Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India (MBRDI) and the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi) have formalised a five-year Master Research Agreement (MRA) to conduct joint research across four technology areas: quantum technologies, future materials, neuromorphic engineering, and electric mobility. The agreement was announced on 5 March 2026 in Bengaluru, and marks one of the more structured long-term tie-ups between a global automotive R&D organisation and an Indian technical institution.
The MRA establishes a framework for ongoing collaboration rather than a single project, with both parties identifying research themes at the intersection of fundamental science and applied engineering. The four focus areas reflect priorities that the automotive industry has been navigating as it transitions toward electrification, software-defined vehicles, and more computationally intensive systems. Neuromorphic engineering, which draws on principles of biological neural processing to build more energy-efficient computing systems, and quantum technologies are among the more forward-looking areas included in the agreement.
As part of the first phase, a research project on quantum sensors and battery systems has been launched. It will be led by Prof. Nirat Ray of IIT Delhi's Department of Materials Science and Engineering, alongside Prof. Saurabh Saxena from the Centre for Applied Research and Technology. The project is intended to bring together interdisciplinary researchers from IIT Delhi and engineering teams at MBRDI for prototype development and real-world validation, with the stated aim of producing scalable technology solutions.
Manu Saale, Managing Director and CEO of MBRDI, said the collaboration reflected a broader effort to create structured pathways between academic research and industry application. "We envision a future where academia and industry are systemically partnering to realise real-world challenges and provide meaningful breakthroughs," he said. Saale added that MBRDI is marking 30 years of engineering operations in India this year, framing the agreement as part of the centre's longer history of building local research capability. "Together, we aim to shape solutions that make a difference today and in the years ahead," he said.
Prof. Preeti Ranjan Panda, Dean of Corporate Relations at IIT Delhi, said the agreement aligned with the institute's existing focus on knowledge exchange and co-creation with industry. "Through this initiative, the Institute seeks to advance high-quality research and generate impactful innovations that enable sustainable, affordable, and future-ready mobility," he said. He added that the objective included addressing mobility challenges specific to India while also targeting broader global relevance.
Both organisations framed the collaboration as a vehicle for intellectual property creation alongside knowledge development, suggesting the research is expected to yield commercially applicable outputs over the five-year period. The agreement does not specify the number of research projects that will follow the initial quantum sensors initiative, but the MRA structure allows for multiple workstreams to be added over time.
The partnership reflects a wider pattern in which automotive and technology companies have sought closer ties with academic institutions in India, particularly as the country's engineering talent base and research output have grown. For MBRDI specifically, deepening academic collaborations offers a way to extend its research reach beyond its internal workforce of over 8,500 professionals.
MBRDI, established in 1996, is Mercedes-Benz Group AG's largest research and development centre outside Germany. Based in Bengaluru and Pune, it covers digital product development, interior component design, and IT engineering and services. IIT Delhi, founded in 1961, is one of 23 Indian Institutes of Technology designated as national centres of excellence in science, engineering, and technology. Since its founding, it has produced more than 65,000 graduates, including over 7,000 PhD holders who have gone on to careers in technology, business, and public administration.