Driving Advances in Automotive Technology

As one of the world’s leading suppliers of advanced automotive technology, systems and components, Japan’s DENSO Corporation is dedicated to furthering its research and development (R&D) programs and efforts – often collaborating with businesses and educational institutions to do so. Recently, in order to better serve its growing North American market, the company has begun expanding the R&D operations at DENSO International America, Inc. (DIAM), its North American headquarters. 

Several months ago, BEC Senior Director Umesh Patel and U-M Associate Vice President for Research Volker Sick met with representatives from DENSO to discuss the company’s past experiences with North American universities and explore opportunities for collaborative research with the University of Michigan.  As Patel notes, “We explained that U-M’s Master Research Agreements could cover contractual aspects of the partnership between the University and DENSO, and facilitate smoother and faster initiation of multiple projects.” 

Last year, DENSO established a Master Agreement with the University. In all, the company will invest $1 million over a three-year period in research focused on autonomous drive, metal-air battery, electrification and engine efficiency-related technologies. With assistance from BEC, DENSO has also joined the US-China Clean Energy Research Center - Clean Vehicle Consortium (CERC-CVC), Society 2030, and the Wireless Integrated Micro-Systems consortia—all located on the U-M campus.

According to Rajesh K. Malhan, advanced research director at DENSO International America, “Current technologies are often developed through a multidisciplinary approach, so we expect that U-M’s broad expertise in engineering, business and medical research will be extremely valuable. Also, the network that Michigan has established with other academic institutions and government research laboratories, including relationships with Chinese universities, will be crucial in aiding our R&D roadmap. We’re grateful for BEC’s guidance. It would have been difficult to connect with U-M professors and programs so quickly without them.”