Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) Pilani hosted the Japan Career Day 2026 at its Pilani campus under the Global South–Japan Tech Talent Initiative (GS-JTI), providing students with direct access to Japanese companies for internships and career opportunities.
The initiative is a Japanese government project commissioned by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), Government of Japan, and seeks to strengthen technology and talent collaboration between Japan and countries of the Global South.
Six Japanese companies participate
BITS Pilani was selected for the initiative for the second consecutive year, following the response to the Japan Career Day held at its Pilani campus in October 2025.
The 2026 edition brought together around 30 representatives from Japan, including officials from METI, representatives of programme secretariat Deloitte Tohmatsu Venture Support Co., Ltd. and Tech Japan Inc., six Japanese companies and other government organisations.
The participating companies were Ur AI Co. Ltd., SAKURUG Co. Ltd., Fermelanta, Inc., Directors Inc., QUINQUE Inc. and Satake Corporation.
Their areas of operation span artificial intelligence, digital transformation, biotechnology, consulting, branding, agricultural machinery, space technology and grain processing technologies.
1,500-plus students participate
More than 1,500 students from different programmes participated in the Japan Career Day, with over 300 expressing interest in internships and career opportunities with the participating Japanese companies.
Student teams presented and demonstrated their projects to the Japanese delegation, which also visited the Rakesh Kapoor Innovation Center before company presentations at the Main Auditorium.
The event concluded with direct interactions between students and representatives of the participating companies at the New Academic Block, where students explored internship and employment opportunities.
Focus on India-Japan talent pipeline
BITS Pilani Director Prof. Sudhirkumar Barai said the event provided students with an opportunity to engage directly with Japanese companies and understand their technological capabilities.
“The Japan Career Day provided our students with a platform to engage directly with leading Japanese companies, understand their technological capabilities, and explore opportunities for internships and careers. We are pleased to host the GS-JTI for the second consecutive year and look forward to deepening the India–Japan talent and technology connect,” he said.
The BITS Pilani delegation included Prof. Sudhirkumar V. Barai, Prof. NVM Rao, Dean, Administration, Col. Soumyabrata Chakraborthy and Prof. Yoshiro Azuma, visiting faculty from Japan, Department of Physics, BITS Pilani K K Birla Goa Campus, along with other faculty members.
Programme targets advanced technology skills
The GS-JTI is aimed at promoting employment opportunities for highly skilled talent from the Global South in Japanese companies, particularly in IT, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, engineering and other advanced technology fields.
The programme connects participating universities and Japanese organisations through Japan tours, campus-based career events and internship programmes, giving students greater exposure to Japanese companies and international work environments.
The initiative builds on India-Japan talent programmes undertaken in 2025, when Japan Career Days were conducted across eight Indian universities with participation from 17 Japanese companies. The programme also facilitated internships for Indian students, with 98 students from 22 universities selected from more than 2,000 applicants for internships with Japanese companies in India and Japan.
BITS deepens global industry engagement
The Japan Career Day further expands BITS Pilani’s engagement with international industry and provides students with pathways to explore careers beyond conventional geographic boundaries.
Through interactions with Japanese companies and government representatives, students gained exposure to international workplace environments, industry expectations and potential routes to internships and future employment in technology-driven sectors.