The TEXMiN Foundation, IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, has signed an MoU with GIREDMET State Research and Design Institute of Rare Metal Industry, an arm of Russia’s Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corp, to collaborate on rare earth and critical mineral technologies across the mining value chain.
The agreement establishes a joint R&D and technology translation framework spanning entire rare metal value chain—from exploration and mineral beneficiation to extraction, separation, refining, and advanced materials development. Focus areas include rare earth and critical mineral processing, high-purity metals and alloys, refractory metal powders, materials for electronics and optics, and rare earth magnets.
The two institutions will undertake pilot-scale validation and technology translation of GIREDMET processes at TEXMiN under the Technology Translation Research Park (TTRP) framework. A key thrust area includes the development of technologies for producing high-coercivity permanent magnet blocks based on Nd-Fe-B, supported by a complete rare earth metallurgical cycle.
The partnership will also focus on hydrometallurgical recycling technologies for lithium-ion batteries to recover valuable metals (Lithium, Nickel, Cobalt), alongside recovery solutions for critical minerals from legacy mine dumps, tailings, and low-grade or complex ores. Advanced digital integration through digital twin-enabled smart processing plants, combining process know-how with AI/ML and sensor systems, will further strengthen innovation outcomes.
The MoU envisages upscaling technologies to higher Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) and enabling industry-facing demonstrations aligned with India’s National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) priorities and the Russian Federal Project for the Development of Rare Metal Industry. In addition, the collaboration includes expert exchange, joint doctoral and applied research supervision, specialised training programmes, and advisory and technical support to governments, PSUs, and industry stakeholders on critical mineral projects and policy inputs.
GIREDMET brings decades of metallurgical expertise in rare earth extraction, separation, and alloy production, while TEXMiN contributes a translational research ecosystem designed to de-risk technologies and move them toward higher Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs).
This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: editors@pv-magazine.com.
By submitting this form you agree to pv magazine using your data for the purposes of publishing your comment.
Your personal data will only be disclosed or otherwise transmitted to third parties for the purposes of spam filtering or if this is necessary for technical maintenance of the website. Any other transfer to third parties will not take place unless this is justified on the basis of applicable data protection regulations or if pv magazine is legally obliged to do so.
You may revoke this consent at any time with effect for the future, in which case your personal data will be deleted immediately. Otherwise, your data will be deleted if pv magazine has processed your request or the purpose of data storage is fulfilled.
Further information on data privacy can be found in our Data Protection Policy.