IIT KGP to Set up Indo-Japanese Research Centre

IIT Kharagpur (IIT KGP), one of the premier technological institutes in the country, is now gearing up to put up an Indo-Japanese Research Centre at its campus to pave the way for more meaningful exchanges of thoughts, ideas, academic research works, domain knowledge in various thematic areas between the two countries.

IIT KGP and Japan’s Association for Overseas Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Partnerships (AOTS) have recently signed an MoU to this effect. The two institutes will now focus on state-of-the-art joint certification courses in the domains of technology and management to be co-taught by faculty/experts in both countries including a visit to the host institutions. This partnership will have a strong focus on the professional development of students at the Institute as well as industry professionals, top IIT KGP officials said. The courses will also be offered to impart training to the Japanese students and professionals in India. This would involve domain experts from IIT Kharagpur and industry.

Prof. P P Chakrabarti, Director IIT Kharagpur, said that Japan is a global leader in domains such as urban science & infrastructure, advanced manufacturing/industry 4.0, quality with focus on manufacturing, High-Speed Railways, Semiconductors & Electronic Manufacturing automotive while India has emerged as domain expert in Information Technology, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence and Start-up culture.

The proposed centre within the premises of IIT KGP will facilitate collaborative projects and training modules in these areas in accordance to work cultures of India and Japan which have their unique styles of management and leadership, said Prof. Chakrabarti.

The Indo-Japanese Research Centre will undertake joint academic and business activities which would include events to promote education, internships and employment for students. These activities, spearheaded by IIT Kharagpur will be open to other engineering Institutions for participation including other IITs and NITs.

Prof. Anandaroop Bhattacharya, Associate Dean, International Relations, said that maintenance and health monitoring of infrastructural facilities for transportation, building etc, based on new technological developments are of paramount importance. Japan’s expertise in this area along with sensor technologies will be extremely beneficial in offering short courses jointly by IIT Kharagpur and Japanese organizations,” said Prof. S K Bhattacharyya, Deputy Director of IIT Kharagpur who was present on the occasion along with Prof. Anandaroop Bhattacharya, Associate Dean, International Relations.

Bhattacharya said that with the growing trend of students getting placed in Japanese companies or viewing Japanese universities for higher studies, IIT Kharagpur is keen to start courses on the Japanese language in its campus with the help of AOTS for the benefit of the students of IIT Kharagpur,” opined Anandaroop Bhattacharya.