In a major move to strengthen global academic partnerships, the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) and Tohoku University (TU), Japan, have signed a MOU to establish a Joint Institute of Excellence (JIE).

The MoU was formally exchanged on December 19, 2024, by Prof. Shireesh B. Kedare, Director of IIT Bombay, and Prof. Teiji Tominaga, President of Tohoku University, in the presence of Dr. Sharad Kumar Saraf, Chairman of the Board of Governors at IIT Bombay, along with distinguished representatives from TU Japan. As part of this collaborative initiative, the Dual-Doctoral Degree Ph.D. Program (DDDP)/Cotutelle was launched for the academic year 2025–26, with the MoU signing for this specific program held on April 15, 2025, hosted by Tohoku University. The program aims to facilitate joint Master's and Ph.D. research, offering students dual supervision, access to cutting-edge research facilities, and immersive academic experiences across both institutions.