The Union Ministry of Mines organized a special webinar for start-ups, MSMEs, and individual innovators working in the mining and metallurgical sector to explore avenues for advancing research and innovation in mining and mineral processing on Wednesday. The webinar was inaugurated by Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Secretary, Department of Science & Technology and the keynote address was delivered by VL Kantha Rao, Secretary, Mines.
The ministry launched “Promotion of Research and Innovation in Start-ups and MSMEs in mining, mineral processing, metallurgy and recycling sector (S&T-PRISM)” in November, 2023 to fund research and innovation in startups and MSMEs which are working in the field of mineral sector, applied and sustainable aspect of mining and industrial applications. It is expected that this will bridge up the gap between R&D and commercialization as also to promote the ecosystem for a complete value chain in mining and mineral sector, the ministry said in a statement.
Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminium Research Development and Design Centre, Nagpur, an autonomous body under the administrative control of Ministry of Mines is implementing agency for S&T–PRISM.
Fresh proposals under the S&T-PRISM program have been invited by JNARDDC and deadline is April 30, 2024. Preference is given to startups/MSMEs of northeast region and women-led enterprises.
The webinar was attended by more than 200 participants including startups and industry experts.
The participants engaged in insightful discussions surrounding the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities in mining and mineral processing, the ministry said.
Dr Anupam Agnihotri, Director, JNARDDC, made a presentation on functioning and guidelines of S&T-PRISM. Amitesh Sinha, Head, Corporate Venture Capital & Vedanta Spark Initiatives and Rohit Pathak, CEO & Business Head, Birla Copper, Aditya Birla Group, shared their experience in dealing with startups in mining sector. Prof. Asim Tewari of Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, briefed on role of artificial intelligence in mining sector.
