On 25 May, an international workshop entitled “Light Path to India” was held by the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research, co-hosted by Keio University.

The workshop was held to accelerate collaborative research between Japan and India on cutting-edge technologies, and to develop an ultra high-speed network to support R&D. Hon. Kapil Sibal, Minister for Science and Technology and Prof. Jun Murai, Vice President of Keio University and professor of the Faculty of Environment and Information Studies gave key note speeches.
Toshitsugu Uesawa, Minister of the Embassy of Japan, Srinivasa Addepalli, Head of Corporate Strategy of VSNL (Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited), Anirban Mahanti, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Computer Science & Engineering of Indian Institute of Technology, Kees Neggers, Managing Director of SURFnet, and Prof. Aftab Seth of Keio University’s Global Security Research Institute also gave speeches from each perspective on the theme of developing a leading-edge information network to connect Asia and the world and its importance and possibilities in Japan-India relations.

Parallel sessions were held in the afternoon to discuss SOI (School on the Internet) and distance education, and representatives from a few universities including Indira Gandhi National Open University participated to discuss possibilities of forming partnerships.

The workshop, held as one of many projects to celebrate Keio University’s 150th Anniversary, was attended by about 60 people from the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research, National Aerospace Laboratories, Advanced Materials and Processes Research Institute and Japanese companies in India. Discussion was constructive and open and marked an important milestone to accelerate advanced collaborative research of Japan and India.