Hyundai Launches Center of Excellence at IIT Delhi

Seoul/New Delhi- Hyundai Motor Group., has announced the launch of the Hyundai Center of Excellence (Hyundai CoE) for future mobility technology at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi. This initiative marks a significant step in Hyundai’s long-term vision to accelerate innovation in electrification and battery systems, particularly with a focus on the Indian market.

The Hyundai CoE is part of a joint research framework aimed at developing advanced mobility technologies. As part of this initiative, Hyundai has selected nine collaborative research projects with IITs, addressing key areas such as battery cells, systems and testing, battery management systems (BMS), energy density improvement, safety, durability, and diagnostic technologies. The initiative also delves into new materials and system components, supporting breakthrough innovations in battery design and performance.

The main agreement ceremony in New Delhi was attended by top Hyundai executives including Heuiwon Yang, President and Head of the R&D Division; Unsoo Kim, Managing Director of Hyundai Motor India Limited; and Chang Hwan Kim, Executive Vice President and Head of the Electrification Energy Solutions Tech Unit. Representing the academic side were Prof. Rangan Banerjee, Director of IIT Delhi; Dean Manu Santhanam from IIT Madras; and Dean Sachin C. Patwardhan from IIT Bombay. The Steering Committee overseeing the Hyundai CoE will be co-chaired by EVP Chang Hwan Kim and Dean Bijaya Ketan Panigrahi of IIT Delhi.

In parallel, the Group is expanding its Future Technology Research Program, an initiative launched in 2021 that allows university faculty members to propose their own research topics. These proposals are then evaluated and selected by Hyundai, fostering a more open and dynamic research ecosystem. Initially limited to domestic universities and Korean professors abroad, the program now includes foreign faculty, starting with those from the IITs—marking an important step in Hyundai's efforts to globalize academic collaboration.

The Hyundai CoE is set to expand its footprint across India, beginning with IIT Delhi. Plans are underway to build a pan-India network of research expertise by involving more institutions and faculty. Hyundai currently collaborates with three IITs (Delhi, Bombay, and Madras), engaging around 30 professors. By the end of 2025, it aims to extend its reach to 10 universities—including non-IIT institutions—with participation from approximately 100 professors.

To further strengthen the academic-industrial ecosystem, Hyundai Motor Group is organizing various initiatives such as technology exchange forums between Indian and Korean experts, global conferences on battery and EV technologies, and policy dialogue sessions involving Indian government officials, academics, and industry leaders.

As the Group’s first academic-industrial collaboration model in a growth economy, the Hyundai CoE is poised to become a pivotal hub for research and innovation. It will play a crucial role in shaping the future of mobility in India by supporting cutting-edge technological advancement and nurturing a strong, localized innovation base tailored to the unique needs of the Indian market.

Mr. Heuiwon Yang, President and Head of R&D Division at Hyundai Motor Group, said, “We’re excited to work with India’s brightest minds in battery innovation. Collaborating with leading researchers and IIT professors through the Hyundai Center of Excellence for future mobility technology will help us develop technologies tailored to India while contributing to its economy and society. We see this partnership with India’s academia and industry as a foundation for building a sustainable future together.”