Chitra Thirumalaisamy, a second-year Ph.D. student in Green Science and Engineering, has won the ‘Innovative Solutions for India-Japan Synergy’ award at the India-Japan Science Technology Innovation Forum.

The Innovative Solutions for India-Japan Synergy conference recognizes impactful ideas across four key themes, aiming at bilateral progress between India and Japan. Under the theme, “Skilling for Resilience and Innovation”, the paper I presented outlined a structured model designed to strengthen experiential learning pathways and foster entrepreneurial competencies. The proposed framework emphasizes scalability and long-term capability building. It was selected as the winning entry for its potential to contribute meaningfully to a resilient, innovation-driven talent ecosystem.

Chitra Thirumalaisamy shared the following remarks upon receiving the award:
I am truly honored to receive the award at the Innovative Solutions for India-Japan Synergy
conference. It is inspiring to see studies and initiatives aimed at empowering young individuals through resilience, innovation, and holistic development being recognised. This acknowledgment reinforced my belief in the value of structured, meaningful opportunities supported by mentorship and collaboration to help the next generation grow into confident problem-solvers and future-ready innovators. This recognition motivates me to continue refining the proposed framework to create broader platforms to engage in collaborative, cross-cultural experiential learning. This award serves as a catalyst, encouraging me to continue driving meaningful, sustainable impact in building future-ready skills that contribute to societal progress.

• Name of Conference：India -Japan Science Technology Innovation Forum
• Title of Award：Innovative Solutions for India-Japan Synergy
• Achievement Subject：CompeteEdge
• Name of Award Recipient：CHITRA THIRUMALAISAMY
• Date of Award Received：5th December 2025
• Name of Instructor：Professor Eiko Takaoka (Faculty of Science and Technology)
• Site Related：India -Japan Science Technology Innovation Forum

This study aims to bridge the gap between talent and opportunity by engaging individuals
through experiential learning, mentorship, and innovation-driven activities.

This study aims to bridge the gap between talent and opportunity by engaging individuals through experiential learning, mentorship, and innovation-driven activities. It focuses on fostering resilience, creativity, and entrepreneurial competencies by enabling participants to apply theoretical knowledge to solve real-world challenges. By promoting cross-cultural engagement, the study seeks to cultivate a sense of global citizenship while fostering leadership and innovation. The ultimate goal is to prepare the next generation to contribute to societal and economic advancement.