South Korean carmaker Hyundai collaborates with three IITs for batteries & electrification R&D

The partnerships include IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay, and IIT Madras.

As part of the initiative, the Hyundai Center of Excellence (CoE) will be established at IIT Delhi, funded by Hyundai Motor Group.

The CoE aims to spearhead advancements in battery technology and electrification tailored to the Indian market's unique needs.

At a ceremony held at IIT Delhi, Hyundai Motor Group representatives and IIT officials—including Prof. Rangan Banerjee, director of IIT Delhi, and deans Sachin C. Patwardhan of IIT Bombay and Manu Santhanam of IIT Madras—formalized the partnership by signing an agreement to create the Hyundai Motor Group-IIT Hyundai CoE.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with the IITs, renowned for their exceptional education and research,” said Naksup Sung, head of Hyundai Motor Group R&D Planning & Coordination Center. He expressed confidence that the Hyundai CoE would build a strong talent network within India’s academic ecosystem, fostering innovation and future growth.

The initiative aligns with Hyundai's strategy to support the development of an electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem in India, complementing government policies aimed at boosting EV adoption.

This collaboration will also involve the Centre for Automotive Research and Tribology (CART), India's only EV-focused research institute, based at IIT Delhi.

The Hyundai CoE will facilitate joint academic-industrial research, technical knowledge sharing, and talent exchange between experts in India and Korea.

Activities will include technical workshops, specialized lectures by Hyundai’s battery and electrification experts, and training programs involving visits to Korea.

Hyundai also plans to nurture talent and expand long-term employment opportunities through these efforts.

This collaboration builds on Hyundai Motor Group's growing presence in India, highlighted by the recent IPO of Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL).

The Group sees the CoE as crucial in enhancing its research on advanced technologies, developing India-specific products, and reinforcing HMIL’s commitment to the country’s mutual growth and innovation.