VNIT Nagpur partners with Setco Auto Systems to establish joint research lab for automotive technologies

Nagpur: Setco Auto Systems Pvt. Ltd. (Setco), India's leading manufacturer of medium and heavy commercial vehicle clutches, has partnered with Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT) Nagpur to establish a Joint Research Laboratory aimed at advancing next-generation automotive technologies through deeper collaboration between industry and academia.

The research facility will serve as a platform for innovation in clutch systems, friction materials, performance optimization, and advanced engineering design. The initiative will also explore the use of digital engineering tools and emerging technologies such as Generative AI to accelerate product development and improve system performance.

The laboratory was inaugurated on March 11, 2026, by Mr. Harish Sheth, Chairman and Managing Director of Setco, along with Mr. Neeraj Singhal, Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Rohan Karbade, Head – R&D, and Dr. Prem Lal Patel, Director of VNIT Nagpur, in the presence of faculty members and students from the Mechanical Engineering Department.

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The collaboration aims to create opportunities for faculty, researchers, and students to work closely with industry experts on real-world engineering challenges, while enabling Setco to benefit from cutting-edge academic research and fresh engineering talent. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Harish Sheth, CMD, Setco Auto Systems, said: "Strong partnerships between industry and academia are essential for driving meaningful innovation. Our collaboration with VNIT Nagpur reflects Setco's commitment to fostering research-driven engineering and nurturing the next generation of innovators. By integrating academic insight with industry experience and emerging technologies such as Generative AI, we can develop smarter and more sustainable solutions for the mobility sector."