Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India (MBRDI) has announced the expansion of its “Sustainability Garage” initiative, a platform designed to foster collaboration among various stakeholders to advance sustainability goals. The expansion includes the launch of two new Centres of Excellence located in Hyderabad and New Delhi. This initiative was unveiled during the Mercedes-Benz Sustainability Dialogue India 2024, held in New Delhi.
The first new Centre of Excellence, the Climate Tech Incubator, is set to support 25 social enterprises focused on sustainable mobility and environmental innovation. MBRDI will provide these enterprises with seed funding, customized support, and mentorship. In collaboration with T-Hub, India’s leading startup incubator, the initiative will engage over 500 students in design thinking and prototyping bootcamps aimed at developing innovative climate tech solutions for decarbonization.
The second Centre of Excellence will focus on charging infrastructure, established in partnership with The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI). This center will offer specialized training programs on the maintenance of charging infrastructure, certifying 60 young professionals this year to meet the growing demand in this sector.
Renata Jungo Brüngger, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG for Integrity, Governance & Sustainability, emphasized the company’s commitment to creating lasting value through sustainability initiatives. She highlighted the role of the Sustainability Garage in promoting ecological sustainability and supporting local startups and future leaders.
Manu Saale, Managing Director and CEO of MBRDI, expressed confidence in India’s digital R&D talent and pioneering spirit to drive transformative climate-positive solutions globally. He emphasized that the new projects under the Sustainability Garage will be pivotal in advancing sustainable mobility innovation from India.
The first Sustainability Garage Centre of Excellence was launched in February 2024 at the Prayoga Institute of Education Research, focusing on developing sustainable materials for societal benefit. The Mercedes-Benz Sustainability Dialogue India 2024 event featured discussions on decarbonization, circularity trends, traffic safety innovations, and digital trust, with participation from industry leaders such as Amitabh Kant, India’s G20 Sherpa, and executives from Microsoft and Pure Storage, among others.
