The Kyoto University Short-Term Academic Research (KU-STAR) Program, launched last year by the Division of Graduate Studies, is a two-month research-based internship program. This year marks the program’s second implementation, welcoming a total of 31 students from India.

On May 26, 2025, participants visited Shimadzu Corporation as per the Comprehensive Collaborative Agreement that the University and the company signed in 2022. The occasion featured facility tours and a workshop, aimed at helping the students enhance their understanding of research applications and work culture in Japan.

Following the tour, Shimadzu employees from Kazakhstan and China shared their work experiences and examples of university-industry collaborations. Then the students took part in a workshop exploring solutions to issues of interest affecting Indian society, such as energy shortages, climate change, and food insecurity. Each group presented their ideas on the causes of these issues and the necessary technologies and products for addressing them. Students not only listened to the perspectives of other groups but also received insightful feedback from Shimadzu employees, further deepening their understanding.

The program concluded with a networking session, where students and Shimadzu employees freely exchanged views over Indian cuisine, fostering cross-cultural dialogue and professional engagement.

Reflections from the students:

– I am very much interested in machines, innovation and brilliant designing. It was well aligned with my career path. Also it was wonderful interacting and understanding assembly line of the machineries.

– The main thing I learned was the diverse ways in which the Shimadzu instruments can be used. I had learned of all these instruments in university, but how Shimadzu uses these instruments to make a huge impact is outstanding.

– What stood out to me most was their profound dedication to leveraging science and technology to address pressing societal challenges, which feels like a truly impactful application of their expertise.

– The main thing about the visit was the exposure to the cutting-edge medical equipment and other machinery, most of which I had never seen in my life. It opened new doors to my imagination of what’s possible and what all has already been invented in the world. It inspired me to do further research in my field and create something which will have a lasting impact on the society.