The Ministry of Mines has issued guidelines forsetting up Centres of Excellence (COEs) under the National Essential MineralMission (NCM). The issue was issued in line with the main pillar of the campaignfor research and technology development in important minerals.

In addition to advanced technology and strategicsectors, such as electronics, defence, space, etc., this essential raw materialis an important supply chain for emerging areas of clean energy and mobility transition.In order to develop, display, and deploy technologies in line with end-to-end approaches,research and development is necessary to reach high technology readiness levels(TRL). These centres will select and develop and implement extraction processesand beneficiary technologies for critical minerals from multiple sources, andconduct directed research and development to access the TRL7/8 pilot plant andpre-commercial demonstrations, creating a feasibility centre.

Under this new initiative, reputedacademic/R&D institutions will be evaluated as per the prescribed qualificationsand they will be recognised as Centres of Excellence for Research and Developmentin Essential Minerals. These centres will conduct innovative and transformativeresearch to strengthen and advance the country's science and technologycapabilities in the field of essential minerals.

These centres of excellence will aim to conductcutting-edge research and promote inter-disciplinary approaches to solvingproblems in the field of essential minerals.

Each centre will work as a team on a hub-and-spokemodel, benefiting research and development in essential minerals and allowingeach component's core capabilities to come together under one umbrella. Eachhub institute will bring at least two industry partners and at least tworesearch and development/academic partners to the team.