The third Japan-India Universities Forum, which will take place on October 19, 2024, is an important step in strengthening India and Japan's long-standing diplomatic partnership. This event, held as part of the celebrations for the two countries' 70th diplomatic anniversary, highlights their unique strategic and global collaboration. The forum will focus on advancing cooperation in science, technology, and innovation, highlighting measures to improve brain circulation and create deeper collaboration between universities in both countries. 

The meeting is especially notable because of its theme, "Promotion of Japan-India brain circulation and utilisation of human resources." This reflects a growing realisation that leveraging the expertise of academics, researchers, and students from both countries is critical to increasing global competitiveness. 

Since FY2022, the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) has organised two previous events in Japan to foster collaborative links between Indian and Japanese universities. These measures have already produced results, with numerous new university exchange programs emerging to boost talent and knowledge mobility. This year's forum, however, promises to be the largest-ever university exchange event between India and Japan, taking place in New Delhi. 

This magnificent event, co-organised by the Embassy of Japan in India as part of Japan Months 2024, serves as both a venue for academic collaboration and a platform for science and technology diplomacy. By promoting relationships at the university level, the forum hopes to develop bilateral ties beyond academics and into innovation-driven companies. 

The forum will take place at The Grand New Delhi, with a comprehensive agenda aimed at developing deeper contacts between universities and research institutes in both countries. 

The event will begin with opening remarks by Prof. HASHIMOTO Kazuhito, President of JST, followed by speeches from dignitaries such as Prof. Abhay Karandikar from India's Department of Science and Technology (DST), Mr. ARIYOSHI Takashi of the Embassy of Japan, and Mr. Sibi George, India's Ambassador to Japan. Their statements will set the tone for the significance of this bilateral academic and scientific partnership. 

A series of roundtable conversations will follow, organised into three groups and co-chaired by representatives from prominent universities in India, including IIT Hyderabad, IIT Bombay, and IIT Delhi, as well as Japan's The University of Tokyo, University of Tsukuba, and Kyoto University. The discussions will centre on methods for improving brain circulation and ensuring that human resources from both countries play key roles in regional and global innovation ecosystems. 

The final session will feature one-on-one meetings between Japanese and Indian universities and research institutes, with the goal of developing specific cooperating collaborations. This chapter emphasises the need for creating focused connections that can yield real results, such as cooperative research projects, student exchange programs, and technology transfer activities. 

28 institutions, one research center, five affiliated organizations, and five corporate entities will represent Japan. India will add 34 universities to the table, increasing the level of participation. 

Beyond the forum, further events are planned to further deepen academic and research linkages. On October 20-21, IIT Hyderabad will hold the IITH Japan Month Academic Day, demonstrating the two countries' commitment to long-term engagement. 

This string of events foreshadows a strong future for Japan-India relations, particularly in domains that will shape both countries' upcoming, such as science and technology. As both countries continue to prioritise education and research as pillars of their bilateral relationship, forums like this one will undoubtedly play an important role in influencing the trajectory of their strategic and global collaboration.