Ericsson has partnered with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to expedite progress with its autonomous vehicle R&D efforts.

Ericsson’s announcement relates primarily to the personalisation of the driver experience, incorporating more advanced analytical and security functionality to better understand context, driver profiles and network awareness in support of app delivery. According to Ericsson, one of the biggest tech challenges it faces is in securely capturing driver identity to help further improve upon preferences and behaviour.

According to Ericsson’s VP of Technology, Business Unit Support Solution, Mika Kaul, MIT’s System Design & Management programme is a technology researching force which will only be of benefit to the Swedish kit vendor’s connected car ambitions.

“We are eager to team with MIT to push the boundaries of autonomous car innovation,” he said. “MIT’s SDM program combines multiple academic disciplines, including engineering, management and systems thinking, for top-tier mid-career professionals with several years of work experience who want to innovate and lead. Their participation will offer fresh insight, and creative perspective to Ericsson’s important Autonomous Driving project.”

The buzz around driverless cars has ramped up significantly in recent months after several announcements from various industry segments; including General Motors’ $1bn acquisition of autonomous vehicle specialist Cruise. A recent report from Gemalto also revealed the extent to which millennials expect the uptake of autonomous vehicles to grow by 2025.