Hyundai Motor Group and RISD Expand Biodesign Partnership for 2026-27

Hyundai Motor Group (HMG) and the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) have announced the continuation of their multiyear research partnership, entering its seventh year with a new focus on regenerative biodesign strategies for the future of mobility.

What Happened

The collaboration, centered in RISD’s Edna W. Lawrence Nature Lab, will explore the theme of “Motion Rewild” during the 2026–27 academic year. This initiative brings together RISD faculty, student researchers, and designers from Hyundai, Genesis, and Kia to study biomimicry and biodesign. The programming includes two advanced studio courses—one in the fall and one in the spring—along with an extended summer research opportunity. During the summer, teams of HMG designers and engineers will participate in a nine-day intensive on campus, while select fellows will engage in a five-week immersion in the Nature Lab to develop regenerative strategies and structural innovations.

Why It Matters

This partnership highlights an industry trend where major automakers are leveraging academic institutions to solve complex engineering challenges through nature-based principles. By focusing on how living systems move through unstructured spaces, such as disaster sites, the research aims to inform the development of physical AI mobility and robots. SangYup Lee, Executive Vice President and Head of Hyundai & Genesis Global Design, stated that natural principles serve as the foundation for their design and technology, enabling responsible responses to technological changes. The findings are intended to support HMG’s broader research into innovative materials, manufacturing methods, and services that are more circular and less harmful to the planet.

The Bottom Line

Hyundai Motor Group and RISD are deepening their collaborative research platform to integrate biological adaptation strategies into automotive design and robotics, with results expected to influence future mobility solutions.