Hyundai announces government-backed green hydrogen R&D hub at IIT Madras
A state-of-the-art research and development hub dedicated to green hydrogen technologies has been unveiled by Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL).
In a strategic partnership with IIT Madras and the Tamil Nadu Government, the Hyundai HTWO Innovation Centre will serve as an open platform to foster collaboration between industry, academia, and government.
Situated at IIT Madras’s Discovery Satellite Campus in Thaiyur, Chennai, the 65,000 sq. ft facility, inaugurated by Tamil Nadu Industries Minister TRB Rajaa, is set to be operational next year (2026). It will feature advanced computational labs, experimental setups, digital twin systems, and pilot-scale zones for testing electrolysers and fuel cells.
Image ©Hyundai Motor India Limited
The HTWO Innovation Centre marks the first phase of HMIL’s ₹100 crore ($11.9 million) investment toward advancing India’s hydrogen ecosystem.
T R B Rajaa, industries minister of Tamil Nadu, added: "For India to grow, Tamil Nadu needs to be growing by leaps and bounds, and that is exactly what the state is doing now. The possibilities that are here are the possibilities that the rest of the world is only now looking up to. The Hyundai HTWO Innovation Centre is a crucial step towards indigenous hydrogen production."
Unsoo Kim, Managing Director, HMIL, added: "Our vision goes beyond electrification. We see green hydrogen as a transformative energy solution with applications across sectors, from refining fuels to producing fertilisers and chemicals. This milestone marks the next phase in HMIL’s ₹100 crore commitment to pioneering green hydrogen innovation in India.”
The initiative is partly funded through the Hyundai Motor India Foundation (HMIF) and aligns with national objectives for decarbonisation, energy independence, and self-reliance.
As part of Hyundai Motor Group’s global HTWO brand, the hub is envisioned as a launchpad for scaling up hydrogen infrastructure through localised innovation, containerised pilot demonstrations, and industrial-scale prototyping.
By bolstering indigenous technology development in hydrogen production, storage, and fuel cells, the centre seeks to catalyse a resilient domestic hydrogen economy while creating a skilled workforce to support India's long-term decarbonisation goals.
For more information, visit www.hyundai.com.