Mines Ministry to support start-ups, MSMEs for research in mineral processing

Selected start-ups and MSMEs would be provided mentorships or incubation support and technical advisory support.

The scope of mentoring support will include advisory, networking, tapping resources, piloting, business planning and fund-raising. Further, piloting opportunities for supported startups and MSMEs will be provided in the mining, mineral processing, metallurgy and recycling sectors.

"Proposals will be invited from startups, MSMEs and individual innovators for up to two years duration with direct bearing on the mineral sector, applied and sustainable aspects of mining and industrial applications, for funding," said the Mines Ministry in a media release on Wednesday.

The Mines Ministry has brought out guidelines for “Promotion of Research and Innovation in Start-ups and MSMEs in mining, mineral processing, metallurgy and recycling sector (S&T-PRISM)”.

"The main idea of the S&T-PRISM is translation of research into technology (product/process/services) but not to carry out open-ended fundamental research.

Investigations must lead to innovation or new product/process ready for demonstration or pilot scale deployment (not only publication/ patent)," the Ministry said.

Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminium Research Development and Design Center, Nagpur will be the implementing agency for S&T–PRISM.

(With UNI inputs)