Each person receives a subsidy of 3 million yen; Takayuki Hata, Japan's Minister of State for Economic Security, is investing heavily to attract top Indian scientific researchers.
As the global competition for high-end talent continues to escalate, Japan has set its sights on India, a country with a population of 1.4 billion.
According to Japanese media reports, the "Lotus Project" launched by the Japanese government has seen rising popularity, and it is expected to attract 1,000 high-level Indian talents this fiscal year—20 times the number from two years ago.
The so-called "Lotus Project" is a talent exchange program initiated by Japan targeting high-tech professionals from India, aiming to invite Indian PhDs and above to work at Japanese research institutions.
The conditions offered by Japan are quite favorable: Indian scholars only need to stay in Japan for three months to one year, and depending on the duration, each will receive a maximum government subsidy of 3 million yen (approximately RMB 126,000), which can fully cover their living expenses in Japan. Travel costs, meanwhile, are borne by the Indian government.
In essence, Japan is competing with Western nations for Indian talent. For a long time, top-tier Indian talent primarily chose jobs in the U.S. and Europe—for example, Sundar Pichai, the Indian-origin CEO of Google, and Indian-origin executives who nearly dominate half of Silicon Valley’s leadership.
However, after Trump’s return to power, foreign talent visas were significantly tightened, forcing Indian STEM graduates to seek alternative pathways. Japan seized this opportunity, strategically absorbing the outflow of talent.
On the surface, this collaboration benefits both Japan and India. Japan offers technology and funding, while India provides talent and market access. Coincidentally, just after Minister Takayuki Hata concluded her visit to India, the “brother-sister bond” between her and Prime Minister Modi drew widespread attention, further boosting confidence in bilateral cooperation.
Yet, historical experience suggests that collaborations between India and Japan often end in failure. Moreover, Japan is a highly conservative society with strong resistance to immigration. If large numbers of Indians were to migrate there in the future, it would undoubtedly cause serious social disruption. Inviting such talent may be easy, but getting rid of them later could prove extremely difficult—Japan will surely face significant challenges down the line.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1870035010791436/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.