A National Initiative
The Ministry of Mines has acknowledged the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru as a Centre of Excellence (CoE), an essential step within the framework
of the National Critical Minerals Mission. The mission is designed to fortify India's self-sufficiency in critical minerals. These minerals are vital resources for sectors such as clean energy, defense, and cutting-edge technology. This recognition signifies a strategic move towards building indigenous capabilities across the entire value chain, covering exploration, processing, and recycling. IISc plans to leverage industry-academia partnerships and introduce pilot-scale innovations to achieve its goals. The primary objective is to transform research into practical applications that enhance India's global role in the critical minerals sector, contributing to strategic autonomy and supporting the nation's energy transition.
Recycling Platinum Group
IISc is actively working on recycling platinum group elements (PGEs) from spent auto catalysts to support India's Green Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Mission. The institute aims to achieve up to 90% recovery efficiency using high-throughput systems, integrating PGE separation and purification technologies. This commitment is part of a larger strategy to reduce import dependence and promote sustainable growth within the critical minerals sector. Omprakash Subbarao, CEO of FSID CORE at IISc, expressed his delight at the recognition, emphasizing the institute’s role in building indigenous capabilities. This involves translating research into scalable industrial solutions through collaborations with industry partners, fostering innovation, and advancing India's position on the global critical minerals stage by creating circular value chains.
Recycling Tungsten Carbide
As part of its mission, IISc Bengaluru intends to diminish reliance on imported tungsten carbide by developing a direct carbide recycling process. This innovative approach allows for the reuse of end-of-life carbide tools with minimal energy input. In parallel, the institute is partnering with industry to recover rare-earth oxides from mineral-processing tailings, contributing to the creation of circular value chains for critical materials. The CoE aims to develop modular pilot-scale plants. It will utilize indigenous processes and equipment technologies to decrease import dependency and spur sustainable growth. This will involve the collaboration with industry partners through IISc's Foundation for Science, Innovation and Development (FSID) to translate research findings into scalable industrial solutions. These combined initiatives signify IISc's commitment to innovation and sustainability in critical minerals.
Industry Collaboration Strategy
The collaborative efforts between IISc and industry partners are central to the CoE's strategy. By working together, the CoE plans to translate scientific research into practical, scalable industrial solutions. This approach includes creating modular pilot-scale plants using indigenous processes and equipment. The ultimate goal is to reduce reliance on imports and support sustainable growth within the critical minerals sector. Through its Foundation for Science, Innovation and Development (FSID), IISc is facilitating these collaborations, ensuring that research findings have a tangible impact. This partnership strategy aims to build India's indigenous capabilities in the critical mineral value chain. The CoE strives to strengthen the nation's strategic autonomy and support the energy transition, driving India's role in the global critical minerals landscape.
