Hyundai Collaborates with IIT Delhi To Open Battery and Electrification Research Centre in India

Hyundai Motor Group and IIT Delhi have joined hands to set up the Hyundai Centre of Excellence (Hyundai CoE), a dedicated research facility focused on advancing electric vehicle technology. The CoE will play a key role in advancing future mobility technologies, concentrating specifically on electric powertrains and battery systems. It will be spearheaded by Chang Hwan Kim, Executive Vice President at Hyundai, and Professor Bijaya Ketan Panigrahi from IIT Delhi, bringing together global industry leadership and cutting-edge academic research. Driven by a shared vision, this partnership aims to develop technologies for the future while contributing to India's transition to cleaner mobility.

Hyundai Centre of Excellence (Hyundai CoE)

As part of their long-term academic-industrial partnership, the Group and IITs have jointly undertaken nine research projects to advance battery technology. These projects target important areas: battery cells, systems, and testing, battery management (BMS), energy density improvement, and diagnostic technology development. In addition, the initiative involves research into new materials and system components to enhance battery design and improve overall performance.

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The Hyundai CoE, initially based at IIT Delhi, will gradually expand to establish a nationwide network of mobility experts and academic institutions. Currently working with IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay, and IIT Madras, involving about 30 professors, the Group aims to expand this collaboration to 10 universities across India, including non-IITs, with a total of 100 professors by December 2025. 

To strengthen these efforts, Hyundai will host India-Korea technology exchange forums, global EV/battery conferences, and policy discussions involving government, academia, and industry leaders. This initiative, Hyundai’s first of its kind in a growth market, is set to become a central hub for research and innovation, driving future mobility solutions and cultivating a strong local innovation ecosystem in India.

Future Technology Research Programme: Key Updates

In addition to the CoE, Hyundai is expanding its Future Technology Research Programme (operational since 2021). This programme sets itself apart from traditional academic-industrial collaborations by allowing university faculty to suggest their own research topics, which are then reviewed and selected by the Group.

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The programme was initially restricted to domestic universities and Korean professors at international institutions. However, it has now extended to include foreign faculty, beginning with IIT professors.