Kia has partnered with the Indian Institute of Technology Tirupati (IIT Tirupati) to cultivate local talent and enhance future mobility capabilities.
Kia's India headquarters announced on the 14th that it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for industry-academic cooperation with IIT Tirupati on the 9th (local time). This is the first industry-academic cooperation MOU since the establishment of Kia's local corporation.
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) is a top-tier engineering education institution with 23 campuses across India. IIT Tirupati, where Kia's factory is located in Andhra Pradesh, is regarded as the best university in the region.
Kia will sponsor 350 million rupees (approximately 58 million won) to IIT Tirupati over the next five years from this year until 2029. It plans to promote various collaborations, including supporting the establishment of educational infrastructure, conducting internship programs, launching specialized courses in the automotive industry, and providing scholarships.
In particular, Kia plans to support the establishment of a state-of-the-art research space called the Makers Laboratory. This space is expected to be used by students for prototyping, design, and development for research purposes.
Lee Kwang-koo, executive director of Kia's India headquarters, noted, "We aim to cultivate skilled engineers and technicians who will lead the development of sustainable mobility and industrial manufacturing industries in partnership with IIT Tirupati."