Guwahati: The Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati has led a new initiative to strengthen academic, research and industry collaboration between Northeast India and Japan, with 22 institutions from the region signing a Letter of Intent (LoI) to explore joint partnerships with Japanese universities and organisations.
The LoI was signed during the Japan-NER Academia-Industry Cooperation Symposium 2026 held on March 9 and 10, jointly organised by IIT Guwahati and Gifu University, Japan.
The two-day symposium brought together academic institutions, research organisations and industry representatives from Northeast India and Japan to explore collaborations in areas such as food security, healthcare, environment, sustainable energy and clean water.
Under the agreement, the institutions will participate in the Northeast Region-Japan International Academic and Research Consortium aimed at promoting academic exchange, research collaboration and institutional partnerships.
A total of 22 institutions from the Northeast signed the LoI, including eight National Institutes of Technology (NITs), two Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs), NERIST, AIIMS Guwahati, NERIWALM, Tezpur University, Gauhati University, Cotton University and Assam Engineering College, among others.
Under the collaboration framework, IIT Guwahati will serve as the nodal institution on the Indian side, while Gifu University will act as the coordinating institution on the Japanese side.
The initiative is expected to expand academic exchanges between the two countries, with plans facilitating student mobility and collaborative research between institutions in Northeast India and Japan over the coming years.
Speaking at the inaugural session, IIT Guwahati Director Devendra Jalihal said the consortium would bring together experts from multiple disciplines, including engineering, medicine, science and policymaking, to accelerate regional growth and support industrial development.
Gifu University President Kazuhiro Yoshida said the partnership would strengthen cooperation in education, research, technology transfer and social development between institutions in the two countries.
The symposium was attended by representatives from the Embassy of India in Tokyo, the Government of Assam and several Japanese organisations, including JETRO, JST, JICA and JSPS.
Officials said the new consortium is expected to open opportunities for students and researchers from Northeast India to gain greater global exposure and contribute to strengthening academic cooperation between India and Japan.