Hyundai Motor India, in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras and Guidance Tamil Nadu, has unveiled the design for the Hyundai HTWO Innovation Centre, a research and development hub dedicated to green hydrogen technology. The center, supported by the Government of Tamil Nadu, will be located at IIT Madras' Discovery Campus in Thaiyur, Chennai, and is expected to be operational by 2026.
The Hyundai HTWO Innovation Centre is part of Hyundai's INR 100 Crore commitment to pioneering green hydrogen innovation in India. Hyundai Motor India Foundation (HMIF) is contributing partially through its CSR initiatives. The total project cost is estimated at INR 180 crore.
The innovation center, spanning 65,000 square feet, will feature advanced experimental and computational laboratories. These will support the development of digital twins of hydrogen infrastructure, customized test rigs, fabrication lines, and containerized pilot zones to evaluate electrolyzers and fuel cells at an industrial scale. The center will focus on making hydrogen fuel economically feasible with lower costs and higher efficiency.
The center aims to indigenously develop technologies with participation from IIT-M researchers and small-scale industries. It will serve as a collaborative platform engaging research institutions, industry players, and policymakers. The facility will also drive R&D and demonstration activities to accelerate readiness and adoption across the green hydrogen value chain.
The Hyundai HTWO Innovation Centre aims to foster an open platform for knowledge exchange by facilitating collaboration between global expertise and the local green hydrogen ecosystem. It demonstrates Hyundai's commitment to Make in India by empowering local innovation, nurturing talent, and supporting the development of scalable, affordable, and sustainable hydrogen solutions.
The center will contribute to sustainability and boost the nation's decarbonization initiatives that target net zero by 2070 and energy independence by 2047. It can accelerate the efforts to achieve these targets. The facility will also focus on applied research, localization of the hydrogen value chain, and upskilling programs to build a hydrogen-ready workforce.
Unsoo Kim, Managing Director of Hyundai Motor India, highlighted the company's commitment to hydrogen innovation, noting Hyundai's leadership in the global hydrogen movement for over 20 years. He mentioned that Hyundai was the first to launch a mass-produced fuel cell electric vehicle.
Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras, stated that the center would work with all stakeholders of the hydrogen sector at the global level, including academia, national R&D laboratories, industries, and policymakers. This will make India self-sufficient in the hydrogen sector.
