Hyundai Motor Group has launched the Hyundai Centre of Excellence (Hyundai CoE) Mobility Innovation Ideathon and Research Synergy Forum, two industry-academia initiatives aimed at promoting innovation, knowledge exchange and talent development in India’s future mobility ecosystem.
The programs bring together students, faculty members and researchers from the seven universities that are part of the Hyundai CoE network. The participating institutions include IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay, IIT Madras, IIT Kanpur, IIT Hyderabad, Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT) Nagpur and Tezpur University.
Established in 2025, Hyundai CoE serves as Hyundai Motor Group’s collaborative research platform with leading Indian academic institutions. Through research partnerships and academic collaborations, the initiative focuses on strengthening India-specific mobility R&D capabilities while supporting the country’s broader innovation ecosystem.
Hyundai CoE Mobility Innovation Ideathon
The Mobility Innovation Ideathon will be held from September through early December 2026 and is open to students from Hyundai CoE member universities. Under the theme “Enhanced In-Vehicle Experience,” participants will be encouraged to develop innovative concepts addressing the evolving lifestyles and mobility requirements of Indian customers.
Students can submit their ideas through the dedicated microsite.
The competition reflects the growing convergence of artificial intelligence, digital technologies, software-defined vehicles, user experience and personalized mobility services. Participants will be encouraged to develop concepts tailored specifically to India’s unique mobility environment.
The Ideathon will feature four challenge categories:
- India-Smart Interaction
- AI-Powered & Digital In-Vehicle Experience
- Next-Generation In-Vehicle Interface
- Smart Value Innovation
“The Mobility Innovation Ideathon will be an important opportunity to discover creative ideas from students at leading universities in India and gain new insights into the Indian mobility market and customers,” said Bijaya Ketan Panigrahi, Professor, Department of Electrical Engineering, IIT Delhi and Hyundai CoE Co-Chair.
“We expect student-driven ideas to contribute to future mobility research and enhanced customer experience. Going forward, we will continue to develop the Mobility Innovation Ideathon into an industry-academia collaboration channel that connects outstanding Indian talent with Hyundai Motor Group,” said Chang Yeon Cho, Managing Director, Hyundai Motor India Engineering.
Seven Finalist Teams to Compete for INR 10 Lakh Prize Money
Following submissions, each Hyundai CoE member university will conduct a preliminary screening process. The preliminary winners from each university are scheduled to be announced on October 30, 2026.
The selected teams will then participate in an offline semi-final evaluation conducted by judges from Hyundai Motor Group. Seven finalist teams will advance to the final round, scheduled for December 16, 2026.
During the final, the teams will present their concepts to a Hyundai Motor Group jury, which will select the grand prize winner. Hyundai Motor Group plans to distribute approximately INR 10 lakh in prize money across the seven finalist teams.
The company expects promising concepts emerging from the competition to contribute to future mobility research and support the development of more customer-focused vehicle experiences.
Research Synergy Forum to Focus on Batteries, Electrification and Future Mobility
Alongside the student Ideathon, Hyundai CoE will conduct the Research Synergy Forum, a faculty-focused research exchange program designed to strengthen collaboration between Hyundai researchers and professors from member universities.
The forum will provide a platform for participants to exchange research findings and discuss potential areas for future collaboration. Key focus areas will include battery technologies, electrification and future mobility.
The initiative will also facilitate research exchanges among faculty members from Hyundai CoE universities while identifying opportunities for collaboration with Hyundai Motor Group’s R&D divisions.
Through the Mobility Innovation Ideathon and Research Synergy Forum, Hyundai Motor Group aims to expand its industry-academia engagement beyond individual research projects to include talent discovery, idea generation, research networking and future mobility innovation.
By continuing to work with leading universities and researchers, Hyundai Motor Group intends to support the development of the next generation of mobility innovators while contributing to India’s evolving future mobility ecosystem.
