Japan is intensifying efforts to draw young technical talent from India as part of its broader strategy to tackle a growing shortage of skilled workers in advanced industries, Nikkei Asia reported.
Both Japanese government-backed programs and private recruiters are playing a central role in attracting Indian graduate students and researchers to its universities and companies.
In July, the Indian Embassy in Tokyo hosted 42 young researchers who had come to Japan under the government-backed LOTUS Programme.
Initially launched as a pilot with 55 participants, the initiative is now running its first full year and has expanded to accept 300 Indian researchers from a pool of around 1,300 applicants.
The program, supported by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), brings Indian postgraduates and post-doctoral scholars to Japan for one year of collaborative research.
Leading Indian institutions, including the IITs, join Japanese universities and national labs in framing research themes across seven fields—AI and IT, biotechnology, energy, materials science, quantum science, semiconductors, and telecommunications.
Funding is shared: JST provides about 3 million yen ($20,300) per researcher annually, India covers flights, and the hosting institutions shoulder research costs.
According to JST president Kazuhito Hashimoto, interest from Indian scholars has far outstripped expectations, with long-term ambitions to scale the program to 3,000 participants a year.
This year’s participants will also be recommended for internships with Japanese companies.
The Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry will cover living and research expenses to encourage Indian talent to consider long-term careers in Japan.
Analysts say that how the program balances research themes and industry placements will determine its success in retaining talent.
Beyond official channels, private companies are expanding recruitment pipelines.
Tokyo-based Zenken has emerged as a key facilitator, placing more than 400 Indian engineers in Japanese firms since 2018.
The company partners with 51 Indian universities—many in Bengaluru, often dubbed “India’s Silicon Valley”—to match graduates with Japanese employers.
Zenken typically brings Japanese companies to Indian campuses to conduct interviews, with recruitment drives attracting between 100 and 300 candidates depending on company size.
Starting salaries for Indian engineers generally range between 3 million and 4.5 million yen ($20,315 to $30,470) annually.
To ease integration, Zenken offers a 470-hour Japanese language programme that candidates can complete online before relocating.
Despite recent progress, Indian representation in Japan’s technical workforce remains modest.
Only about 800 Indian students are currently enrolled in Japanese institutions, far fewer than the 130,000 in the United States.
Of the 91,000 foreign workers at Japanese tech firms as of late 2024, half were from China, with India absent from the top ten.
However, experts believe the climate is changing.
With the US tightening immigration for foreign professionals, Japan is positioning itself as an attractive alternative.
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AloJapan.com