New Delhi: The Technology Innovation in Exploration and Mining Foundation (TEXMiN) at the Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) on critical mineral exploration. The agreement also covers research, capacity building and technology development, TEXMiN said in a statement issued on Tuesday.
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TEXMiN was set up by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), while IBM works under the Ministry of Mines. The two had earlier signed a Letter of Cooperation. According to the statement, the MoU moves that shared intent into "a structured framework for long-term collaboration."
Sukumar Mishra, Director of IIT (ISM) Dhanbad and Chairman of TEXMiN's Hub Governing Board, described the MoU as "a significant step in strengthening India's critical mineral security." "By bringing together IBM's deep expertise in mineral exploration and resource assessment with TEXMiN's research and technology capabilities, we are building a shared foundation for data-driven, future-ready mineral intelligence," he said. The partnership, Mishra added, "reflects our continued commitment to supporting India's strategic and scientific priorities in the critical minerals space."
The MoU sets out four areas of work. The first is the India–UK Critical Minerals Global Supply Chain Observatory (GSCO), where the two organisations will work on data, stakeholder engagement and supply-chain intelligence. They will also take forward research and innovation in critical minerals under the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) and through the Centre of Research Excellence in Mining and Innovation for Critical Materials (CoRE-MiN). Their joint work on critical minerals and rare earth elements is meant to support exploration, resource assessment, beneficiation and mineral intelligence. The MoU also covers the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) and digital mining in exploration, targeting, resource estimation and mine planning.
TEXMiN already has a role in both the GSCO and CoRE-MiN. The GSCO is a joint initiative of TEXMiN, IIT (ISM) Dhanbad and the University of Cambridge. It was launched in New Delhi on June 4 by Union Minister of Coal and Mines G Kishan Reddy and UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper. Reddy had earlier inaugurated CoRE-MiN at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad on December 25, 2025. IIT (ISM) Dhanbad set up the centre with TEXMiN as a Centre of Excellence under the NCMM.
Dheeraj Kumar, Director of TEXMiN, said the collaboration "allows us to bring AI/ML, digital mining and advanced research directly into India's critical mineral exploration efforts." "Working closely with IBM opens up meaningful opportunities across resource assessment, beneficiation and mineral intelligence, and strengthens the broader ecosystem we are building through the NCMM and CoRE-MiN," he said. "We look forward to translating this partnership into tangible outcomes for India's mining sector," Kumar added.
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The statement said the MoU also opens avenues for technology intelligence, critical mineral recovery, capacity building and knowledge exchange, beyond the four focus areas.
