New Delhi, Aug14: Andhra Pradesh is one of four states selected for a Dedicated Rare Earth Corridor under the Union Budget 2026–27, is home to nearly 31% of India’s reported monazite resources, and is targeting ₹50,000 crore in investment and 40,000 jobs over the next decade under its Integrated Strategic Material Hub ambition. Turning that resource potential and ambition into a working ecosystem requires strong partnerships across government, academia, research, and industry, and today, TEXMiN, the Technology Translation Research Park , DST, GoI at IIT Dhanbad, took a step in that direction by signing a strategic Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Andhra Pradesh to advance research, higher education, innovation, and technology development in critical minerals, rare earth elements, and allied domains.
The MoU was signed in the august presence of the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Shri N. Chandrababu Naidu, along with Sri Kollu Ravindra, Minister for Mines & Geology; Sri Mukesh Kumar Meena, IAS, Principal Secretary, Mines Department; Sri Pravin Kumar, IAS, VC & MD, APMDC; Shri W B Chandra Sekhar, Director of Mines & Geology; and other senior officials and delegates. Representing TEXMiN, TTRP, DST, Government of India, the MoU was signed by Prof. Dheeraj Kumar, Head, CoRE-MiN & Director, TEXMiN Foundation, IIT Dhanbad; Muhammed Danish, CBDO, TEXMiN; and Shri Vikram K Y, CMD, RESCMM, a TEXMiN-incubated startup.
The collaboration covers multiple areas, with two key initiatives at its core: establishing the Andhra Pradesh State Center of Excellence for Critical Minerals, Rare Earth Elements, Strategic Minerals, and Allied Domains; and setting up a TEXMiN, IIT Dhanbad Out Campus or Extension Center in Andhra Pradesh, preferably at Vijayawada, to support academic programmes, executive education, research, innovation, and industry engagement.
Speaking on the partnership, Prof. Sukumar Mishra, Director, IIT (ISM) Dhanbad and Chairman, Hub Governing Board, TEXMiN, TTRP, DST, GoI, said,
“This MoU is a significant step in extending IIT (ISM) Dhanbad’s institutional strength beyond Jharkhand into a state with genuine strategic weight in critical minerals. Andhra Pradesh’s selection for the Dedicated Rare Earth Corridor and its resource base in monazite and beach sands make this partnership timely and important for the country’s critical minerals mission. Through TEXMiN, we look forward to working closely with the Government of Andhra Pradesh to build a Center of Excellence that combines strong research, skilled talent, and industry engagement, and that contributes meaningfully to India’s larger goal of self-reliance in critical minerals.”
Speaking on the partnership, Prof. Dheeraj Kumar, Head, CoRE-MiN and Director, TEXMiN, TTRP, DST, GoI, IIT Dhanbad, said,
“Andhra Pradesh’s selection for the Dedicated Rare Earth Corridor and its strong monazite resource base make it a natural home for a dedicated critical minerals ecosystem. Through this MoU, TEXMiN and IIT (ISM) Dhanbad will bring our research depth in exploration, mineral processing, and technology translation directly into the state, from waste-to-wealth pilots to AI-driven mining technologies, so that Andhra Pradesh’s resource potential converts into industry capability, skilled talent, and a strategic knowledge base that serves the country’s critical minerals mission for years to come.”
The proposed Center of Excellence is expected to anchor a “waste to wealth” ecosystem in the state, beginning with an assessment of waste dumps for critical minerals and rare earth element content and a proof-of-concept/pilot plant to demonstrate commercial viability, while also supporting the Andhra Pradesh Mineral Development Corporation in the EoI/tender process for commercial extraction of critical minerals and REEs. Other planned components include dedicated lab facilities for assessing critical minerals and REEs, capacity-building and upskilling programmes across verticals, support to state-owned mining companies and universities in strengthening the innovation and startup ecosystem, and technology development in AI/ML and cyber-physical systems for the mining value chain, in partnership with startups, researchers, industry, and TEXMiN’s foreign university and industry collaborators. The Center is also expected to host an Andhra Pradesh Node of the Global Strategic Critical Minerals Observatory , functioning as a strategic think tank for critical minerals resilience, supply chain security, policy research, and evidence-based decision-making.
Under the roles agreed between the parties, the Andhra Pradesh government will identify and allocate land or infrastructure for the Extension Center and the Center of Excellence, provide seed funding and budgetary support, facilitate statutory clearances and single-window support, and give access to state geological data and field sites. TEXMiN and IIT Dhanbad will provide academic, scientific, and technical leadership for both institutions, design and deliver executive and professional development programmes, deploy faculty and research scholars, lead research and technology transfer activity, and assist the state government in preparing a detailed project report and implementation roadmap.
The MoU sets out a phased implementation timeline. A Joint Working Group, comprising nominated officers and faculty from both sides, will be constituted within 30 days of the effective date and will submit a Detailed Project Report covering location, governance, staffing, curriculum, and costs within 90 days. A Joint Steering Committee, co-chaired by the Secretary of the Department of Mines and Geology, Government of Andhra Pradesh, and the Director of TEXMiN Foundation, will approve the report and meet quarterly to review progress. The parties are targeting operationalisation of the Extension Center within 12 months and the Center of Excellence within 18 months of the report’s approval. The MoU is valid for five years.