MUMBAI: The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay is all set to make its international debut in Japan. It will have its centre by next year in the land of cherry blossoms. While IIT Delhi and IIT Madras have planted their flags in Abu Dhabi and Zanzibar, IIT Bombay has chosen the path of partnership, tying up with a reputed institute rather than going solo.Teaming up with govt-backed Tohoku University, the Powai institute will establish a joint centre, blending Japanese innovation with Indian intellect. The first programmes roll out next year, starting with a joint PhD.“This is our first venture abroad, and by next year, we will begin with a joint PhD programme,” said IIT Bombay director Prof Shireesh Kedare. “MTech courses will follow soon after.”As IIT Bombay gathers its intellectual arsenal for this eastward adventure, IITB board chairman Sharad Saraf called the move “pathbreaking”. “This isn’t just about sharing classrooms,” he said. “It’s a bridge—one that will not only strengthen the deep-rooted friendship between India and Japan but also unlock corridors into Japan’s formidable industries and pioneering research labs.”Plans for this cross-continental centre have gathered momentum since IITB signed an MoU in Japan last month. Currently, around 1,600 Indians study in Japan—a number experts predict will soon expand alongside this partnership. Japanese firms too pick up students from the IITB centre. “We believe both IITB and Tohoku bring unique strengths to the table. Together, we will only grow stronger,” Saraf said. Professor Kedare added, “It’s the perfect symphony—Japanese hardware meets Indian software.And in that harmony, both sides will thrive.”While IITB and Tohoku will offer degrees with research as a strong component, there is currently no plan to offer undergraduate programmes.