India's Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) and the International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate on developing indigenous automotive technologies, according to a statement released by the Press Information Bureau on October 9, 2025.
The partnership was formalized during the Traffic InfraTech Expo 2025 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. C-DAC operates under India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, while ICAT functions as an autonomous body under the Ministry of Heavy Industries.
The collaboration will focus on joint research and development initiatives aimed at creating homegrown automotive solutions. The agreement encompasses technology development, identification of new research areas, development of testing standards, and cybersecurity solutions for the automotive sector. The organizations will also explore emerging business opportunities in the domain.
Under the partnership's framework, ICAT will work with the automotive industry to establish technological requirements, while C-DAC will design and develop solutions tailored to those specifications. For emerging technologies, C-DAC will handle development and innovation components, while ICAT will provide testing, validation, and certification services. ICAT will also facilitate connections between technology developers and automobile manufacturers.
The collaboration was attended by officials including Ms. Sunita Verma, Group Coordinator (R&D in Electronics & IT) at the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Dr. Saurabh Dalela, Director of ICAT, and Dr. P. R. Lakshmi Eswari, Centre Head of C-DAC Hyderabad.
According to the statement, the partnership is intended to reduce India's dependence on foreign automotive solutions through the development of indigenous technologies, aligning with national initiatives focused on self-reliance and domestic manufacturing.