Hyundai Motor India and IIT Madras Unveil Design of Hyundai HTWO Innovation Centre

 Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL), in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) and Guidance Tamil Nadu, has unveiled the design for the Hyundai HTWO Innovation Centre—an upcoming research and development facility focused on green hydrogen. The design was presented by Thiru T.R.B. Rajaa, Minister for Industries, Investment Promotion & Commerce, Government of Tamil Nadu.

This initiative follows a strategic agreement signed in January 2024 during the Tamil Nadu Global Investors Meet. HMIL and the Hyundai Motor India Foundation (HMIF) have pledged a combined investment of ₹100 crore towards the development of the centre. The total estimated cost of the project is ₹180 crore.

Planned to be operational by 2026, the centre will be located within IIT Madras’ Discovery Satellite Campus in Thaiyur, Chennai. Spread over 65,000 square feet, the facility will include advanced laboratories for both computational and experimental research. It will support pilot-scale evaluations of electrolyzers and fuel cells, and feature dedicated areas for containerised demonstrators of industrial hydrogen applications.

Speaking at the unveiling, Minister T.R.B. Rajaa highlighted the potential of such collaborations in strengthening India’s hydrogen ecosystem. HMIL Managing Director Unsoo Kim emphasized that the centre will act as a platform for global-local collaboration, promoting local innovation and contributing to India’s clean energy goals.

IIT Madras Director Prof. V. Kamakoti said the facility will engage with academia, research institutions, and industry, contributing to national efforts toward decarbonization and energy independence. The project also aligns with India’s net-zero target for 2070 and aims to support the development of a skilled hydrogen workforce.

The event was attended by dignitaries from the Government of Tamil Nadu, IIT Madras, HMIL, CSIR-NCL, and the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea.