In a significant step towards building a sustainable global supply chain of critical minerals, Monash University and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Hyderabad have announced the establishment of the Australia-India Critical Minerals Research Hub (AICMRH).
This joint initiative has been approved by India’s Ministry of Education (MoE) and aims to bring together leading researchers to advance sustainable mining practices and supply chain analyses.
The AICMRH will provide expert advice on critical minerals extraction and processing, criticality assessments, economic geology, and sustainable mining practices.
The initiative aligns with the G20’s commitment to diversify supply chains for energy transitions and is expected to play a pivotal role in supporting the objectives outlined in India’s National Education Policy and the G20 New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration.
The MoE and the Government of India have formed an Empowered Committee for Industry and International Collaborations (ECIIC), selecting critical minerals as one of the 12 themes of focus.
IIT Hyderabad has been designated by the MoE to lead the country on this theme, underscoring the importance of this collaboration.
A Society for the Promotion of Area Resource Centers (SPARC) proposal, led by IIT Hyderabad and Monash University, has successfully brought together various Indian and Australian universities, R&D labs, and industries in the field of critical minerals.
Recently sanctioned by the MoE with funding of $1.15 million, this initiative is expected to strengthen India-Australia collaborations in the critical minerals sector.
Professor Craig Jeffrey, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (International) and Senior Vice-President at Monash University emphasised the significance of the AICMRH as a platform for advancing collaborative research activities.
“This is a fantastic achievement that will greatly enhance collaborative research across India and Australia in a number of critically important areas,” said Professor Jeffrey.
Professor BS Murty from IIT Hyderabad, who signed the Memorandum of Agreement for the project with Professor Susan Elliott AM, Provost and Senior Vice-President at Monash University, highlighted the strategic importance of this partnership.
“The AICMRH provides an exciting opportunity for India and Australia to work together to expand its increasingly important mineral resources partnership,” said Professor Murty.
“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.”
The AICMRH aims to develop pioneering technologies for a competitive and environmentally sustainable future.
There are plans to expand the initiative into the Indo-Pacific region by including researchers from other countries, furthering the scope and impact of this collaboration.
To learn more about the AICMRH, please visit the Australia-India Critical Minerals Research Hub.
