TEXMiN IIT (ISM) Dhanbad has announced a series of strategic industry collaborations and startup incubation funding during IInvenTiv 2026, aimed at strengthening India’s mining and deep-tech innovation ecosystem. TEXMiN functions as the Technology Translation Research Park (TTRP) supported by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India.

The announcements were made at the inaugural ceremony of IInvenTiv 2026, the Ministry of Education’s flagship R&D fair being hosted at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad. The event brought together academic institutions, startups, investors, industry leaders and policymakers to promote research commercialisation and technology transfer. Directors from several IITs, along with venture capitalists and industry representatives, were present during the launch.

TEXMiN expressed gratitude to DST for continued support, acknowledging the leadership of Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Secretary, DST and Mission Director, NM-ICPS, and Dr Ekta Kapoor, along with the DST leadership team, for their role in establishing TEXMiN as a dedicated hub for mining and exploration technologies.

Prof. Sukumar Mishra, Director, IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, and Chairman, Governing Board, TEXMiN, said, “TEXMiN is building a strong innovation and startup ecosystem in the mining and critical minerals sector. The MoUs and startup funding announced during IInvenTiv 2026 reflect the growing industry confidence in academic research and deep-tech startups. These collaborations and incubation initiatives will play an important role in developing indigenous technologies, supporting startups, and strengthening India’s capabilities in strategic sectors.”

Prof. Dheeraj Kumar, Deputy Director, IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, and Project Director, TEXMiN, said, “The partnerships and startup incubation initiatives under TEXMiN demonstrate how academic institutions can work closely with industry to build advanced technology infrastructure and support innovation-driven entrepreneurship. These initiatives will not only support startups but also contribute to building a strong ecosystem for mining technology, critical minerals, and sustainable resource development in the country.”

As part of the initiative, TEXMiN signed multiple MoUs with industry partners to set up advanced research laboratories, Centres of Excellence and technology development facilities. Key MoUs include collaborations with NTPC Mining Limited for mining technology development, Agilent Technologies India to establish a lab for critical mineral and rare earth element analytics, Anton Paar India for advanced material characterisation, and Tecknotrove System India for a mining simulation and training lab.

TEXMiN also announced incubation and seed funding support for startups including Spry Field Solutions, NAVAXON Technologies, MaxelS Tekventures, RESCMM & Tech Solutions, and Velastra.

The institute said these initiatives align with India’s push for technological self-reliance in critical minerals, sustainable mining and advanced manufacturing.