Prof. D. Sakthi Kumar Receives Japan’s 2025 Foreign Minister’s Commendation for Advancing India–Japan Science and Academic Ties

New Delhi / Tokyo, August 2025 

Prof. D. Sakthi Kumar, Founder and Chairman of the Indian JSPS Alumni Association (IJAA), has been selected

as one of the recipients of the 2025 Japan Foreign Minister’s Commendation, a prestigious recognition awarded by the Government of Japan to individuals and organizations with outstanding contributions in international fields.

This year’s commendation acknowledges Prof. Kumar’s over two decades of dedicated work in advancing India–Japan science and technology collaborations, promoting academic exchange, and fostering long-term partnerships between researchers, professors, and students in both countries.

Strengthening India–Japan Science and Technology Cooperation

Since founding the Indian JSPS Alumni Association (IJAA) in 2006, Prof. Kumar has led initiatives that have become milestones in India–Japan academic exchange. Under his leadership, IJAA has organized over 20 high-level India–Japan S&T seminars across India and Japan, featuring eminent participants such as Nobel Laureates, ministers, science advisors to the Prime Ministers of both countries, policymakers, and top scientists. These efforts have significantly deepened cooperation between the two nations in fields of science, technology, and innovation (STI).

Prof. Kumar also recently established the India–Japan Society for Science, Technology & Education (IJSSTE) to further strengthen institutional and academic collaborations between both nations.

Engagement with Toyo University

Alongside his work with IJAA and IJSSTE, Prof. Kumar has also been actively engaged with Toyo University in the Faculty of Information Sciences & Arts in Tokyo Japan, contributing to academic programs, collaborative research initiatives, and student development. His work at Toyo University complements his mission of expanding India–Japan partnerships in science, technology, and education, helping create a new generation of researchers and innovators who can address shared global challenges.

A Milestone Year: 40 Years of India–Japan S&T Cooperation

This honor comes at a symbolic moment - 2025 marks the 40th Anniversary of India–Japan Science & Technology Cooperation and is being celebrated as the India–Japan Science, Technology, and Innovation Year. As part of these landmark celebrations, IJAA will co-host the upcoming International Conference on Frontier Areas of Science & Technology (ICFAST 2025) with NIT Calicut, which will feature a keynote address by Nobel Laureate Dr. Akira Yoshino, inventor of the lithium-ion battery, during his first visit to India.

The recognition of Prof. Kumar through Japan’s Foreign Minister’s Commendation underscores the critical role of academic diplomacy in strengthening India–Japan relations and creating platforms for research, innovation, and people-to-people exchange.

Words of Gratitude and Responsibility

Sharing the news over the social media, Prof. Kumar stated, “This honor is a recognition of dedicated work over two decades to enhance India–Japan S&T collaborations and promote academic exchange. Through IJAA, we have remarkably boosted cooperation in the field of science and technology between India and Japan. The establishment of IJSSTE further reinforces this mission. I am truly thankful for the support received from MEXT; the Embassy of India, Tokyo; the Embassy of Japan, New Delhi; JSPS; JST; DST, India; and Toyo University.”

He further expressed heartfelt gratitude to his family, teachers, colleagues, friends, and well-wishers who supported his journey, adding: “This award brings great responsibilities. I hope I will be able to deliver all duties entrusted to me by the grace of God Almighty.”

The Award Ceremony in Tokyo

The official award ceremony will take place on September 5, 2025, at the Guest House of the Honorable Foreign Minister in Tokyo, where Prof. Kumar will join fellow awardees from around the world to receive the Japan Foreign Minister’s Commendation 2025.

This recognition adds to the growing momentum in India–Japan research partnerships, reaffirming the shared vision of both countries to advance sustainable innovation, education, and scientific cooperation for global good.