BITS Pilani and Mercedes-Benz R&D Partner for Advanced Tech Research in India

New Delhi: As per the latest updates, BITS Pilani has awarded a five-year Master Research Agreement (MRA) to Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India Private Limited (MBRDI). This collaboration aims to develop and advance technologies and explore opportunities in the mobility sector.

As part of this collaboration, BITS and Mercedes-Benz R&D will share spaces for various research and innovation activities, advise researchers, secure joint funding, publish research and protect intellectual property rights. The focus is on R&D joint projects, academic and professional events, and promoting the exchange of researchers and students.

Key Areas of Research

BITS and Mercedes-Benz R&D will work on a variety of research projects, including software development with a focus on data and AI, electric mobility, and transformative technologies like generative AI. A few such projects are currently underway under the supervision of Profs. Poonam Goyal, Amit R Singh, and Navneet Goyal.

This collaboration with Mercedes-Benz R&D will focus on improving India's overall digital capabilities as well as developing a strong talent pool through industry-academia collaboration and other initiatives. 

Views on BITS and Mercedes-Benz R&D Partnership

Prof Ramgopal Rao, Vice Chancellor of BITS Pilani, stated about the collaboration, "We are committed to promoting innovation and excellence in research and education, and this MRA with Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India is a major step in that direction".

"With the help of MBRDI's corporate experience and academic competence, we hope to make groundbreaking discoveries that benefit not only our institutions but also society as a whole. This collaboration demonstrates our commitment to giving our researchers and students the best opportunities to work on innovative projects and solve pressing problems," he added.

Manu Saale, Managing Director and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India stated, "Collaborations between industry and academia are critical in addressing the complex challenges our industry faces today." The combination of our industry expertise and BITS Pilani's academic prowess will propel us towards a future of sustainable innovation. At MBRDI, we are committed to fostering a culture of continuous learning and development for our employees, and this collaboration will open up enormous opportunities for scaling from idea to innovation."