Office of International Relations, IIT Bombay, had the privilege of welcoming Ms. Hitomi Sato, Consul General of Japan in Mumbai, on her first visit to IIT Bombay after assuming office. 

During her visit, she met with the institute's senior leadership, including Prof. Shireesh Kedare, Director; Prof. Milind Atrey, Deputy Director (Academic, Research & Translation); and Prof. Sudarshan Kumar, Dean (International Relations), to discuss opportunities for further strengthening academic and research collaborations between India and Japan. She was briefed about the IIT Bombay–Japan Collaboration Cell, established in August 2025, which serves as a dedicated cell to strengthen engagement between IIT Bombay and Japanese universities, industries, government agencies, and research organizations through academic exchanges, joint research, and institutional collaborations. 

The Consul General also visited the Society for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (SINE) and ASPIRE – IIT Bombay Research Park, where she was introduced to the institute's thriving start up, innovation, and research ecosystem. The visit concluded with an interaction with 20 students from seven Japanese universities who participated in the IIT Bombay International Summer School 2026. The students shared their experiences of studying at IIT Bombay and engaging with peers from across the world. 

We look forward to continuing to strengthen the long-standing partnership between IIT Bombay and Japan through student mobility, research collaborations, faculty exchanges, and joint academic program. . 

The Office of International Relations, IIT Bombay, successfully hosted the International Summer School 2026 from 6–11 July 2026.

 The one-week programme offered international students an opportunity to learn from IIT Bombay faculty, interact with peers from across the world, and experience the vibrant academic and cultural environment of the institute. 

This year's Summer School welcomed over 68 students from 21 countries and 27+ universities, making it one of the most diverse editions of the programme. Participants came from Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Canada, Finland, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Latvia, Malaysia, Mexico, Nepal, the Netherlands, Oman, the Philippines, Russia, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and Vietnam. The programme also saw the participation of 20 students from seven Japanese universities, further strengthening IIT Bombay's academic engagement with Japan. 

A total of six interdisciplinary courses were offered by IIT Bombay Faculty Members: Applications of Biostatistics in Biology & Biomedical Engineering, Becoming an Entrepreneur, Group Testing: An Important Tool for Data Science, Waste to Energy, Quantitative Finance: From Stochastic Models to Deep Learning, and Neuromorphic Computing. Along with classroom learning, participants interacted with IIT Bombay faculty and students, built international friendships, and experienced life on the IIT Bombay campus. 

The International Summer School reflects IIT Bombay's continued commitment to promoting academic excellence, international collaboration, and cross-cultural learning. We thank all the participants, faculty members (Course Instructors), and volunteers for making the International Summer School 2026 a great success and look forward to welcoming many more students to IIT Bombay in the years to come.  

Office of International Relations, IIT Bombay, participated in the Asian Universities Alliance (AUA) Summit 2026, hosted by Nazarbayev University in Astana, Kazakhstan, from 1–2 June 2026. The Summit brought together university leaders, researchers, and policymakers from leading Asian institutions to discuss the future of higher education, governance innovation, industry engagement, and regional collaboration. 

IIT Bombay was represented by Professor Sudarshan Kumar, Dean of International Relations, along with members of the Office of International Relations. Professor Kumar served as the Chair of the Working Group on Financial Sustainability, leading discussions on strategies and best practices to strengthen the long-term sustainability of higher education institutions across the AUA network. The Asian Universities Alliance (AUA) is an active consortium of which IIT Bombay is a proud member, fostering cooperation among leading Asian universities in education, research, innovation, and student mobility. 

The Summit provided an excellent platform to exchange ideas, strengthen partnerships, and explore new opportunities for academic and research collaboration across Asia. IIT Bombay remains committed to advancing international engagement, promoting student and faculty mobility, and contributing to collaborative initiatives that address global challenges.  

Office of International Relations, IIT Bombay, participated in the HSE University St. Petersburg International Partners’ Week (IPW) 2026, held from 18–22 May 2026 in Saint Petersburg, Russia, to strengthen international partnerships and explore new avenues for academic and research collaboration. The flagship event brought together more than 100 delegates from over 45 universities across 20 countries, providing a vibrant platform for global academic dialogue, internationalization, academic mobility, artificial intelligence, and emerging models of university collaboration. The programme featured panel discussions, lectures, workshops, networking sessions, and a student fair, fostering meaningful engagement among institutions worldwide. 

IIT Bombay was represented by Professor Sudarshan Kumar, Dean of International Relations; Professor Nagendra Kumar, Department of Aerospace Engineering; Professor Avradeep Pal, Department of Physics; and members of the Office of International Relations. HSE University is one of IIT Bombay’s key strategic partners, with several collaborative initiatives currently underway, including student mobility, academic exchange, and research collaborations. Notably, the Department of Physics at IIT Bombay and HSE University are actively engaged in collaborative research activities. Participation in IPW 2026 provided an excellent opportunity to strengthen existing partnerships, explore new avenues for cooperation, and further advance IIT Bombay’s global engagement efforts.

Prof. Sudarshan Kumar, Dean (International Relations), along with his team, had the privilege of meeting Hon’ble Mr. Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer, Federal Minister of Economy, Energy and Tourism, Austria; H.E. Dr. Robert Zischg, Ambassador of Austria to India and Mag. Florian Frauscher, MLS, Head of the Federal Ministry of Economics, Energy and Tourism on 13th April, 2026. The interaction also included representatives from Austrian Technical Universities - Mr. Clemens Weihs, Team Lead, Strategic Partnerships; Dr.-Ing. Susanne Feiel, Director, International Relations, Montanuniversität Leoben and Dr. Christian Hoffmann, Senior Advisor, Innovation and Equity Management, TU Wien.

The discussions highlighted innovation and start-up ecosystems as key areas of collaboration. Prof. Kumar shared insights into IIT Bombay’s vibrant entrepreneurship ecosystem, industry partnerships and translational research initiatives. The meeting also included discussions on the existing collaborations between IIT Bombay and Austrian Technical Universities—Montanuniversität Leoben, TU Wien and TU Graz—and opportunities to further strengthen these partnerships. The interaction marked a significant step forward in advancing academic and research collaborations between IIT Bombay and Austrian Technical Universities.

 #IITBombay #InternationalRelations #AustriaIndia #GlobalPartnerships #ResearchCollaboration #HigherEducation #Innovation #Startups #AcademicPartnerships #MUL #TUWien #TUGraz 

MUL: https://www.linkedin.com/school/montanuniversit%C3%A4t-leoben/ 

TU Wien https://www.linkedin.com/school/tuwien/ 

U Graz https://www.linkedin.com/school/tugraz1811/  

Dr.-Ing. Susanne Feiel https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanne-feiel/ 

Dr. Christian Hoffmann https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-hoffmann-b1a23446/