CHENNAI, India, 30 September 2026 : SRM Technologies, a global technology services company specialising
in mobility and other key industries, has launched its Drive Next Automotive
(DNA) Lab at SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST), to advance
automotive R&D through applied research, technology exploration, and
industry-led learning.
As vehicle architectures become increasingly
software-defined and the complexity of integrating, validating, and testing
advanced automotive systems grows, the DNA Lab provides a dedicated R&D
environment that brings together students from Automotive, Engineering, and AI
disciplines at SRMIST with domain subject-matter experts from SRM Technologies
to explore new engineering approaches to industry challenges and advance
promising ideas through prototypes and proofs of concept.
"DNA Lab gives us an opportunity to
explore solutions beyond the immediate demands of customer programs and invest
in capabilities we will need next. It also creates a closer connection with
academia, giving young engineers meaningful exposure to the industry before
they begin their careers. We believe this initiative will strengthen our
engineering capabilities, create greater value for our customers, and build a
stronger talent pipeline for the automotive sector,” said Anantharaman Prakash, CTO – Mobility Business Unit at SRM
Technologies.
The DNA Lab will initially focus on areas
central to modern automotive engineering, including ADAS, AUTOSAR, automotive
software, Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL), and verification and validation. Equipped
with high-performance ADAS systems, a HIL setup powered by dSPACE and Vector
toolchains, and a real-time automotive V&V environment, the lab enables
hands-on engineering, testing, and validation across these areas.
“At SRMIST, we have always believed in
complementing classroom education with real industry experience, and we have
consistently worked to bring that vision to life through industry
collaborations and hands-on learning. The DNA Lab builds on that commitment by
enabling students and faculty to engage with industry-relevant technologies,
contribute to applied research, and develop expertise in emerging automotive
domains while preparing the next generation of automotive engineers,” said Dr. Kamalakkannan K, Professor & Head – Department of Automobile
Engineering, SRMIST.
Beyond research and training, the DNA Lab will
also enrich academic programs through Train-the-Trainer initiatives,
professional electives, certification courses, and minor specializations.
Together, these initiatives will help faculty stay current with emerging
automotive technologies while giving students opportunities to build deeper
expertise in key automotive areas.
Over time, SRM Technologies and SRMIST plan to
expand the DNA Lab's engineering and research capabilities through additional
infrastructure, broader training programs, and joint research and
proof-of-concept development. Sundar S, Head – Mobility Business Unit at SRM
Technologies, shared his vision of establishing the DNA Lab as a Center of
Excellence for advanced automotive engineering—one that OEMs and Tier-I
suppliers can engage with to deploy dependable, impactful innovations that
advance mainstream vehicle development and lifecycle engineering.
About SRM Technologies
SRM Technologies is a global partner for
embedded, digital, and product engineering services, bringing together deep
domain expertise and engineering-led innovation to address complex enterprise
and technology challenges. Its Mobility
Business Practice spans embedded software, software-defined and connected
vehicles, ADAS, electrification and EV solutions, digital cockpit systems,
automotive cybersecurity, and verification and validation, supporting customers
across the automotive software development lifecycle. (www.srmtech.com)
About SRM Institute of Science and Technology
(SRMIST)
SRM Institute of Science and Technology
(SRMIST) is a multidisciplinary institution with a strong focus on education,
research, innovation, and industry collaboration. Through applied and
cross-disciplinary research, industry partnerships, and experiential learning,
SRMIST works to connect academic knowledge with evolving technology and
real-world applications.