IIT Delhi signs 5-year 'master research agreement' with Mercedes-Benz to work on India's mobility challenges

The Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi) has partnered with Mercedes-Benz to launch joint research programmes and boost knowledge development. Both the technology-driven bodies have signed a five-year Master Research Agreement (MRA) to bring academic and industry closer through joint research.

The partnership between IIT Delhi and Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India (MBRDI) will work on areas to support the mobility and engineering systems, including quantum technologies, future materials, neuromorphic engineering and electric mobility, according to an official statement.

Giving insight about the partnership, Preeti Ranjan Panda, dean of corporate relations at IIT Delhi, said: “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.

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IIT Delhi, Mercedes-Benz's future-ready mobility solutions

“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,” Panda added.

As part of the agreement, a research project in the areas of quantum sensors and battery systems is being launched, the institute said.

The project will integrate interdisciplinary researchers from IIT Delhi and engineering teams at MBRDI to accelerate innovation through joint research, prototype development, and real-world validation, “with the goal of creating scalable, high-impact technology solutions,” it added.

Explaining the automobile manufacturing giant’s vision, Manu Saale, managing director and CEO, MBRDI, said: “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.”