Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India (MBRDI) and the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi) have signed a five-year Master Research Agreement (MRA) to collaborate on joint research programmes. The agreement aims to strengthen cooperation between industry and academia through research initiatives focused on emerging mobility and engineering technologies.
According to a press release issued by Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India, the collaboration will focus on research areas including quantum technologies, future materials, neuromorphic engineering and electric mobility. These themes are intended to support research where fundamental science and applied engineering intersect, with the objective of developing knowledge and intellectual property.
The identified research areas are intended to create a framework for collaborative projects between the two organisations, combining academic research capabilities at IIT Delhi with engineering teams at MBRDI. The agreement is designed to facilitate knowledge exchange and joint development of technologies relevant to future mobility systems.
“We are pleased to partner with MBRDI in this collaboration, which builds upon IIT Delhi’s commitment to enable knowledge exchange and co-creation with industry partners. Through this initiative, the Institute seeks to advance high-quality research and generate impactful innovations that enable sustainable, affordable, and future-ready mobility. Our objective is to develop solutions that address India’s mobility challenges while establishing new benchmarks for global impact,” said Preeti Ranjan Panda, Dean of Corporate Relations at IIT Delhi.
As part of the initial phase of the collaboration, the organisations will launch a research project focusing on quantum sensors and battery systems. The project will be led by Nirat Ray from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at IIT Delhi, with Saurabh Saxena from the Centre for Automotive Research and Tribology jointly steering the research efforts.
The project is expected to bring together interdisciplinary researchers from IIT Delhi and engineering teams at MBRDI to work on joint research, prototype development and real-world validation. The collaboration is intended to support the development of scalable technology solutions in areas linked to mobility and engineering systems.
“This year marks 140 years since the invention of the automobile, a chapter that reflects the beginning of Mercedes-Benz’s journey in shaping mobility. MBRDI is also celebrating a milestone as we mark 30 years of engineering excellence in India. We envision a future where academia and industry are systemically partnering to realise real-world challenges and provide meaningful breakthroughs. In that context, our collaboration with IIT Delhi is a significant leap for our legacy of innovation, helping us redefine mobility faster and better. Together, we aim to shape solutions that make a difference today and in the years ahead,” said Manu Saale, Managing Director and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India.
Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India and the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi are collaborating through the Master Research Agreement to advance research programmes in mobility and engineering systems through joint academic and industrial participation.
