IIT Hyderabad, Monash University jointly launch Australia-India critical minerals research hub

NEW DELHI: Monash University and Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Hyderabad have jointly established the Australia-India Critical Minerals Research Hub (AICMRH), approved by the ministry of education (MoE). This research hub accelerates a low-carbon economy and develops India's mineral processing industry. The hub also aims to provide advice on critical mineral extraction, processing, criticality assessments, economic geology, sustainable mining practices, and supply chain analyses.

The AICMRH aligns with India's National Education Policy (NEP) and the Australian Researcher Cooperation Hub (ARCH-India), aiming to develop pioneering technologies for a competitive and environmentally sustainable future. Future plans include expanding into the Indo-Pacific region by involving researchers from other countries.

Resource Management

The IIT Hyderabad and Monash University collaboration focuses on developing skills and talent to transition towards sustainable resource management, aligning with the G20's commitment to diversify supply chains for energy transitions. The potential areas of cooperation include carbon capture storage, utilisation, coal preparation upgrading, and mitigating fugitive emissions from coal mining.

SPARC Initiative

The Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration (SPARC) proposal, led by IIT Hyderabad and Monash University, has united various Indian and Australian universities, Research and Development (R and D) labs, and industries. This initiative aims to strengthen India-Australia collaborations in the field of critical minerals with the recently sanctioned funding of $1.15 million by the MoE.

The vice chancellor of Monash University, Craig Jeffrey, highlighted the hub's role in advancing collaborative research activities. IIT Hyderabad professor, BS Murty and Monash University professor Susan Elliott signed the agreement for the project.

“This strategic partnership embodies a concerted effort to drive impactful advancements in the critical minerals’ domain, fostering innovation and knowledge exchange on an international scale,” said BS Murty.