NIT Rourkela, IIT Dhanbad Collaborate to Modernize India’s Mining Sector

Centre of Excellence to Drive Innovation in Automation, Digital Technologies, and Cyber-Physical Systems

In a landmark move to transform India’s mining landscape, the National Institute of Technology Rourkela (NIT-R) and the Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad (IIT-ISM) have jointly established a Centre of Excellence (CoE) focused on driving innovation in mining technologies. The initiative aims to integrate automation, cyber-physical systems (CPS), and advanced digital solutions to create a safer, more efficient, and sustainable mining ecosystem.

The CoE is the result of a strategic partnership between NIT-R’s Foundation for Technology and Business Incubation (FTBI) and TEXMiN, a public sector technology enterprise backed by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and based at IIT(ISM)-Dhanbad. The center was officially inaugurated on June 20 at the FTBI campus by NIT-R Director Prof. K. Umamaheshwar Rao and IIT(ISM) Director Prof. Sukumar Mishra.

Speaking at the event, Prof. Rao emphasized the critical role of digital transformation in boosting safety standards, operational productivity, and environmental responsibility in the mining sector. Prof. Mishra highlighted the importance of applied research in developing scalable, real-world solutions that can be seamlessly deployed across mining operations.

According to NIT-R, the CoE will serve as a national hub for deep-tech research and innovation, offering targeted solutions to enduring challenges in the mining and allied sectors. Over the next four years, the center will fund research projects, support innovators and scholars with fellowships, and provide access to cutting-edge infrastructure and expert mentorship to foster breakthroughs in mining technology.

India’s mining industry has historically faced a range of systemic challenges, including outdated manual processes, fragmented data systems, safety hazards, and environmental degradation. The new CoE intends to address these pain points by leveraging real-time data, predictive analytics, and advanced automation through CPS and digital tools.

Beyond research and innovation, the CoE will also support tech-driven startups, promote entrepreneurship, and contribute to national policy frameworks on digital mining standards. The collaboration is seen as a strategic step towards creating a future-ready, resilient, and globally competitive mining sector.

This alliance between two of India’s leading technical institutions underscores the country’s growing emphasis on innovation-led growth in critical infrastructure sectors. It signals a bold shift towards smarter, safer, and more sustainable mining practices, aligning with national goals of self-reliance and technological leadership.