Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India (MBRDI) announced the expansion of its Sustainability Garage initiative on September 3, 2024, adding two new Centres of Excellence in Hyderabad and New Delhi. This initiative aims to enable research, create interactive spaces for engagement, and promote social innovation in sustainable mobility and environmental fields. The announcement was made during the Mercedes-Benz Sustainability Dialogue India 2024 in New Delhi, a platform that gathered government officials, industry leaders, academics, policymakers, think tanks, and NGOs to discuss various sustainability topics.
Tech driven Centre of Excellence
The newly introduced Centre of Excellence for the Sustainability Garage includes a Climate Tech Incubator to support 25 social enterprises focused on sustainable mobility and environmental innovation. MBRDI will offer seed funding, customised support, and deep-tech mentorship. Additionally, T-Hub, India’s prominent startup incubator, will engage over 500 students in design thinking and prototyping bootcamps aimed at developing innovative climate tech solutions for decarbonisation.
Electrifying Centre of Excellence
Another Centre of Excellence will focus on Charging Infrastructure, established in collaboration with The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI). This centre will provide a specialised training program on maintenance of charging infrastructure, certifying 60 young professionals within the year to address the sector’s growing demand.
Renata Jungo Brüngger, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG for Integrity, Governance & Sustainability, stated: “Sustainability means creating permanent value for all stakeholder groups. As a global company and corporate citizen, we want to make a positive contribution to society that goes beyond our core business activities. With the Sustainability Garage, Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India underlines the goal of our worldwide corporate citizenship strategy to promoting ecological sustainability and fostering community empowerment. The Indian initiative supports local startups and the next generation of leaders. I am excited to see the innovations emerging from these partnerships.”
Manu Saale, Managing Director and CEO, Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India, commented: “Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India is committed to leading the charge in sustainable mobility. The new Sustainability Garage projects will play a vital role in furthering innovation from India to meet some of the most pressing global challenges. We are confident that India’s digital R&D talent pool and pioneering spirit will lead us to some transformative climate-positive solutions for the world.”
Mercedes-Benz Sustainability Dialogue India 2024
Mercedes-Benz Sustainability Dialogue India 2024, hosted at New Delhi’s Bharat Mandapam, convened thought leaders, innovators, and changemakers to explore sustainability initiatives and innovations driving the future of mobility. Topics included trends in decarbonisation and circularity, traffic safety innovations, and digital trust. Notable attendees included Amitabh Kant, India’s G20 Sherpa and former CEO of NITI Aayog; Amir Bazaz, Associate Dean, Head Climate & Infrastructure, Indian Institute of Human Settlements; Sonal Shah, Executive Director, Centre for Sustainable and Equitable Cities; Srikrishna Murthy, Co-founder and CEO, Sattva Consulting; Alok Lall, Chief Operating Officer – India and South Asia, Microsoft Corporation; Vinayak Godse, CEO, Data Security Council of India; and Ajeya Motaganahalli, VP of Engineering & Managing Director, Pure Storage, among others.
At the Sustainability Dialogues, Mercedes-Benz aims to foster active discourse with diverse stakeholder groups. Since 2008, the company has brought together representatives from business, science, politics, environmental and non-governmental organisations, associations, and municipalities to exchange perspectives on sustainability. These dialogues, which take place regularly in Germany, India, China, and the USA, provide Mercedes-Benz with valuable insights from external experts to advance its sustainable initiatives.
The first Centre of Excellence of the Sustainability Garage, launched earlier this year, focuses on developing sustainable materials through multidisciplinary research aimed at societal benefit. This centre, located at the Prayoga Institute of Education Research, is equipped with advanced facilities to foster innovation in sustainability.
MBRDI strategy
By expanding its Sustainability Garage, MBRDI seeks to nurture a vibrant ecosystem of sustainability in India, fostering local startups and the next generation of leaders. The inclusion of these Centres of Excellence underscores Mercedes-Benz’s broader corporate citizenship strategy to promote ecological sustainability and community empowerment. The collaborations with entities like T-Hub and TERI exemplify the initiative’s integrated approach to driving climate-positive innovations and enhancing charging infrastructure expertise.
With the involvement of leading figures like Renata Jungo Brüngger and Manu Saale, and the backing of government and private sector actors, Mercedes-Benz is positioning itself at the forefront of sustainable innovation in India. The initiatives unveiled at the Sustainability Dialogue aim not only to address pressing climate and environmental challenges but also to empower young professionals and social enterprises, reflecting a comprehensive strategy for sustainable growth and development.
