IIT-H, Hamamatsu City tie up to drive innovation

The Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IIT-H) and Hamamatsu City, Japan, have formed a key partnership to drive innovation and talent exchange. On Thursday, Prof. BS Murty, Director of IIT Hyderabad, and Yusuke Nakano, Mayor of Hamamatsu City, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote personnel and economic collaboration between the two regions.
The partnership focuses on three key areas, such as Human Resource Exchange: Facilitating Indian tech talent in science and engineering to work in Japan. R&D Collaborations: Promoting academic and industrial research through open innovation.
Ecosystem Development: Helping Indian professionals adapt to life in Hamamatsu City. This collaboration began in January 2023 with discussions between IIT Hyderabad and Hamamatsu City’s former mayor. The MoU builds on this groundwork, enabling practical initiatives to start soon.
 Prof. Murty emphasised the historic significance of this collaboration, highlighting Japan’s investments in IIT Hyderabad’s infrastructure and the strengthening ties through JICA’s “Friendship” programme. He expressed confidence that this partnership would boost innovation, research and economic growth, supporting India’s ‘Viksit Bharat’ vision.
Meanwhile, Mayor Nakano expressed excitement about introducing Japanese culture and technology through this partnership. He appreciated IIT Hyderabad’s reputation for producing exceptional talent, emphasising the potential for deeper collaboration between Hamamatsu industries and the institute.
The MoU aims to strengthen ties, promote research and facilitate talent exchange for mutual growth. Dignitaries from Japan, including Torii Noritaka, Chairman of Hamamatsu City Council, attended the signing ceremony.