CSIR-IMMT Signs Key Agreements with Russian Institutions to Boost Critical Mineral Research and Collaboration

New Delhi: In a significant step toward advancing India’s capabilities in critical mineral processing and sustainable resource development, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), through its flagship minerals research institute CSIR-Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology (IMMT), has signed two Joint Declarations of Intent (JDIs) with premier Russian institutions.

The agreements were formalized with the State Research and Design Institute of the Rare Metal Industry (JSC Giredmet), a leading organization under the Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom, and the National University of Science and Technology MISIS (NUST MISIS), both based in Moscow. These collaborations are set to enhance scientific cooperation between India and Russia in the field of minerals and materials processing technologies, particularly those critical to strategic and clean energy sectors.

Dr. Ramanuj Narayan, Director of CSIR-IMMT, signed the JDIs—one with Dr. Andrei I. Golinei, Director of the Chemical Technology Unit at JSC Rosatom Science, and the other with Dr. Michael R. Filonov, Vice-Rector of NUST MISIS. The initiatives are being coordinated by Dr. Kali Sanjay, Chief Scientist and Head of Business Development at CSIR-IMMT, alongside Dr. Konstantin V. Ivanovskikh, Deputy Director for Science and Innovation, and Dr. Korotchenko Natalia, Director of the MISIS Information and Marketing Centre, representing the Russian institutions.

The signing ceremony was attended by Anoop Kumar Srivastava, Counsellor (Space) at the Embassy of India in Moscow, who expressed strong support for this strategic cooperation in the domain of critical minerals technology.

During their visit to Russia, the CSIR-IMMT delegation also met with His Excellency Vinay Kumar, Ambassador of India to the Russian Federation, at the Indian Embassy in Moscow on April 24. The meeting, facilitated by Counsellor Srivastava, provided a platform for the IMMT team to brief the Ambassador on the objectives of their visit and the importance of India-Russia research partnerships in process metallurgy.

The CSIR-IMMT team emphasized the significance of developing robust technological solutions for critical minerals, which play a pivotal role in India’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) and Viksit Bharat (developed India). These minerals are essential for emerging technologies in energy storage, electronics, and national security.

The agreements mark a major milestone in Indo-Russian scientific cooperation and are expected to accelerate joint research projects, foster innovation in sustainable resource utilization, and strengthen India’s position in the global critical minerals landscape.