Kia India and IIT Tirupati Inaugurate ‘Inspire Works’ Makers Lab

Tirupati, August 10, 2026: Kia India, in partnership with the Indian Institute of Technology Tirupati (IIT Tirupati), today inaugurated the Inspire Works – The Makers Lab, celebrating the successful completion of Phase A of their landmark collaboration.

The inauguration follows the MoU signed on May 9, 2025, and marks the transformation of a shared vision into a state-of-the-art collaborative innovation space equipped with advanced prototyping infrastructure.

Event Highlights

• Joint unveiling of Inspire Works identity by Mr. Taehyun Kim, Chief Administrative Officer, Kia India, and Prof. K.N. Satyanarayana, Director, IIT Tirupati.
• Engagement between Kia-IIT scholarship recipients and Kia’s senior leadership, reflecting the human impact of the initiative.
• Attendance by senior leaders from Kia India and IIT Tirupati, including faculty, deans, and students.

About Inspire Works
The Inspire Works Makers Lab is envisioned as a collaborative space where students can:

• Conceptualize, design, and develop functional prototypes.
• Bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world applications.
• Access world-class equipment and infrastructure funded by Kia India.

The lab is part of Kia India’s ₹25 crore investment over five years at IIT Tirupati, which also includes student scholarships, research, and development initiatives.

Mr. Taehyun Kim, Chief Administrative Officer, Kia India: “The Inspire Works Makers Lab is a testament to Kia India’s belief in the power of collaborative innovation. By investing in world-class infrastructure at IIT Tirupati, we are creating an ecosystem where young engineers can transform ideas into real-world impact.”

Prof. K.N. Satyanarayana, Director, IIT Tirupati: “We are delighted to see this partnership grow stronger with every milestone. Inspire Works will become a hub of creativity not only for IIT Tirupati students but also for school students, faculty, startups, and innovators from the wider community.”

Attendees

• From Kia India: Mr. Jungho An (Head – CSR, Corporate Affairs & PR), Mr. Hongsung Park (Head – HR Strategy), Mr. Geunbum Kim (Senior Advisor – HR), and other executives.
• From IIT Tirupati: Prof. Suresh Jain (Dean GAC), Dr. D.V. Kiran (Faculty In-Charge, Makers Lab), along with deans, heads of departments, faculty, and staff.

About Kia India
Kia India is one of the country’s leading mass-premium automakers, committed to innovation, sustainability, and community development. Through initiatives like Inspire Works, Kia India continues to invest in education, research, and skill development, empowering the next generation of engineers and innovators.