The International Conference on Frontier Areas of Science and Technology (ICFAST 2025) was inaugurated by Nobel Laureate Prof. Yoshino Akira at the National Institute of Technology Calicut (NITC) on Friday, marking a major milestone in Indo-Japan scientific collaboration.
The two-day international event has brought together 317 leading scientists, academicians, and industry professionals from across the globe. ICFAST 2025 is jointly organized by the Indian JSPS Alumni Association (IJAA) and NIT Calicut, with support from the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (NRF), Government of India.
In his inaugural address, Prof. Yoshino Akira, recipient of the 2019 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the development of lithium-ion batteries, delivered a keynote lecture on “The Future Society Engendered by Lithium-Ion Battery.” He emphasized how advances in battery technology are transforming global energy systems and enabling sustainable innovation for a greener future.
Padma Shri Prof. E. D. Jemmis from IISc Bengaluru, Guest of Honour at the event, spoke on “Contrasting Structural Chemistry of Carbon and Boron” and elaborated on its significance in materials science and modern innovation.
Presiding over the ceremony, Prof. Prasad Krishna, Director of NIT Calicut, reaffirmed the institute’s dedication to promoting interdisciplinary research and strengthening international academic partnerships. Prof. D. Sakthi Kumar, Chairman of IJAA, extended a warm welcome to the delegates and reflected on the long-standing academic collaboration between India and Japan under the JSPS framework.
Greetings from Mr. Tsuyoshi Sugino, President of JSPS Japan, were conveyed by Prof. Yoshio Otani, Director of the JSPS Bangkok Office, who reiterated JSPS’s commitment to fostering research networks across Asia. Felicitation addresses were also delivered by Prof. Ravi Varma, Dean (International Relations), NITC, and Ms. Teraoka Mami, Advisor at the Consulate General of Japan in Chennai.
A special segment of the inaugural session was dedicated to honouring the past organizing secretaries of the India–Japan Science and Technology Seminars for their invaluable contributions. The felicitees included Dr. C. Gurumoorthy, Prof. Bhabani Prasad Mandal, Prof. Dinesh Rangappa, Dr. Sushil Kumar Singh, Prof. Utpal Bora, and Prof. Shivaji Babaso Sadale.
The conference is convened under the leadership of Dr. Baiju G. Nair, Head of the Department of Bioscience and Engineering, NIT Calicut, whose efforts and academic vision have been widely appreciated for setting new benchmarks in international scientific collaboration.
The scientific proceedings will feature plenary and invited lectures by eminent experts such as Prof. Hiroshi Abe (Nagoya University), Prof. Anil Prabhakar (IIT Madras), Prof. Mako Nakamura (Kyushu University), and Prof. Nandakumar Kalarikkal (Mahatma Gandhi University), making ICFAST 2025 a vibrant platform for advancing global research partnerships.