MBRDI, IIT Delhi sign five-year pact for joint research

The partnership has been formalised through a five year Master Research Agreement (MRA), under which researchers and engineers from both organisations will work together on emerging technology areas such as quantum technologies, future materials, neuromorphic engineering and electric mobility. The initiative aims to bridge academia and industry by combining fundamental research with applied engineering to create new knowledge and intellectual property.

The collaboration will focus on research themes that intersect academic depth with real world engineering challenges. These focus areas are expected to support the development of next generation mobility technologies while strengthening innovation in engineering systems.

Prof Preeti Ranjan Panda, Dean of Corporate Relations at IIT Delhi, said the partnership would help strengthen industry academia collaboration and accelerate innovation.

“We are pleased to partner with MBRDI, which builds upon IIT Delhi''s commitment to enable knowledge exchange and co creation with industry partners. 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.”

Manu Saale, Managing Director and CEO of MBRDI, said the collaboration aligns with the organisation’s innovation legacy and its efforts to work closely with academic institutions.

“This year marks 140 years since the invention of the automobile, a chapter that reflects the beginning of Mercedes Benz’s journey in shaping mobility. MBRDI is also celebrating a milestone as we mark 30 years of engineering excellence in India. 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.”

As part of the initial phase of the collaboration, a research project on quantum sensors and battery systems has been launched. The project will be 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 jointly steering the research efforts.

The initiative will bring together interdisciplinary researchers from IIT Delhi and engineering teams at MBRDI to work on prototype development and real-world validation, with the aim of creating scalable and high impact technology solutions.

About the organisations

MBRDI is the largest research and development centre of Mercedes-Benz Group AG outside Germany. Established in 1996, the organisation focuses on technologies such as connected, autonomous and electric mobility, and currently employs over 8,500 professionals across its Bengaluru and Pune offices.

IIT Delhi, established in 1961, is one of India’s premier engineering institutions and part of the Indian Institutes of Technology system. Over the decades, it has produced more than 65,000 graduates, including over 7,000 PhD holders who have contributed significantly across technology, business, administration and public life.