India-Japan Science and Technology Partnership Celebrates 40 Years

Celebrating Four Decades of Collaboration

New Delhi/Tokyo, April 6: Jitendra Singh, the Union Minister of State for Science and Technology, delivered a virtual speech during the grand finale of the India-Japan Year of Science, Technology, and Innovation Exchange on Monday at the Indian Embassy in Tokyo, emphasizing the strong bilateral cooperation that has flourished over the past four decades.

In his opening remarks, Singh expressed his pleasure in addressing the audience, stating, “Namaste! A very good afternoon to everyone. It is a great honor to speak at the grand finale of the India-Japan Year of Science and Technology being celebrated at the Embassy of India in Tokyo.”

He highlighted the importance of the partnership, saying, “I am pleased to note that the collaboration in science and technology between India and Japan stands as a significant pillar of our international engagements in this field.”

Singh marked the occasion's importance by stating, “I am delighted to connect with you virtually at this event, which commemorates 40 years of our science and technology partnership.”

He pointed out India's expanding role in innovation, mentioning, “India is pivotal in research and development across various scientific sectors, engaging multiple stakeholders, including academia, research institutions, and entrepreneurs, while ensuring equal opportunities for women and young scientists.”

The minister also shared notable achievements from recent years: “The 11th meeting of the Indo-Japan Joint Science & Technology Committee took place in New Delhi on June 5, 2025, leading to several new initiatives.”

“On August 31 last year, during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit, a Joint Statement of Intent was signed to further enhance our relations in science, technology, and innovation,” he added.

Singh announced that a new memorandum of cooperation has been signed between the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development and the Indian Council of Medical Research.

Discussing ongoing projects, he mentioned, “The Indian Beamline at Tsukuba, Japan, is contributing significantly to advanced research. The unveiling of a bust of Bharat Ratna Sir C.V. Raman at Shimane University in 2025 was also a memorable event.”

“The Japan Science & Technology Agency is launching the Lotus program to invite and support 1,000 researchers from India annually. We have also established an implementation arrangement between ISRO and JAXA of Japan for a collaborative lunar mission under the LUPEX project,” he stated.

Looking to the future, Singh emphasized the shared vision of both nations: “We view Japan as a reliable partner, where Japan's technology and India's talent can complement each other. We anticipate the establishment of a joint center by Japan and India to accelerate innovation in science and technology and tackle critical challenges, including global issues like sustainable development goals.”

In closing, Singh congratulated the Indian Embassy in Japan for organizing the event.

Earlier in March 2025, Singh celebrated India’s National Science Day at the Indian Embassy in Tokyo, where he reflected on the successful collaboration between India and Japan in science and technology over the past four decades.

He declared 2025–26 as the India-Japan Year of Science, Technology, and Innovation Exchange, highlighting the progress made since 2014 under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership.

Singh also noted significant achievements since 2015, including the selection of approximately 7,000 Indian students for the Sakura Science Program, allowing them to visit Japan and experience advanced research.

The ongoing partnership is poised to deepen in emerging fields such as Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Quantum Technology, and Space, ushering in a new era of scientific collaboration between the two nations.