Hyundai Motor India (HMIL), in partnership with IIT Madras and Guidance Tamil Nadu, has unveiled the design for the Hyundai HTWO Innovation Centre—a green hydrogen R&D facility. The design was presented by TRB Rajaa, Tamil Nadu’s Minister for Industries, Investment Promotion & Commerce.

The initiative stems from a strategic agreement signed at the Tamil Nadu Global Investors Meet in January 2024. HMIL and its CSR arm, Hyundai Motor India Foundation (HMIF), have committed ?100 crore, with the project’s total cost estimated at Rs 180 crore. Set to be operational by 2026, the facility will be located at IIT Madras’ Discovery Satellite Campus in Thaiyur, Chennai, covering 65,000 sq. ft.

It will house high-tech labs for computational and experimental hydrogen research, pilot-scale evaluations of electrolysers and fuel cells, and demonstration zones for industrial hydrogen applications. Minister Rajaa said the centre represents a "powerful collaboration to strengthen India's hydrogen ecosystem."

HMIL MD Unsoo Kim noted it will enable “global-local collaboration” and boost clean energy innovation. IIT Madras Director Prof. V Kamakoti emphasized its role in fostering decarbonisation, energy independence, and hydrogen workforce development, aligned with India’s 2070 net-zero goal.