Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani (BITS Pilani) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Chennai-headquartered Rane Group to establish a strategic collaboration focused on automotive research, technology development and industry-ready talent.
The partnership will combine BITS Pilani’s academic expertise and infrastructure with Rane Group’s manufacturing capabilities to address emerging challenges in the automotive sector.
Focus on next-generation automotive technologies
The collaboration will cover joint research and development, intellectual property creation and commercialisation, as well as educational programmes aimed at skilling students amid rapid technological changes.
The partnership will also create institutional pipelines for student projects and internships, deep-tech talent incubation in manufacturing and placement opportunities for graduating students.
The companies will focus on areas including advanced electronics, autonomous mechanical systems, smart manufacturing and artificial intelligence applications aimed at improving productivity and operational efficiency.
Industry-academia link strengthened
Rane Group manufactures safety-critical automotive components and supplies original equipment manufacturers in India and overseas. Its products serve passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, farm tractors, two-wheelers, three-wheelers and railway applications.
BITS Pilani Group Vice Chancellor Prof V Ramgopal said stronger industry-academia partnerships were needed to deliver tangible gains for both sides.
He said the collaboration aligns with BITS Pilani’s focus on industry-oriented learning and research-driven innovation, adding that combining academic expertise with Rane Group’s industrial experience could accelerate the lab-to-market pipeline and prepare future-ready professionals.
Focus on future-ready talent
Rane Group Chairman Harish Lakshman,said rapid advances in automotive electronics and autonomous platforms made industry-academia collaboration important for developing competitive technologies and solutions.
He said the partnership with BITS Pilani would help nurture technical talent and co-create next-generation automotive technologies aimed at strengthening India’s manufacturing sector.
Senior BITS Pilani officials attending the MoU signing included Prof Ram Kumar Gupta, Professor, Department of Physics; Prof Arya Kumar, Dean (Institute-wide), Alumni Relations; and Prof Sounak Roy, Dean (Institute-wide), Research & Innovation.
The collaboration is intended to create a long-term framework connecting academic research, student development and industrial application, with both institutions seeking to generate value for the automotive industry and academia.