Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India (MBRDI) recently hosted its annual Innovation Collective event, “Innovation Collective 2025,” transforming its Bengaluru and Pune offices into vibrant centers of future-forward thinking. This three-day event served as a powerful demonstration of Mercedes-Benz’s commitment to cutting-edge automotive R&D and its dedication to pushing the boundaries of mobility. The event brought together thought leaders, technology experts, and the MBRDI leadership team to explore the latest trends and breakthroughs shaping the future of the automotive industry and Mercedes-Benz’s role within it.
Holistic Innovation and the Future of Tech
Dr. Aloknath De inaugurated the event by emphasizing the importance of a holistic approach to innovation within Mercedes-Benz R&D. His insights set the stage for discussions that spanned a wide range of advanced topics, reflecting the multifaceted nature of Mercedes-Benz’s research and development efforts.
A key highlight was the panel discussion moderated by Balaji Sethuraman, which delved into the transformative potential of quantum computing, neuromorphic systems, and Generative AI. Esteemed panelists including Dr. Anil Prabhakar, Dr. Chetan Singh Thakur, Arjun Jain, and Parthiv Shah explored how these groundbreaking technologies are being integrated into Mercedes-Benz’s R&D strategy to drive future automotive advancements. These discussions underscored Mercedes-Benz R&D’s proactive exploration of next-generation technologies to maintain its leadership in the automotive sector.
Driving Innovation Through Collaboration and Vision
Raghuraman Ramamoorthy guided a compelling discussion with the MBRDI leadership team, including Prasanna Gonuguntla, Umang Dharmik, and Praveen Bhatt. The discussion centered on how Mercedes-Benz R&D fosters innovation through embracing challenges, promoting cross-functional collaboration, and leveraging transformative technologies. This leadership perspective highlighted the core values driving Mercedes-Benz’s innovative culture and its strategic direction in automotive research and development.
Further enriching the discourse, Dr. Hari Prasad Konka shed light on the critical path from technological innovation to product implementation within Mercedes-Benz. He emphasized the necessity of aligning technological readiness with manufacturing and commercial viability for successful productization. Dr. Karim Nili further explored the strategic role of Intellectual Property (IP) in empowering Mercedes-Benz innovators. He detailed how IP tools and data intelligence are crucial assets in Mercedes-Benz R&D, protecting and leveraging their innovative outputs.
Engineering Luxury and Sustainable Customer Experiences
The intersection of engineering excellence, luxury vehicle design, and sustainability was explored by Santosh Iyer, Vyankatesh Kulkarni, and Brendon Sissing. Their panel highlighted Mercedes-Benz R&D’s commitment to delivering exceptional customer experiences while prioritizing sustainable practices. This discussion showcased how Mercedes-Benz integrates environmental responsibility with its pursuit of luxury and performance, a key focus of modern automotive R&D.
The event also featured the Startup Autobahn India panel, moderated by Dr. Anshuman Awasthi, with panelists Naganand Doraswamy, Shweta Pandey, and Shashikant Adsul. This session spotlighted the importance of ecosystem collaboration in driving automotive innovation. Leading startups like QpiAI, Algoworks, Deevia Software, CY4, and Fabrik were given a platform to showcase their latest technological advancements, demonstrating Mercedes-Benz R&D’s engagement with the external innovation ecosystem.
Inspiration and Recognition
Energizing impulses were provided by Manu Saale, Eileen Böhme, Marc Linkenbach, Dr. Torsten Eder, and Dr. Michael Hafner, further inspiring attendees and reinforcing Mercedes-Benz’s global R&D vision. The event also included hands-on technology demonstrations, providing tangible examples of Mercedes-Benz’s innovative projects. Special recognition awards celebrated outstanding contributions within the Mercedes-Benz R&D community, and the signature mbrdiQ automotive innovation quiz engaged participants in a fun and knowledge-testing format. Congratulations were extended to quiz winners Vignesh Prakash and Kishan Lal K, and runners-up Abhishek Nair and Suhas Shivayogi.
Revving Up the Innovation Engine
Innovation Collective 2025 successfully reinvigorated the innovation engine at Mercedes-Benz R&D. As participants returned to their workstations, they carried with them new ideas and renewed inspiration, ready to drive the next wave of automotive advancements. This event underscored Mercedes-Benz’s ongoing commitment to research and development as the cornerstone of its future success in the rapidly evolving automotive landscape.
