Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India and the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi sign a five-year master research agreement.
Photo Credit: IIT Delhi
New Delhi, March 5, 2026: Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India (MBRDI) and the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi) have announced a strategic collaboration through a five-year Master Research Agreement (MRA) to advance joint research initiatives and strengthen academia—industry engagement.
The partnership aims to create shared pathways for knowledge development by aligning academic research with real-world engineering applications. The agreement formalizes long-term cooperation focused on emerging technologies shaping the future of mobility and engineering systems.
Focus areas of collaboration between Mercedes-Benz and IIT Delhi:
The joint research programs will focus on quantum technologies, future materials, Neuromorphic engineering, and electric mobility.
These themes are designed to bridge fundamental research with applied engineering, fostering intellectual property creation and practical innovation. The collaboration seeks to combine IIT Delhi’s academic depth with Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India’s industry expertise to deliver scalable and impactful solutions.
Leadership perspectives:
Prof. Preeti Ranjan Panda, Dean of Corporate Relations at IIT Delhi, said the partnership reinforces the institute’s commitment to knowledge exchange and co-creation with industry partners.
He stated that the initiative aims to advance high-quality research and generate innovations that enable sustainable, affordable, and future-ready mobility, addressing India’s mobility challenges while achieving global impact.
Mr. Manu Saale, Managing Director and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India, highlighted the historical significance of the collaboration. He noted that this year marks 140 years since the invention of the automobile and 30 years of engineering excellence for MBRDI in India.
He said the collaboration represents a significant step towards systemically integrating academia and industry to solve real-world challenges and accelerate innovation in mobility.
First joint research project launched:
As part of the initial phase, a research project focusing on quantum sensors and battery systems has been launched. The project is being led by Prof. Nirat Ray from IIT Delhi’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering, with Prof. Saurabh Saxena from the Centre for Automotive Research and Tribology (CART) jointly steering the initiative.
The program will bring together interdisciplinary researchers from IIT Delhi and engineering teams from Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India to work on joint research and experimentation, prototype development, and real-world validation.
The objective is to develop scalable, high-impact technology solutions that can redefine the future of mobility.
This collaboration signals a deepening of academia—industry partnerships in India, particularly in advanced mobility research, and positions both institutions at the forefront of next-generation automotive and engineering innovation.
EOM.
