Agilent Technologies has entered into a strategic partnership with the Technology Innovation in Exploration & Mining Foundation (TEXMiN) at Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines) Dhanbad. The collaboration was formalized during IInvenTiv 2026, a national initiative led by the Ministry of Education to accelerate the transformation of academic research into deployable technologies.
This partnership aligns with India’s focus on strengthening capabilities in critical minerals, rare earth elements, materials science, and environmentally responsible mining. These sectors are central to advancing energy security, electronics, infrastructure, and high-value manufacturing. As India moves toward technology-driven industrial growth, the availability of reliable and validated analytical data is becoming essential to ensuring innovation is scalable, compliant, and globally competitive.
A key outcome of this collaboration is the establishment of the TEXMiN–Agilent Lab for Critical Mineral and Rare Earth Element Analytics at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad. The facility will function as a shared platform for advanced research, analytical validation, and technical skill development. It will support the systematic progression of research into industry-ready solutions by reducing technical risks, improving early-stage validation, and ensuring alignment with regulatory and performance standards.
Nandakumar Kalathil, India Country General Manager, Agilent Technologies, stated that India is at a decisive stage where translating scientific knowledge into impactful technologies is critical. He noted that Agilent’s role is to provide trusted analytical capabilities that enable the conversion of scientific concepts into reliable data, and ultimately into practical, scalable applications. He added that the collaboration reflects Agilent’s commitment to supporting India’s efforts to build strong domestic capabilities in critical minerals while meeting international quality benchmarks.
Prof Dheeraj Kumar, Deputy Director of IIT (ISM) Dhanbad and Project Director at TEXMiN, emphasized that the initiative reinforces TEXMiN’s mission to extend research impact beyond academic settings. He highlighted that combining institutional expertise with advanced analytical technologies will enhance validation processes, strengthen industry alignment, and prepare skilled professionals to support national priorities in mining and materials innovation.
IInvenTiv 2026 brings together leading institutions including IITs, IISc, IISERs, NITs, and IIMs, fostering collaboration across disciplines such as earth sciences, artificial intelligence, healthcare, and semiconductors. Supported by the Department of Science and Technology under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems, TEXMiN continues to advance digital, automated, and data-driven mining solutions. This partnership further strengthens India’s pathway from research discovery to real-world deployment, contributing to a more sustainable and technologically advanced mining ecosystem.
