Politehnica Bucharest and Bosch inaugurate the “Software Defined Vehicles” laboratory to train the mobility engineers of the future

Politehnica Bucharest and the Bosch Group in Romania inaugurated the new Software Defined Vehicles laboratory, an educational and research facility dedicated to developing software systems for intelligent vehicles and autonomous driving.

The laboratory was established with the support of Bosch and is part of the infrastructure of the Department of Automation and Industrial Informatics within the Faculty of Automatic Control and Computers.

The Software Defined Vehicles (SDV) concept is fundamentally transforming the automotive industry: vehicles are no longer defined exclusively by hardware components, but by the software that manages their operation, safety, and connectivity.

Solutions developed globally include central onboard computers that replace dozens of electronic control units, middleware platforms that connect hardware and applications, as well as advanced cybersecurity systems designed to protect connected vehicles.

In this context, Romania plays a strategic role within Bosch’s global network through the Bosch Engineering Center in Cluj, where algorithms for autonomous driving and software solutions for Smart Mobility are developed.

The Bosch – Software Defined Vehicles laboratory is equipped with high-performance computing systems and a real-time simulator, providing a working environment aligned with global automotive industry standards.

It will be used by students enrolled in bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs. Activities carried out in the laboratory will include the analysis and design of industrial information systems, artificial intelligence techniques, real-time software development, testing and quality assurance, cybersecurity, as well as solutions for autonomous driving and predictive maintenance.

The university’s rector, Mihnea Costoiu, emphasized the strategic importance of the investment: “The inauguration of this laboratory represents an investment in the future of intelligent mobility and in Romania’s ability to train engineers who contribute to global technologies. The partnership with Bosch confirms that Politehnica Bucharest is a relevant player in the European innovation ecosystem.”

“This laboratory represents more than an investment in cutting-edge technology; it is a firm commitment to the future of smart mobility and to educating the next generation of engineers. By integrating Bosch’s expertise into the university curriculum and facilitating students’ access to equipment and real-world projects, we aim to build a strong bridge between academia and industry demands. We thus continue to strengthen our role as a strategic employer and promoter of innovation, making a decisive contribution to the development of a robust technological ecosystem in Romania,” said Dan Lăzărescu, General Manager of Robert Bosch SRL and representative of the Bosch Group in Romania.