Japan and India Collaborate to Tackle Software Engineering Shortage

Japan Faces Software Engineer Shortage and the Role of Indian Innovation. Insights from the Japan-India Pitch Event

6th August,2024

Japan is projected to face a substantial deficit of 180,000 software engineers by 2030. To mitigate this shortfall, Japan may leverage India's formidable software expertise and expansive tech talent pool. Toshihiro Mizutani, Director General of the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) in Bangalore, acknowledged Japan's prowess in hardware but conceded that its software sector trails behind that of the U.S. and Europe.

At the Japan-India Innovation Pitch event held in Bengaluru and organized by JETRO in collaboration with the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), Mizutani underscored the critical need for collaboration between Indian and Japanese startups and corporations. The event garnered significant interest, with 135 startup applications received, from which 15 were selected.

Prominent companies such as Maruti Suzuki, Omron Healthcare, Toyota Tsusho, GMR Group, and Infosys were actively involved, seeking cutting-edge technological solutions from startups across various sectors. Geetanjali Vikram Kirloskar addressed attendees, emphasizing four key principles—respect, trust, humility, and patience—as essential for fostering stronger economic ties with Japan.

Mizutani highlighted that while the Japan-India Innovation Pitch is a new venture for India, it has already achieved success in countries like Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam, notably in engaging social entrepreneurs in economic development.