T-Hub, the world’s largest home for startups, has entered into a strategic partnership with the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO). Through this engagement, T-Hub will serve as a comprehensive access platform for Japanese startups, corporates, and investors seeking to enter and grow in India, while enabling Indian startups to pursue structured expansion pathways into Japan.
The collaboration will focus on sectors like Pharma and Medical Equipment; Space and Aerospace; Defence, Mobility, and Smart Infrastructure; Deeptech, AI, and Emerging Technologies; and Manufacturing and Industry 4.0, including technologies such as IoT and cloud computing. Key initiatives will include curated startup exchange programs, corporate open-innovation engagements, market access enablement, regulatory guidance, ecosystem immersion, and investor connect platforms. This partnership’s launch was reinforced with students from Tongali Nagoya University and Shizuoka University having recently participated in an immersive learning experience at T-Hub, reflecting both the strength and depth of the ecosystem engagement.
This partnership builds on T-Hub’s long-standing association with Japanese companies, venture capital funds, bilateral organisations, and academia. Last year, T-Hub partnered with Beyond Next Ventures to scale deep-tech ventures, advance Indo-Japan corporate integration, and establish a sustained cross-border ecosystem presence through its on-campus office at T-Hub. It is further reinforced by T-Hub’s prior work with leading Japanese corporations, including NEC, OKI Electric, Suzuki, Denso, Aisin, Nitto Denko, Panasonic, and Toyota, as well as academic institutions and government bodies such as JICA.
Speaking on the development, Kavikrut, CEO, T-Hub, said: “At T-Hub, we are driven by a founder-first philosophy, and partnerships like these are designed to create meaningful global pathways for startups building from India for the world. Our collaboration with JETRO builds on our sustained engagement with global markets, creating a structured platform for founders to access international opportunities, collaborate with industry leaders, and co-develop globally competitive technologies.”
Toshihiro Mizutani, Director General, JETRO Bengaluru, added: “We see immense opportunity for deeper collaboration between Japanese companies and Indian innovators. Through this partnership with T‑Hub, JETRO Bengaluru will continue to strengthen the Japan–India Startup collaborations and expand structured support for startups exploring cross‑border growth. With this, we hope to enhance JETRO’s presence in Hyderabad and be better positioned to understand Telangana’s innovation potential, engage more closely with the local ecosystem, and broaden the Japanese industry’s influence in the state. We look forward to leveraging this partnership to drive open innovation, create new business opportunities, and build long‑term value for both countries.”
The collaboration aligns with the broader India-Japan bilateral strategic framework, which places strong emphasis on technology cooperation, integration of startup ecosystems, and innovation-led economic growth. In this context, both countries are reinforcing innovation as a central pillar of their bilateral engagement, bringing together India’s position as the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem, with over 100,000 recognised startups, and Japan’s R&D-intensive economy and advanced industrial capabilities to develop high-impact innovation corridors across deeptech and advanced manufacturing sectors.
