SEEDS OF FUTURISE SOWED
07 January 2025
After having established a strong presence in the U.S., and being currently ranked No. 3 in the 0-120 HP category, Mahindra & Mahindra announced its visionary plans to set up a Mahindra AgTech Centre at Virginia Tech Corporate Research Centre in May. The VTCRC hosts 184 companies with more than 3000 employees in 33 buildings covering 230 acres. This is a definitive step in the field of research, and at this facility, the focus will be on creating breakthrough technology products for the North American agriculture market.
"Mahindra Group strives to be at the forefront of technology and innovation with a view to improving the lives of our customers. We call this innovation initiative FutuRise,” said Mr. Rajesh Jejurikar, President, Mahindra & Mahindra Farm Equipment Sector. “Leveraging the ecosystem of a leading academic institution such as Virginia Tech will foster innovation and enable us to stay ahead globally.” "We believe the path to customer delight and even greater success in North America will come through providing our dealers and customers with cutting-edge products and solutions. This industry-leading innovation enhances our brand di_erentiation in the marketplace," said Mr. Mani Iyer, President & CEO, Mahindra North America.
Mahindra & Mahindra’s Farm Equipment Sector intends to tap into the U.S. technology ecosystem at Virginia Tech in two ways. The first is to establish a hi-tech R&D facility at Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center (VTCRC). The Mahindra AgTech Center (MaTC@Virginia) will complement the work being done in product development centres at Mahindra Research Valley in India, Japan and Finland to create product solutions for farmers globally. MaTC@Virginia will be headed by Hugo Correa, Head of Product Planning at Mahindra Farm Equipment Sector, who will lead a dedicated team to work on integrating new advanced technology into product programs. The second collaboration with Virginia Tech researchers is focused on technology projects to develop new generation farm equipment and work on the latest in technology that envisions grape-picking robots and tractors that communicate with GPS systems and repair shops.
“This is a longstanding courtship between one of the great emerging companies of the 21st century and an American land-grant university of global reach and distinction, and has culminated in an enterprise that brings together research, practical application, and commercialisation,” said Mr. Guru Ghosh, Vice President, Virginia Tech Outreach and International A_airs. “Once the facility is fully established at VTCRC, Mahindra Group will be Virginia Tech’s largest internationally headquartered tenant.” Speaking on this development, Dr. Aravind Bharadwaj, Chief Technology O_cer, Mahindra & Mahindra Farm Equipment Sector said, “Virginia Tech and Mahindra share a relationship that exemplifies corporate-university partnership. VTCRC o_ers the perfect setting for both, research and testing. The commonwealth’s rural communities married with Virginia Tech’s research expertise were the winning factors in narrowing down to Virginia Tech.”
“The enterprise, MaTC@Virginia, will be working in a space that has been customconfigured for the company,” said Mr. Joe Meredith, President & CEO, VTCRC. “With Mahindra’s Research Centre at the VTCRC, growth at the park will be fabulous,” Mr. Meredith added.
