The Ministry of Mines has designated the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, as one of the Centres of Excellence (CoE) under the National Critical Minerals Mission (NCMM) — a ₹16,300 crore initiative aimed at boosting India’s self-reliance in minerals essential for clean energy, defence, and advanced technologies.
Establishing an Integrated R&D Facility
Under this recognition, IISc will establish an Integrated Critical Minerals Research and Development Facility. It will span the entire value chain — from exploration and extraction to processing and recycling. The CoE will design modular, pilot-scale plants using indigenous processes and equipment, reducing import dependence while driving sustainable industrial growth.
Collaboration for Scalable Industrial Solutions
The new CoE will work closely with industry partners to translate scientific research into scalable, market-ready technologies. “This milestone marks a decisive step toward building India’s indigenous capabilities in the critical-mineral value chain — right from exploration to processing and recycling,” said Omprakash Subbarao, CEO, FSID CORE at IISc.
Pioneering Sustainable Recycling Technologies
IISc will lead the development of a greener lithium-ion battery recycling process. This offers an alternative to the conventional black-mass route, which often causes inefficiencies and export of recyclable material. This innovation aims to improve recovery rates and minimise environmental impact.
Supporting India’s Green Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Goals
To back India’s Green Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Mission, IISc will also focus on recycling platinum group elements (PGEs) from spent auto catalysts. The process targets up to 90% recovery efficiency using high-throughput systems integrated with advanced PGE separation and purification technologies.
Building Resilience Through Indigenous R&D
With growing volatility in global supply chains, India’s heavy dependence on imported rare earths and strategic minerals underscores the urgency for domestic R&D capabilities. From consumer electronics to satellites, critical minerals form the backbone of modern manufacturing and innovation.
Driving India’s Self-Reliance in Core Technologies
India has made strong strides in semiconductors, digital infrastructure, and mobility. Sustained progress now depends on building core material technologies within the country. As reported by rediff.com, the new CoE at IISc marks a major step toward building a self-sustaining ecosystem for critical minerals. It will also support India’s long-term industrial and energy security goals.
