ICFAST 2025: Celebrating 40 Years of India–Japan Science & Technology Cooperation

New Delhi, October 2, 2025 

The Indian JSPS Alumni Association (IJAA), in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, is set to host the International Conference on Frontier Areas of Science and Technology (ICFAST 2025) at IIT Delhi on October 12, 2025. This landmark event commemorates the 40th anniversary of India–Japan Science and Technology (S&T) Cooperation and coincides with the “Year of India–Japan Science, Technology, and Innovation Exchange” being observed from April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026, as jointly announced by the governments of India and Japan.

Keynote Highlight: Nobel Laureate Dr. Akira Yoshino

The conference will feature Dr. Akira Yoshino, recipient of the 2019 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his groundbreaking work on Lithium-ion Batteries (LIBs), as the keynote speaker. Dr. Yoshino’s pioneering research revolutionized portable energy storage and continues to power today’s digital age, electric mobility, and renewable energy transitions.

About IJAA and Its Legacy

Founded in 2006, the Indian JSPS Alumni Association (IJAA) has been a vital bridge in fostering academic and research collaborations between India and Japan. Since 2010, IJAA has organized annual India–Japan Science and Technology Seminars, bringing together scientists, researchers, students, bureaucrats, and Nobel Laureates from diverse fields.

These gatherings provide a vibrant platform for knowledge exchange, collaborative networking, and showcasing innovations. With poster exhibitions, Japanese university booths, and participation from science and technology companies, the seminars highlight opportunities for joint research, institutional partnerships, funding, and fellowships.

The event is sponsored by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), Japan and the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) under the Sakura Science Exchange Program. It is jointly organized by the Indian JSPS Alumni Association (IJAA) and the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi). Co-organizers include the Embassy of Japan in India and the Embassy of India in Japan, Tokyo, reflecting the strong diplomatic and academic collaboration driving this landmark initiative.

Significance of ICFAST 2025

ICFAST 2025 is designed as a special edition of the India–Japan Science and Technology Seminar, celebrating four decades of bilateral scientific partnership. It will bring together thought leaders, researchers, and policymakers from both countries to deliberate on frontier areas of science and technology, including energy solutions, digital transformation, life sciences, sustainability, and innovation-driven development.

By strengthening the ecosystem of cooperation, the conference seeks to reaffirm the role of India and Japan as partners in advancing global science and technology for sustainable progress.

Message from the Chairs

Prof. D. Sakthi Kumar, Chairman, ICFAST 2025 and IJAA; Faculty of Information Sciences and Arts, Toyo University, Japan, and Prof. Anil Verma, Chairman, ICFAST 2025; Dean, International Programmes, IIT Delhi, jointly extended an invitation, “We invite you all to join and participate in this special edition of the India–Japan Science and Technology Seminar, celebrating the significant milestone of India–Japan S&T cooperation. We look forward to meeting you and engaging in active discussions.”