JICA Catalyzes Innovation and Business Partnerships at 4th India-Japan Business Conference in Chennai

Chennai, July 2025

At the 4th India-Japan Business Conference, organized by the Indo-Japan Business Council (IJBC) in Chennai on 10th July, Takuro Takeuchi, Chief Representative of JICA India, delivered a presentation highlighting JICA’s expanding role as a catalyst for business partnerships between Japanese and Indian enterprises.

Takuro Takeuchi, Chief Representative of JICA India, speaking at the 4th India-Japan Business Conference in Chennai, highlighting JICA’s expanded role in fostering India-Japan business partnerships.

Addressing a packed audience of policymakers, industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and researchers, Takeuchi highlighted that JICA’s mission now extends well beyond traditional infrastructure financing. Today, it functions as a strategic enabler of innovation, industrial collaboration, and impactful social initiatives, actively supporting synergies that align with both national development priorities and global sustainability goals.

Turning Synergies into Strategy

"JICA is no longer just about official development assistance. We are actively building ecosystems that enable Japanese and Indian companies to jointly innovate, test, and scale business models tailored for India and beyond,” remarked Takeuchi. He detailed five catalytic roles JICA is playing to unlock new avenues for cooperation: Research and Development (R&D), Proof of Concept (PoC), Enabling New Business, Public Project Creation, and Mutual Social Issue Solving.

R&D as the New Gateway

At the heart of JICA’s strategy is the belief that India’s thriving digital economy, startup energy, and scientific talent can fuel next-generation Japanese R&D. Through targeted initiatives like the Telangana Startup Ecosystem project, JICA is connecting Japanese companies with Indian startups, facilitating PoC activities, and helping commercialize innovations through platforms like T-Hub, T-Works, and TGIC.

A standout example cited was JICA’s close engagement with the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IITH), where it has established a Japan Desk. This platform has enabled industry-academia collaborations, high-quality joint research, and provided Japanese companies access to India’s top-tier talent pool.

Proof of Concept with Real Impact

JICA’s Proof of Concept (PoC) model is unlocking unique opportunities for Japanese technology to be tested in real-world Indian settings. For instance, in Himachal Pradesh, JICA facilitated PoC trials for crop diversification using new agricultural technologies. In Uttarakhand, an innovative collaboration between a Japanese consultant and an Indian startup used satellite data from JAXA to monitor and maintain underground water pipes—demonstrating a real fusion of innovation and local problem-solving.

"These PoCs are not theoretical exercises. They are implemented on government-supported project sites, enabling scale and sustainability,” noted Takeuchi.

Creating the Business Environment of Tomorrow

Understanding that innovation cannot thrive in isolation, JICA is also playing a vital role in creating enabling environments. In sectors like semiconductors and medical devices, JICA is working closely with state governments and institutions like AIIMS Delhi and Osaka University to create the physical infrastructure, regulatory frameworks, and skilled talent required to foster new industries.

A notable initiative is the National Medical Device Centre at AIIMS, aimed at positioning India as a global hub for affordable and high-quality medical technologies through Indo-Japanese collaboration.

Co-Creating Public Projects

One of the most unique value propositions JICA offers is the ability to transform collaborative business ideas into public sector projects, provided they align with India’s national goals and demonstrate mutual value. The agency is actively encouraging Japanese and Indian enterprises to co-develop ideas that can serve as public solutions — from green logistics to smart cities.

Solving Social Issues Across Borders

The presentation ended on a poignant note, touching on shared societal challenges like youth unemployment in India and labor shortages in Japan. JICA is actively designing cross-border solutions that address both—by enabling skill development in India and easing demographic pressures in Japan.

“India and Japan are more than economic partners. We are knowledge partners, innovation allies, and social collaborators,” concluded Takeuchi.

Conclusion:

JICA’s evolving role exemplifies the next chapter in India–Japan ties — one rooted not just in aid, but in agility, alignment, and aspiration. As both nations face the future of global disruption and opportunity, this catalytic partnership promises to be a cornerstone of sustainable and inclusive development.