOTO Sachiko, Senior Vice President, JICA.

The history of the India-Japan cooperation for IITH traces back to 2007. India requested support from Japan in establishing a new IIT in Hyderabad, which subsequently became a commitment between the Hon’ble Prime Ministers of India and Japan. JICA provided the loan amounting to JPY 23,035 million (around INR 1,500 crores) through two ODA loan projects signed on 28^th January 2014 between the Government of Japan and Government of India to support construction of campus facilities and procurement of research equipment, which contributed to the set-up of around 21 buildings at IITH. 6 buildings of IITH – namely Student Sport and Cultural Complex, Research Centers Complex, Knowledge Center, Technology Incubation Park, International Convention Centre and International Guest House – were designed by the Japanese architects from the University of Tokyo under JICA’s technical cooperation project.

SUZUKI Hiroshi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to India, spoke on this delightful occasion, stating “On behalf of the Government and people of Japan, I would like to extend my most sincere congratulations on the inauguration of the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IITH). I would like to express my deep gratitude to Prime Minister Modi ji for his strong leadership in realizing this very important project. I would also like to pay my respect to Professor B S Murty, Director of IITH, for building such a wonderful campus, as well as providing the best quality education to talented students in India. IITH is one of the finest and world-renowned institutions in India in the fields of engineering, science, and technology. It is a great pleasure for the Government of Japan to cooperate in the development of IITH. I much look forward to IITH becoming a hub for more and more young people interested in studying in Japan and deepening the partnership between Japan and India in the field of education. As the Ambassador of Japan to India, I am committed to making the year 2024 the beginning of a “Big Bang” in Japan-India people-to-people connect. I sincerely hope that IITH will become a new symbol of the Japan-India partnership and that many young talented students and scholars will further deepen the special partnership between Japan and India.

IMOTO Sachiko, Senior Vice President of JICA, expressed her elation after the flagship project, stating, “It is indeed a very historic and momentous day for the India-Japan relationship, as IIT Hyderabad Campus Development Project is being dedicated to the nation by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India today, and I am happy to share the joy of huge achievement on behalf of JICA. Over the past 17 years, the collaboration between IITH and JICA has grown in strength and size which covers campus development, several technical cooperation projects, joint research projects, and public-private partnership projects. Now that the completed initiatives have laid a strong foundation for the bright future of the IITH, we look forward to further focusing on the area of human resource development of India in the technical field and people-to-people exchange between India and Japan in the future. I hope that recent initiatives like ‘the FRIENDSHIP project’, ‘IITH Japan Week’, and ‘JICA Chair Lecture’ will become very important steps towards achieving the same. Long live the India-Japan-IITH friendship! “

In addition to the support for hard infrastructure, JICA and IITH are working together to establish a Japan Desk to promote mutual interactions, promoting joint research projects of IITH with Japanese academia and industries, and facilitating people-to-people exchanges by providing scholarships for study in Japan, under the ongoing technical cooperation project, FRIENDSHIP (Future Researchers at Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad to Enhance Network Development with Scholarship).

Today marks a milestone for the cooperation between India and Japan in the field of skill development. JICA remains committed to IITH’s endeavor to establish itself as a development center of India’s talents and India-Japan Academic Collaboration through various initiatives such as ongoing technical cooperation projects, IITH Japan Week JICA Chair, etc.

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