NMDC Limited signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between its Research and Development (R&D) Centre and Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IIT Hyderabad) to strengthen academic and research collaboration in the minerals and metals sector. The agreement aims to advance indigenous technologies in mineral processing and allied areas, with a focus on supporting India’s mineral security and resource resilience.
The partnership will focus on research in iron ore beneficiation and agglomeration, green steelmaking technologies, alternate ironmaking using indigenous raw materials, and advanced modelling and simulation of mining and metallurgical operations. It will also explore extraction of critical and rare earth minerals from primary and secondary sources.
The MoU includes research and pilot initiatives aligned with digital transformation in the mining sector, including autonomous vehicle movement, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), Mining 4.0 frameworks, and drone-enabled surveying and monitoring. The initiative is intended to enhance operational efficiency, productivity, and environmental performance across mineral operations.
“The MoU with IIT Hyderabad strengthens NMDC’s commitment to innovation through industry–academia collaboration. By leveraging IIT Hyderabad’s research excellence and NMDC’s domain expertise, this partnership will advance indigenous technologies in mining, mineral processing, and emerging areas, contributing to sustainable development and the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat,” said Amitava Mukherjee, Chairman-cum-Managing Director, NMDC.
The collaboration coincides with the 50-year milestone of NMDC’s R&D Centre, marking five decades of research activity in the minerals sector. The MoU was signed by Sanjeev Sahi, Executive Director (R&D), NMDC, and the Dean (Sponsored Research & Consultancy), IIT Hyderabad, in the presence of B. S. Murty, Director, IIT Hyderabad. The collaboration will combine operational expertise with academic research to develop technology-led solutions across mining and metallurgical processes.
NMDC Limited is an iron ore producer under the Ministry of Steel, Government of India, with operations in the mining and mineral processing sector.
