Under the agreement, the two institutions will undertake joint R&D on rare earth and critical mineral processing technologies
| Photo Credit:
Reuters Staff
TEXMiN Foundation (Technology Translation Research Park) has signed a strategic memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Russia’s State Research and Design Institute of Rare Metal Industry (GIREDMET JSC) to focus on rare earth processing, critical minerals, advanced materials and translational research across the mining sector value chain.
The purpose of the MoU is to establish a framework for strategic cooperation in the field of mining — from exploration and mineral beneficiation to extraction, separation, refining and advanced materials development.
The collaboration will focus on joint research and development of process technologies for rare earth and critical mineral processing, as well as the development of high-purity metals and alloys, rare earth magnets, refractory metal powders, materials for electronics and optics, and knowledge exchange across the rare metal ecosystem.
TEXMiN is a section-8 company created under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS) programme by the Department of Science and Technology at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad. GIREDMET is an entity of the Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation of Russia, which is a nuclear energy solutions behemoth.
Critical mineral tech
Sukumar Mishra, Director, IIT (ISM) Dhanbad and Chairman of Hub Governing Board at TEXMiN Foundation, said, “Critical minerals and rare earth technologies are central to India’s energy transition, electronics manufacturing and strategic sectors. This partnership with GIREDMET brings together global expertise and translational research capabilities to strengthen India’s self-reliance in rare metals and advanced materials.”
Konstantin Ivanovskikh, Deputy Director of GIREDMET, said, “This partnership with TEXMiN marks an important step in strengthening international cooperation in rare metals and critical mineral technologies. By combining GIREDMET’s expertise in rare earth metallurgy, advanced process engineering and materials development with TEXMiN’s translational research ecosystem, we aim to accelerate the development and pilot-scale validation of high-impact technologies across the rare metal value chain.”
The collaboration will support innovation in extraction, separation, refining and recycling processes as well as in production of functional materials for high-tech industries, while fostering expert exchange and joint research, he added.
The partnership reflects the shared priorities of India and Russia in strengthening their domestic rare metal and critical mineral industries, enhancing technological self-reliance, and building resilient industrial value chains.
Both countries face common strategic tasks: securing critical raw materials, developing indigenous processing capabilities, and creating advanced materials for energy, electronics, and strategic sectors. The collaboration is designed to support these goals while promoting a sustainable pathway for industrial and economic development.
Permanent magnets
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.
Dheeraj Kumar, Project Director at TEXMiN, said the MoU establishes a comprehensive research and technology translation framework covering the entire rare metal value chain. Through pilot validation, advanced processing technologies, and digital integration, the aim is to accelerate deployment of sustainable and industry-ready solutions aligned with Atmanirbhar Bharat.
Under the agreement, the two institutions will undertake joint R&D on rare earth and critical mineral processing technologies, including pilot-scale validation and technology translation of GIREDMET processes at TEXMiN under the Technology Translation Research Park (TTRP) framework.
The MoU envisages upscaling technologies to higher technology readiness levels 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.
Published on February 23, 2026
