Kia India inks MoU with IIT Tirupati to drive industry-academia collaboration

Kia has announced that the Kia India Regional Headquarters has signed an MoU with IIT Tirupati on May 9, 2025.

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), as is well known, is a top-tier engineering education institution with 23 campuses across India. Kia India has signed the first industry-academia cooperation MOU with IIT Tirupathi, the region's top university with a campus in Andhra Pradesh, where its factory is located in Anantapur district.

Kia India Regional Headquarters will sponsor IIT Tirupathi with Rs 35 crore for five years from CY2025 through to CY2029. It plans to support various industry-academia cooperation, such as supporting the establishment of educational infrastructure, operating internship programs, opening majors specialized in the automotive industry, providing scholarships, promoting joint projects between industry and academia, and sponsoring sustainable future mobility research.

Setting up of a 'Makers Laboratory'
In particular, it supports the establishment of a state-of-the-art research space called the 'Makers Laboratory'. It is expected that students will use this space for prototype conception, design, and development for research.

Lee Kwang-koo, Executive Vice-President of Kia's India Regional Headquarters, said: "In cooperation with IIT Tirupati, we aim to nurture skilled engineers and technicians who will lead the development of sustainable mobility and industrial manufacturing."

Dr. K.N. Satyanarayana, President of IIT Tirupati, said: "We are delighted to have a future-oriented collaboration with Kia's India Regional Headquarters, and we look forward to creating meaningful innovation and empowering students to shape the future of mobility."

ALSO READ: Kia India produces 1.5 millionth vehicle, Seltos and Sonet command 81% share

Kia India sells 255,207 vehicles in FY2025, Sonet top seller with over 99,000 units

Kia India expands Carens lineup with new Carens Clavis