The Indian Institute of Technology-Guwahati (IIT-G) organized the two-day Japan-NER Academia-Industry Cooperation Symposium 2026 (JNTCS 2026) in collaboration with Gifu University, Japan. The symposium aimed to enhance academic, research, and industry cooperation between Northeast India and Japan, addressing global issues such as food security, healthcare, environmental sustainability, energy, and clean water. It aimed to facilitate multilateral collaborations across various disciplines, including science, technology, and medicine. Since 2022, Japan has prioritized Northeast India, anticipating the exchange of 5,000 students between institutions in the two regions over the next five years. IIT-G director Prof. Devendra Jalihal highlighted the formation of a consortium uniting engineers, medical professionals, scientists, and policymakers as pivotal for regional growth and industrial transformation. A significant outcome was the signing of a Letter of Intent (LOI) for the Northeast Region–Japan International Academic and Research Consortium by 22 institutions from Northeast India, establishing a collaboration framework for academic partnerships. IIT Guwahati will serve as the Indian nodal institution, with Gifu University coordinating on the Japanese side. Prof. Kazuhiro Yoshida, President of Gifu University, expressed confidence that the consortium would advance the four pillars of academic institutions: education, research, technology transfer, and societal service, thus providing global exposure and educational opportunities for Northeast students and researchers.
