New Technology Center Seeks To Spur Auto Collaboration

A Cognizant simulator at its new center in suburban Detroit

Cognizant

Cognizant, a technology company, has opened a new center in suburban Detroit aimed at speeding collaboration among automakers, suppliers and tech concerns.

The Cognizant Automotive Innovation Center is in Troy, Michigan.

“As software‑ defined vehicles evolve, automakers need collaborative spaces where AI, software, hardware and systems come together securely and at scale,” the company says in promotional materials. “The Cognizant Automotive Innovation Center meets that need.”

Cognizant has tech partners such as AWS, Nvidia, Siemens and others. Cognizant says the new center is a place where its partners can collaborate with automakers and major suppliers.

“The automotive landscape is changing rapidly,” said Vijay Narayan, Cognizant executive vice president and head of manufacturing, automotive, energy and utilities.

“I don’t anticipate things will get slower,” he added. The idea of the center is to “enable all the players to work together” so companies involved can keep up with the accelerating pace.

Various factors are spurring the need for collaboration. Artificial Intelligence is changing how vehicles and their features are designed. Chinese automakers have reduced the time needed to develop new vehicles, putting pressure on traditional automakers. The industry also wants to develop self-driving vehicles.

One focus of the new center is to improve simulation of how new vehicles work. The Cognizant facility has simulators to test how the vehicles of the future will work.

Simulation testing “is becoming standard in some parts of the world,” Narayan said. The executive said the industry is looking to AI “to increase productivity.”

While Cognizant wants greater collaboration, the company acknowledges companies have to protect proprietary technologies. Narayan referred to such issues as “sovereignty.”

The Michigan center has been in development for about 14 months. Currently, it occupies a suite in one building in a “tech park” in Troy. Cognizant wants to prove the concept and expand later if demand merits.