Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IITH) and Mahindra University have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a long-term partnership. They will work together in research, education, training, and innovation. The focus is on Critical Minerals, Sustainable Mining, and Advanced industrial processes. The partnership covers many areas such as iron ore beneficiation, coal and mineral processing, ironmaking and steelmaking, and using mining waste for infrastructure. It also targets extracting Critical and Rare Earth Minerals, plus process modelling and simulation. The MoU goes beyond traditional mining research. It includes new areas like AI and data analytics for mining, mining 4.0, and autonomous systems like drones and self-driving vehicles. Support for start-ups and innovators through incubation is also part of the deal. The goal is to turn advanced research into real technology and skilled workforce for India’s minerals and manufacturing sectors, said the official release.