SRMIST and Volvo Group CSR Trust India Setup Volvo’s First University-Based Vehicle Technology Centre in 2026

SRMIST and Volvo Group Partner to Set Up Volvo’ First University-Based Vehicle Technology Centre, Strengthening Industry and Academia Collaboration Landmark collaboration with Volvo Group brings industry-linked automotive learning and future-ready skills to campus.

SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST), Kattankulathur, has inaugurated Volvo’s first university-based Vehicle Technology Centre in collaboration with Volvo Group CSR Trust India. This initiative marks a significant milestone in industry-academia collaboration, bringing global industrial expertise into engineering education and creating opportunities for experiential learning, innovation and the development of future-ready talent in automotive technologies and sustainable mobility.

The initiative builds on the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Career Centre of SRMIST and Volvo Group India, which was exchanged at the ceremony. The collaboration led to the establishment of a Centre of Excellence in Virtual Vehicle Technologies, creating opportunities for students to connect academic learning with evolving industry needs.

The inauguration was graced by Prof. C. Muthamizhchelvan, Vice Chancellor, SRMIST, and Mr. G. V. Rao, Director, CSR, Volvo Group India, and Managing Trustee, Volvo Group CSR Trust India. Dr. Leenus Jesu Martin M, Dean, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, and senior Volvo Group India representatives, including Mr. Vijay Kumar Nair, Country Leader, Digital Technology; Dr. Ranjith T. P., Head of Talent Acquisition; Mr. Sreenath KR, Head of Strategy & PMO, FSDV Department; Mr. Haricharan, Group Manager, Electromobility; and Ms. Padmavathi Kalidasan, Deputy Manager, Talent Acquisition, also participated in the occasion, along with heads of departments, directors, faculty members and institutional representatives.

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Highlighting the importance of industry partnerships, Prof. C. Muthamizhchelvan said, “Academia must evolve alongside industry. Partnerships with renowned automobile industries such as Volvo help us bring real-world challenges into the learning environment and better the preparedness of our students for the demands of the future of the automobile sector.”

Mr. G. V. Rao highlighted the technologies shaping the automotive sector, stating, “The future of automotive engineering will be shaped by advances in software, electrification, automation and intelligent systems. Through this initiative, we want to help students develop the technical skills and practical understanding needed to contribute to this evolving industry.”

The centre aims to bridge the gap between academic learning and industrial practice through experiential learning, hands-on training, collaborative research and exposure to advanced automotive technologies. Its technology tracks cover automotive software development, embedded systems and in-vehicle networks, electrification and battery systems, virtual validation and simulation, and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, cybersecurity and functional safety. These tracks are proposed for integration into B.Tech. and M.Tech. programmes as additional credit-bearing courses.

The SRMIST and Volvo Group partnership has already achieved encouraging outcomes in faculty development and student employability. Approximately 25 faculty members have undergone training at Volvo’s R&D centre in Bengaluru, while 24 students have secured paid internships with Volvo Group India. A Volvo employee is pursuing a Ph.D. in the Department of Automobile Engineering, and several M.Tech. students have joined Volvo following their Internships.

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Volvo-specific electives, developed collaboratively by SRMIST faculty and Volvo subject-matter experts, will provide industry-oriented learning opportunities. The partnership also adopts a global co-teaching model, through which Volvo experts based in different geographical locations across the world will deliver specialised courses, primarily through online sessions, in collaboration with SRMIST faculty. This approach will enrich experiential learning by providing students with international industry perspectives, practical engineering insights and exposure to emerging technological developments.

Envisioned as an open-access knowledge and training hub, the centre will extend training opportunities to faculty members and students from other higher education institutions across India. SRMIST will host and maintain the facilities, while Volvo Group India will coordinate the training calendar and allocation of training opportunities in accordance with agreed Arrangements.

The proposed roadmap for 2027 targets training 500 students and 50 faculty members across the technology tracks, with a long-term objective of scaling up to 1,000 students annually from SRMIST and participating institutions. A train-the-trainer model will enable Volvo technology experts to support curriculum development and faculty training, while qualified faculty members will subsequently help deliver programmes to larger student cohorts.

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The establishment of the Vehicle Technology Centre reflects the commitment of SRMIST and Volvo Group India to experiential learning, industry-integrated education, innovation and collaborative research. Through the guiding philosophy of “Learn. Innovate. Transform.”,

SRMIST and Volvo Group India aim to develop skilled engineering professionals equipped to meet the evolving demands of intelligent and sustainable mobility, while extending the benefits of industry-oriented education to institutions across India.

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