**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Mines, in collaboration with JNARDDC, conducted a two-day Interactive Workshop and Technical Evaluation Session under the S&T-PRISM 5.0 scheme on May 29–30, 2026, in Nagpur. The event aimed to strengthen the startup ecosystem within the critical mineral value chain by transitioning from conventional evaluation to a competition-based interactive framework. Key outcomes included the technical review of 31 innovation proposals and the facilitation of technology exchange between startups, MSMEs, and industry experts.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**S&T-PRISM 5.0 Program Overview**
* The "Promotion of Research & Innovation in Startups and MSMEs" (S&T-PRISM) is a core component of the Ministry of Mines’ Science & Technology Programme.
* The initiative focuses on the entire critical minerals value chain, including exploration, extraction, processing, recycling, and value-addition technologies.
* The primary goal is to promote self-reliance in critical minerals through technological development and innovation-driven support.
**Interactive Evaluation Framework**
* The workshop introduced a shift toward interactive evaluation, allowing for technology exchange, constructive feedback, and experience-sharing.
* Startups and MSMEs presented innovations to a Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC) for focused assessment and expert mentoring.
* Participating experts from institutions such as C-MET, DMRL, CSIR-IMMT, CSIR-NGRI, and CSIR-NEERI provided technical inputs and "hand-holding" support to applicants.
**Thematic Clustering of Proposals**
* 31 innovation proposals were categorized into seven specialized clusters to ensure effective evaluation and competition.
* Clusters covered domains such as mineral recovery from waste/industrial residues, exploration technologies, extraction and separation processes, refining, and the development of value-added metals and alloys.
**Knowledge Sharing and Success Stories**
* Former PRISM beneficiaries shared insights on how the scheme accelerated their technology development and industry partnerships.
* Success stories from companies like Ashvini Rare Earth Pvt. Ltd. and CellArk Powertech Pvt. Ltd. illustrated the journey from innovation to commercialization.
**Impact Analysis**
**Startups and MSMEs (Innovators)**
**Impact**
They receive a platform for presenting innovations, gaining access to expert feedback, mentoring, and potential paths for technology commercialization.
**Action Required**
Must participate in competition-based evaluation sessions and utilize technical inputs from experts to refine their mineral-related technologies.
**Ministry of Mines and JNARDDC**
**Impact**
These bodies facilitate the enabling ecosystem for critical minerals and drive national self-reliance by identifying promising new technologies.
**Action Required**
Coordinate the S&T-PRISM scheme and provide the necessary institutional framework for technical evaluation and industry-academia collaboration.
**Technical Experts and Research Institutions (CSIR, C-MET, etc.)**
**Impact**
They act as mentors and evaluators, influencing the technical direction of the critical minerals sector through specialized knowledge transfer.
**Action Required**
Evaluate proposals within specialized clusters and provide ongoing technical hand-holding to help startups overcome technological barriers.
Key Entities Referenced
S&T–PRISM Programme: Also known as Promotion of Research & Innovation in Startups and MSMEs, it is a scheme under the Ministry of Mines that provides support for technological development and innovation in the critical minerals sector.
Ministry of Mines: The primary government body responsible for the administration of the S&T–PRISM scheme and the organization of technical evaluation sessions for startups and MSMEs.
Science & Technology Programme of the Ministry of Mines: The overarching policy framework that encompasses the S&T–PRISM scheme as one of its three core components.
Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminium Research Development and Design Centre (JNARDDC), Nagpur: The collaborating research center and central venue responsible for organizing the workshop and facilitating expert interactions for the mineral value chain.
Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC): The expert body responsible for reviewing innovative proposals and providing technical feedback to startups and MSMEs during competition-based evaluation sessions.
Ministry of Mines
Ministry of Mines holds an Interactive Workshop-
cum-Technical Evaluation Sessions under S&T–
PRISM Programme
Interactive Sessions held to strengthen enabling ecosystem
for startups engaged in critical mineral value chain through
competition-based framework
Posted On: 30 MAY 2026 4:49PM by PIB Delhi
The Ministry of Mines in collaboration with the Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminium Research Development and
Design Centre (JNARDDC), Nagpur successfully organized the two-days Interactive Workshop &
Technical Evaluation Sessions under the S&T PRISM 5.0 (Promotion of Research & Innovation in
Startups and MSMEs) at JNARDDC, Nagpur, during 29-30 May 2026. The workshop provided a
common platform bringing together innovators from startups & MSMEs, industry representatives, and
experts on critical minerals sector. The S&T–PRISM Scheme is one of the three components of the
Science & Technology Programme of the Ministry of Mines. Under S&T–PRISM 5.0, the Ministry of
Mines invited innovative proposals across the critical minerals value chain, including exploration,
extraction, processing, recycling and value-addition technologies.
The programme was inaugurated by Dr. Anupam Agnihotri, Director, JNARDDC and Shri Sukhdeep
Singh, Director, Ministry of Mines. Shri Sukhdeep Singh during his address emphasized the importance of
innovations & technological developments to promote self-reliance in critical minerals. He explained how
this event is a shift from conventional evaluation to an interactive workshop to encourage collaboration
and competitions among startups.
For the first time under S&T PRISM Scheme, an interactive workshop along with the evaluation process
to promote enabling ecosystem for startups engaged in critical mineral exploration, processing, recycling,
etc is organised. The event is aimed to foster technology exchange, expert interaction, constructive
feedback, and experience-sharing among startups, MSMEs, academia, and industry through a competition-
based framework. During the workshop the experts from C-MET, DMRL, CSIR-IMMT, CSIR-NGRI,
CSIR-NEERI etc., shared their technical inputs with applicants and extended hand holding as well.
Innovation Challenges and competition-based evaluation sessions were organized to identify promising
technologies in the critical minerals sector. The initiative enabled startups and MSMEs to present their
innovations before Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC) experts and receive valuable technical
feedback.
For effective technical evaluation and thematic competition, the 31 proposals were grouped into seven
specialized clusters covering the critical minerals value chain. These clusters encompassed critical mineral
recovery from waste streams and industrial residues, exploration technologies, extraction and separationprocesses, refining and purification, as well as development of value-added metals, alloys, and process
equipment. The cluster-based approach enabled focused assessment, expert mentoring, and meaningful
competition among innovators working on similar technological domains.
A key highlight of the second day was the Success Stories Session, where former PRISM beneficiaries
viz. Ashvini Rare Earth Pvt. Ltd. (Pune); PolyProtic Chemicals Pvt. Ltd. (Vadodara); CellArk Powertech
Pvt. Ltd. (Cuttack); and Relira Blastech LLP (Nagpur), shared their entrepreneurial journeys and
experiences under the Scheme. It was highlighted how support under PRISM Programme helped them to
accelerate technology development, commercialization and industry partnerships. Their experiences
provided valuable insights and inspiration to participating startups and MSMEs, demonstrating the
transformative impact of innovation-driven support in the critical minerals.
***
Prajith Kumar MV
(Release ID: 2266989) Visitor Counter : 446
Read this release in: Urdu , ही