The ACMA Mobility Foundation (AMF) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Germany’s Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft to advance research and development in India’s auto component sector. Announced at the 18th Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business (APK 2024) in New Delhi, this partnership focuses on addressing key challenges in the mobility industry, including carbon neutrality, circularity, safety, and environmental impact. By combining expertise, AMF and Fraunhofer aim to drive technological, sustainable, and innovative advancements in India’s automotive sector.
In a significant step towards technological progress, Fraunhofer Institutes will work closely with AMF on applied research projects that promote new product development, process innovation, and competitive R&D for India’s auto component industry. Fraunhofer’s experts will collaborate with Indian automotive firms to enhance process technologies and adopt sustainable production practices. Joint projects will also explore sustainable production and road safety, with a focus on circular economy principles and pre-competitive technologies relevant across the automotive sector.
Vikrampati Singhania, Director of AMF and Managing Director of JK Fenner (India), emphasized the importance of this partnership: “This is a pivotal milestone for the Indian auto component industry. Collaborating with Fraunhofer, a global leader in applied research, will strengthen our efforts to drive innovation, improve product quality, and expedite the shift to sustainable mobility solutions. This partnership reinforces our commitment to shaping a forward-looking automotive industry in India.”
Vinnie Mehta, Director and Secretary of AMF, emphasised the collaboration’s role in elevating the R&D capabilities of India’s auto component industry. “This partnership will enable Indian companies to tap into Fraunhofer’s vast expertise and experience in applied research, helping them meet global standards while fostering innovation at a competitive cost.”
Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, which operates 76 research institutes and receives over 3.4 billion euros in annual research funding, will extend its Traffic and Transportation Alliance’s capabilities to this partnership. This alliance, consisting of 18 institutes, will offer specialised research and development services to India’s automotive ecosystem. Dr. Johann Feckl, Director and Section Head of Precompetitive Research and International Relations at Fraunhofer HQ, elaborated on the strengths and capabilities of the Fraunhofer Institutes.
“India and Germany are strong and natural partners in Mobility. Fraunhofer possesses excellent strengths in applied research around the entire value chain of Mobility from materials to manufacturing and even mobility concepts and India’s strengths are in manufacturing and qualified manpower. We are delighted that on the occasion of the Intergovernmental consultations, we are concluding this very important partnership with ACMA. We look forward to strengthening our long-standing partnership.”
This collaboration is expected to enhance technology and trade relations between India and Germany while creating a pool of skilled researchers and technical experts familiar with global best practices. The MOU will last for an initial period of three years, with the possibility of extensions based on mutual agreement.
Anandi Iyer, Director of the Fraunhofer Office India, underscored the long-standing relationship between Fraunhofer and India.
“Fraunhofer works closely with the industry to crunch the innovation cycle and bring new processes and products faster to the market. We are already working very strongly with the Indian automotive industry since the last 16 years with ACMA as a valued partner. It will be exciting to bring the German and Indian industry to work on India-specific challenges, create proof of concepts and then scale it at a much faster pace, thus combining German engineering and Indian ingenuity for a win-win alliance.”
