In a significant move Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India (MBRDI) has inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) for advanced research collaboration.
The collaboration must be seen in the context of the declared objective of Mercedes-Benz to make the entire fleet of new vehicles net carbon-neutral along the entire value chain and over the vehicles’ entire life cycle by 2039. Mercedes-Benz has always emphasised the need for ‘solving global problems locally’. The MoU with IISc is intended to facilitate joint research, nurture talent and promote collaborative innovation in sustainable mobility.
The partnership will focus on driving engineering transformation and pursuing long-term research-oriented projects, said a release. Both organisations will leverage each other’s existing capabilities, including infrastructure and academic programmes. “Leading industry players, premier academic institutions and India’s world-class talent are poised to lead the EV revolution today. Collaborations that help bridge the gap between industry and academia can enable the scientific research community to offer cutting-edge innovation that meets the evolving demands of the industry and customers,” said Manu Saale, Managing Director and CEO, Mercedes-Benz Research, in a statement.
Prof Govindan Rangarajan, Director, Indian Institute of Science, said that the collaborative effort in and around sustainable mobility and electric vehicles would promote energy-independence and create economic opportunities.
The Foundation for Science Innovation and Development (FSID) will manage IISc’s interactions with industry and facilitate access to IISc’s knowledge base and resources. The scope of the two-year agreement also includes an exchange of information, teaching materials, technology and the like.
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