IIT-Madras signs MoU with Continental for research in machine learning

The collaboration, code-named Project NeuroMotive, will aid Continental’s long-term strategy globally towards “Vision Zero”.

Chennai/Germany- Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras¹ of Chennai signed MOU with Continental AG² of Germany for advanced research in machine learning³.

            IIT Madras with its competence in machine learning and bio-inspired neural networks will contribute to Continental’s ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) business that provides drivers and passengers with additional safety and an increase in comfort. The collaboration, code-named Project NeuroMotive, will aid Continental’s long-term strategy globally towards “Vision Zero” – a future with zero accidents through innovations and ongoing improvement of components and systems making a decisive contribution to greater road safety.

Mr. Prashanth Doreswamy, Market Head of Continental India and Managing Director Continental Automotive, India, said, “Continental is committed to strengthening academia connect in the region, through win-win partnership models. We believe industry- academia partnerships nurture innovation, entrepreneurship and skills development, which are value add not just for the two partners, but for the ecosystem at large.

Ravindra Gettu, Dean (Industrial Consultancy and Sponsored Research), IIT Madras said, “As an institution that is in the frontier of research, we are pleased to collaborate with Continental. Prof. Srinivasa Chakravarthy, head of Neuroscience laboratory will collaborate with Continental on Project NeuroMotive. IIT Madras’ expertise in bio-inspired neural networks can help expand the scope of what assisted driving functions can accomplish. Bio-inspired neural networks are becoming increasingly important for industries and businesses. They help to solve problems based on the biological knowledge of how human brain learns and processes information. Thanks to advancements in technology, we can use this knowledge to improve the future of mobility.”

¹Indian Institute of Technology Madras is one among the foremost institutes of national importance in higher technological education, basic and applied research.

²Continental AG of Hanover incorporated in 1871, a leading manufacturer and supplier of automotive Tires spread out to various products includes dampers, leatherette and foils, Telematics and lithium ion batteries.

³Machine learning (ML) is a category of algorithm that allows software applications to become more accurate in predicting outcomes without being explicitly programmed. The basic premise of machine learning is to build algorithms that can receive input data and use statistical analysis to predict an output while updating outputs as new data becomes available.