Hyundai Motor Group has announced the launch of the Hyundai Center of Excellence (Hyundai CoE) for future mobility technologies at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi.
This collaborative initiative aims to create a joint research ecosystem focused on advancing electrification and battery technologies, reinforcing the Group’s dedication to innovation and developing mobility solutions tailored to the evolving needs of Indian consumers.
As part of its long-term academic-industrial collaboration, Hyundai Motor Group has selected nine joint research projects in partnership with various IITs. These projects focus on critical areas such as battery cells, systems and testing, battery management systems (BMS), energy density enhancement, safety, durability, and diagnostic technologies. The initiative also delves into the development of new materials and system components, aiming to accelerate innovation in battery design and performance.
Hyundai Motor Group officials – 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 – attended the main agreement ceremony held in New Delhi. They were joined by IIT representatives, including Prof. Rangan Banerjee, Director of IIT Delhi; Dean Manu Santhanam from IIT Madras; and Dean Sachin C. Patwardhan from IIT Bombay.
The Steering Committee of the Hyundai CoE will be co-chaired by EVP Chang Hwan Kim and Prof. Bijaya Ketan Panigrahi at IIT Delhi.
“We’re excited to work with India’s brightest minds in battery innovation,” said Heuiwon Yang, President and Head of R&D Division at Hyundai Motor Group. “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.”
Hyundai Motor Group is broadening its Future Technology Research Program, launched in 2021, by allowing university faculty to propose research topics—an approach that encourages innovation beyond traditional academic-industrial models. Initially limited to domestic and Korean overseas institutions, the program now includes international faculty, starting with professors from IITs.
The Group is also scaling up its Hyundai Center of Excellence (CoE) initiative, beginning with IIT Delhi, to create a nationwide network of researchers. Currently collaborating with IIT Delhi, Bombay, and Madras, involving around 30 professors, the Group aims to partner with 10 Indian universities and engage 100 professors by December 2025, including those from non-IIT institutions.
To further strengthen its collaborative ecosystem, Hyundai Motor Group is launching several key initiatives, including technology exchange forums between Indian and Korean experts, global conferences focused on battery and EV technologies, and policy dialogue sessions involving government, academia, and industry stakeholders. These efforts aim to facilitate knowledge-sharing, align with emerging trends, and shape future mobility and electrification strategies.
As the Group’s first academic-industrial collaboration model in a growth economy, the Hyundai Center of Excellence (CoE) is poised to become a vital hub for research and innovation. It will play a pivotal role in advancing next-generation mobility solutions while nurturing a localized innovation ecosystem tailored to India’s evolving market needs.
 for future mobility. Co-led by Chang Hwan Kim of Hyundai Motor Group and Prof. Bijaya Ketan Panigrahi of IIT Delhi, the initiative currently supports nine joint research projects focused on battery innovation. The partnership, starting with IIT Delhi, aims to expand to 10 universities across India by the end of 2025, strengthening the country's mobility research ecosystem.){kind=link}