▼Key Points of the Press Release

Seven graduates from IIT Hyderabad, one of India's top-tier engineering universities, will join Alfred Inc. (2 to join by the end of July 2026, 5 in September).

This is the first hiring approval for the current fiscal year, stemming from the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between Hamamatsu City and IIT Hyderabad in December 2024, and the matching event "Hamamatsu Day" held in November 2025.

As the only company in Japan investing in R&D for AI and new technologies within the asbestos analysis industry, Alfred is accelerating its investment through the acquisition of top global talent.

This personnel move embodies the company's differentiated strategy of "lowering costs through investment" in contrast to the industry norm of "lowering costs through reduction."

This case, where a regional venture company successfully recruits talent from a top global university, is drawing attention from both regional revitalization and global talent strategy perspectives.

Alfred Inc. (Headquarters: Chuo Ward, Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture; Representative Director: Shingo Mitsui), which handles asbestos surveys and analysis, R&D for new analytical methods, and analytical consulting, announced that seven graduates from the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IIT Hyderabad), one of India's top engineering universities, will be formally hired: two by the end of July 2026 and five in September.

Background of the Hiring | A Connection Forged Through Industry-Academia Matching Initiated in Hamamatsu City

Courtesy visit to Hamamatsu City Hall

This hiring initiative is rooted in the MOU signed between Hamamatsu City and IIT Hyderabad in December 2024, and originated from the matching event "Hamamatsu Day" held in Hyderabad, Telangana, India, on November 1-2, 2025. Eight companies and one university from Hamamatsu City participated in the event, and our company proceeded to offer employment after pitches and individual consultations during the event. This marks the first hiring approval for the current fiscal year through "Hamamatsu Day."

On February 17, 2026, the seven prospective employees visited Hamamatsu City Hall upon their arrival in Japan and paid a courtesy visit to Mayor Nakano and Deputy Mayor Naito. Following pre-employment training, they will commence their employment and work starting at the end of July and in September 2026.

Why is an Asbestos Analysis Company Seeking AI Talent?

The asbestos analysis industry faces limitations due to its reliance on manual labor, driven by high specialization and an increasing number of samples. In this context, our company has adopted a policy of achieving "sustainable low-cost pricing" through three key investments: AI investment, Lean improvement, and new laboratory construction. While other companies in the industry reduce prices by "cutting" analysis processes, we have taken the stance of reducing prices by "investing" in technology.

Specifically, we have obtained a patent for technology that automatically determines asbestos content using X-ray diffraction (XRD) data. Furthermore, in the joint research project "A-SAP Project" with the Faculty of Engineering at Shizuoka University, we are developing AI software that automatically detects the type and location of asbestos from polarized light microscope images. The hiring of these seven individuals from IIT Hyderabad is positioned to further strengthen our R&D capabilities in these areas.

About the Seven New Hires

Item

Details

Number of Hires

7

Alma Mater

Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IIT Hyderabad)

Assigned Department

R&D Department (AI Research and Development)

Alfred Inc. HP_Technology and R&D IITH Team

Representative Director's Comment

"While other companies in the industry reduce costs by cutting analysis processes, we have achieved sustainable low-cost pricing by investing in technology. The fact that we can welcome seven outstanding individuals from IIT Hyderabad, a world-class engineering university, is a testament to our investment strategy being recognized across national borders. We aim to revolutionize the industry standards by integrating world-class expertise into the work of supporting the social infrastructure of asbestos analysis." - Shingo Mitsui, Representative Director, Alfred Inc.

Future Outlook

Our company will continue to pursue both analytical quality and price competitiveness centered on AI technology through ongoing joint research with domestic universities such as Shizuoka University, and talent acquisition and research collaboration with overseas universities. We have also been conducting market research in India since fiscal year 2024 and, spurred by this talent acquisition, plan to further strengthen our collaboration with India in both research and business aspects.

Inquiries Regarding This Release

Alfred Inc. Public Relations

Phone: 053-525-8422

Email: info@alfred-lab.co.jp

Company Overview

Company Name: Alfred Inc.

Representative: Shingo Mitsui, Representative Director

Established: July 2021

Location: Hamamatsu Innovation Cube (HI Cube), 3-1-7 Wajiyama, Chuo Ward, Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture

Business Activities: Asbestos survey and analysis, analytical consulting

Corporate Website: https://alfred-lab.co.jp/

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  • Source: PR TIMES
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