**Executive Summary**
This document is an announcement inviting proposals for funding from Start-ups, MSMEs, and individual innovators under the Science and Technology (S&T) PRISM program of the Ministry of Mines (PRISM 4.0). The funding is intended to support research and innovation in mining, mineral processing, metallurgy, and recycling. The last date for proposal submission is May 31, 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Eligibility:** Proposals are invited from Startups, MSMEs, and Individual Innovators.
* **Project Duration:** Up to 2 years.
* **Focus:** Projects should have direct bearing on the mineral and metal sector, applied and sustainable aspects of mining, metallurgy, and industrial applications.
* **Funding Support:**
* Startups: Up to Rs. 50 lakhs.
* MSMEs: Up to Rs. 1 Cr.
* Technology Products: Up to Rs. 2 Cr. (subject to recommendation and approval).
* **Areas of Emphasis:** Exploration of Critical Minerals, Mining, Extraction, Mineral processing, Metal/Alloy/Product Development, AI/ML/IoT/Software, Recycling/Waste Utilization.
* **Problem Statements and Guidelines:** Detailed information is available at:
* SATYABHAMA Portal: (https://research.mines.gov.in/)
* JNARDDC Website: (https://www.jnarddc.gov.in/Startup-India.aspx)
* **Submission:** Online proposals must be submitted along with all necessary enclosures via the portal: https://research.mines.gov.in/.
* **Deadline:** Last date for submission of proposals is May 31, 2025.
* **Inquiries:** Any queries can be addressed to startups-mines@gov.in
**Impact Analysis**
**Start-ups, MSMEs and Individual Innovators**
* **Impact:** Opportunity to receive funding for research and innovation projects in the mining, mineral processing, metallurgy, and recycling sectors.
* **Action Required:** Prepare and submit proposals via the online portal by May 31, 2025.
**Ministry of Mines**
* **Impact:** Facilitation of research and innovation in key areas of the mineral and metal sector.
* **Action Required:** Review and evaluate submitted proposals.
**JNARDDC**
* **Impact:** Supports the Ministry of Mines to promote innovation and research in the specified sector.
* **Action Required:** Provide the advertisement on its website.
Key Entities Referenced
S&T PRISM Program: Science and Technology Program of Ministry of Mines aimed at promoting Research and Innovation in Startups and MSMEs in the mining, mineral processing, metallurgy, and recycling sector.
Ministry of Mines: The Indian government ministry overseeing the development and regulation of the mining sector, including the S&T PRISM program.
SATYABHAMA Portal: Online portal of Ministry of Mines where detailed information about the S&T PRISM program, including problem statements and guidelines, can be found.
Nagpur: Location of Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminium Research Development & Design Centre (JNARDDC).
JNARDDC: Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminium Research Development & Design Centre, an autonomous body under the Ministry of Mines.
Dated: 17th April 2025
ANNOUNCEMENT inviting proposals for funding from Start-ups, MSMEs and Individual
Innovators under S&T PRISM Program of Ministry of Mines (PRISM 4.0)
Proposals are invited from Startups, MSMEs and Individual Innovators for up to 2 years
duration, which have direct bearing on mineral and metal sector, applied and sustainable
aspect of mining, metallurgy and industrial applications, for funding under “Promotion of
Research and Innovation in Startups and MSMEs in Mining, Mineral Processing, Metallurgy
and Recycling Sector (S&T-PRISM)” under Science and Technology Program of Ministry
of Mines so as to enable them to graduate to a level where they will be able to raise
investments from angel/Venture Capitalist or they will reach a position to seek loans from
commercial banks/financial institutions. The funding is positioned to act as a bridge between
development and commercialization of innovative technologies/products/services in a
relatively hassle-free manner.
Funding support will be in the form of a grant of up to Rs. 50 lakhs for Startup, Rs. 1 Cr. for
MSME and grant up to Rs. 2 Cr. may be considered for technology products requiring higher
funding on the recommendation by TEC and approval by Apex Committee.
Special emphasis will be on Exploration of Critical Minerals / Mining / Extraction / Mineral
processing, Metal / Alloy / Product Development, AI / ML / IoT / Software, Recycling / Waste
Utilization.
The detailed advertisement with problem statements and guidelines may be seen at
SATYABHAMA Portal (https://research.mines.gov.in/ ) of Ministry of Mines and
JNARDDC’s website (https://www.jnarddc.gov.in/Startup-India.aspx).
Online proposals must be submitted along with all necessary enclosures in the portal -
https://research.mines.gov.in/ .
Last date of submission of proposals is 31.05.2025.
Any queries can be addressed to the email id - startups-mines@gov.inAnnexure-A
Problem statements – S&T PRISM
Exploration of Critical Minerals / Mining / Metal / Alloy / Product
Extraction / Mineral processing Development
Extraction of Nickel and Vanadium from Manufacturing of WC-Co,
Chromite and Iron Ores NiCr, NiCr-Cr3C2, and
Gallium Extraction from Bayer Liquor CoCrAlY Powders for
Germanium Extraction from Fly Ash Hard and Wear-Resistant
Production of Battery-Grade Manganese Coatings on Mining Tools
Dioxide Aluminium Seat Frames
Extraction of Lithium, Cobalt, Rhenium, for Trains and Buses
Tantalum, and Platinum from Superalloy Utilisation of extrusion die
Scraps cleaning sludge for
Extraction of Europium from Electronic production of alumina
Displays Replacement of cobalt
Chemical Stabilizers for Jointed Rock in with other abundant
Surface Mines for Slope Stabilization metals in batteries
Abrasive waterjet cutting for cutting New battery technologies
rocks/weakening hard rocks during such as sodium sulphur,
mining aluminium-air batteries,
Recovery of antimony from lamp iron-air batteries, lithium-
phosphor waste independent solid-state
Recovery/ extraction of critical minerals/ batteries, magnesium
trace elements from tailings/ mine dumps batteries, and zinc air
Extraction of vanadium from mine tailings batteries, etc., to replace
of bauxite lithium-ion batteries
Enhancing Spectral-Induced Polarisation Enhancing the Durability
and Resistivity Methods for Accurate of Silicon-Based Anodes:
Detection of Copper and Other Mineral Addressing Volume
Deposits Expansion and Electrode
Sustainable and green technologies like Degradation for High-
bioleaching of phosphate minerals for Capacity Lithium-Ion
recovery of copper and rare earth Batteries
elements Low-cost online hydrogen
Sustainable recovery of niobium and analyser for molten
tantalum from primary ores / secondary aluminium
resources Low-cost offline metal
Bulk utilisation of tool waste and BGML cleanliness analyser for
mill tailing dumps for efficient recovery of molten aluminium
gold and tungsten Production of Synthetic
Technology for recovery of selenium and Onyx-Grade White
tellurium from copper anode slimes Alumina Trihydrate
Technology development for recovery of Indigenous Production of
germanium from Pb-Zn circuit. Special Silica, High-Purity
Recovery of indium from sphalerite ore Alumina (HPA), and
Advanced chemicals for ion-exchange Specialty Chemicalscolumns with enhanced selectivity and
separation efficiency for rare earth ion
extraction
Advanced Techniques for Beneficiation
of Lean bauxite ores
Technology for recovery of nickel from
cyclone dust of steel recycling industry
Innovative Catalytic Processes for
Carbon Capture and Sustainable
Chemical Production for conversion of
carbon dioxide into methanol and other
organic compounds
Recycling / Waste Utilization /
AI / ML / IoT / Software
Mineral processing
KPI reporting software solution to Solid state recycling of
extract the critical performance Aluminium Scrap
parameters from IoT-based sensors Production of Biodiesel /
using PLC or DCS (Distributed Biogas as Primary and
Control System) to analyse and Secondary fuel for oil-fired
improve the performance and furnaces in recycling industry
technological processes in aluminium Utilisation of ferro-chrome
/ copper sectors slag in road building and
Developing low cost hyperspectral cement production
cameras for non-ferrous mining Utilization of non-ferrous
sector metal overburden in Ballast,
Autonomous platform for intelligent Road Construction, and
mapping of mine surface for Aggregates
identification and targeting of copper Recovery of Zinc from
and aluminium bearing minerals Electric Arc Furnace (EAF)
Cyber-physical systems for mine and Induction Furnace (IF)
monitoring and productivity Dust
improvements for non-ferrous mining Utilisation of spent pot line for
sector recovering carbon and
Cordless seismic ground data refractory
collection for 2-D and 3-D seismic Bulk utilisation of copper slag
surveys and mine tailings