Bengaluru & New Delhi | 12 March 2026: Mercedes-Benz Research & Development India (MBRDI) has signed a five-year Master Research Agreement with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, establishing a long-term collaboration focused on deep-technology research for next-generation mobility.

Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India (MBRDI), founded in 1996, is the largest research and development centre of Mercedes-Benz Group AG outside Germany. With key operations in Bengaluru and Pune, the centre focuses on digital product engineering, interior component development, and IT engineering and services.

IIT Delhi, established in 1961, is one of the 23 Indian Institutes of Technology recognized as national centres of excellence in science, engineering, and technology. Since its inception, the institute has produced over 65,000 graduates, including more than 7,000 PhD holders, many of whom have built careers in technology, business, and public administration.

Research Focus Areas

The partnership creates a structured framework for collaborative research between MBRDI engineers and IIT Delhi scientists, targeting advanced technologies expected to shape future automotive systems.

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“Through this initiative, the Institute seeks to advance high-quality research and generate impactful innovations that enable sustainable, affordable, and future-ready mobility.”

– Preeti Ranjan Panda, Dean of Corporate Relations, IIT Delhi

Initial workstreams will focus on four priority areas:

  • Quantum technologies for sensing and advanced systems
  • Next-generation materials to reduce vehicle weight and improve efficiency
  • Neuromorphic engineering inspired by brain-like computing models
  • Electric mobility systems, including battery and energy technologies

The first research project is already underway on quantum sensors and battery systems, involving teams from IIT Delhi’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering and the Centre for Automotive Research and Tribology.

Looking Ahead

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We envision a future where academia and industry are systemically partnered to realize real-world challenges and provide meaningful breakthroughs. Together, we aim to shape solutions that make a difference today and, in the years, ahead.”

– Manu Saale, Managing Director and CEO, MBRDI

The five-year research agreement is expected to generate new intellectual property, research publications, and commercially applicable technologies that could influence the next generation of Mercedes-Benz vehicles.

By connecting academic research with industrial engineering programs, the collaboration reflects a growing trend where global automotive companies work closely with universities to accelerate innovation in electric vehicles, intelligent systems, and sustainable mobility technologies.

For Mercedes-Benz, the partnership reinforces India’s role not only as an engineering hub but also as a contributor to next-generation automotive research and technology development.

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