SME Times is powered by   
Search News
Just in:   • Tiruppur powerloom weavers to begin indefinite strike from March 19 demanding wage hike  • Lok Sabha okays oilfield amendment bill to attract more investments  • Europe's major military powers reaffirm support for Ukraine  • Trump tariffs to drag down S. Korean economic growth, inflation: BOK  • India’s tea exports surge to 10-year high 
Last updated: 13 Mar, 2025  

centre.jpg Centre launches new schemes to speed up R&D in steel sector

centre.jpg
   Top Stories
» Lok Sabha okays oilfield amendment bill to attract more investments
» India’s tea exports surge to 10-year high
» SEBI reduces timeline to complete rights issues to 23 days, effective from April 7
» Digital payments surge with over 18,120 crore transactions in FY25
» Bank credit to priority sectors jumped 85 pc to Rs 42.7 lakh crore in last 6 years: FM Sitharaman
IANS | 12 Mar, 2025

The Steel Research Technology Mission of India (SRTMI), a joint initiative of the Indian steel industry and academia supported by the Ministry of Steel, launched three new R&D schemes and a web portal during the event “Catalyzing R&D in the Indian Steel Sector” at Vigyan Bhawan here on Wednesday.

The event saw participation from major steel companies including SAIL, the country’s top academic institutions such as IIT Kanpur, IIT Bombay, IIT Kharagpur, IIT Delhi, IIT Madras and ISM Dhanbad and research startups.

International entities such as the Swedish Energy Agency and the Asian Development Bank also took part in the event.

Minister of State for Steel & Heavy Industries Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma launched the R&D schemes and the SRTMI web portal, emphasizing their role in driving innovation and sustainability in the steel sector.

The minister said that the new R&D initiatives and SteelCollab will play a critical role as India moves towards a 300 million tonnes steel capacity by 2030. He highlighted the need to accelerate technology commercialization and indigenize capital goods manufacturing. He also noted that the SRTMI web portal will foster engagement, idea exchange, and industry-wide collaboration.

The three schemes launched by SRTMI include challenge method – identifying and solving critical industry-wide challenges of national interest, open innovation method – supporting open research proposals from academia and researchers in collaboration with industry and start-up accelerator – supporting early-stage startups to develop cutting-edge steel technologies

The SteelCollab platform will act as a matchmaking hub, connecting industry leaders, researchers, startups, and academia to drive decarbonization, digitalization, and advanced steel development. The solution seekers such as steel industries can pose their problems while researchers and startups can put forward their research / innovation ideas on this platform.

Sandeep Poundrik, Secretary, Ministry of Steel, highlighted India’s emergence as a global steel demand hub, projecting per capita consumption to rise from 100 kg to 158 kg before 2030. He also outlined key challenges, including plant efficiency, AI/ML adoption, digitization, and decarbonization, stressing the need for research tailored to India’s unique industry structure, where 45 per cent capacity lies in the secondary steel sector.

SAIL chairman Amarendu Prakash stressed the need for industry-academia collaboration to enhance India’s global steel competitiveness. He noted India's 11 per cent steel demand growth—significantly higher than the global average of 0.5 per cent —and underscored the importance of the R&D schemes in fostering joint research.

A panel discussion on “Forging Innovation through Industry-Academia Collaboration” underscored the need for pilot testing facilities, industry-aligned university programs, and research priorities focused on green steel and decarbonization. The role of startups in bridging the gap between academic research and industrial application, particularly in digital technologies and beneficiation processes, was also emphasised.

A brainstorming session on “Bridging the Gap Between Industry and Academia” featured 19 speakers from industry, academia, incubation centers, and startups, discussing collaboration opportunities and research priorities across the steel value chain.

 
Print the Page
Add to Favorite
 
Share this on :
 

Please comment on this story:
 
Subject :
Message:
(Maximum 1500 characters)  Characters left 1500
Your name:
 

 
  Customs Exchange Rates
Currency Import Export
US Dollar
84.35
82.60
UK Pound
106.35
102.90
Euro
92.50
89.35
Japanese Yen 55.05 53.40
As on 12 Oct, 2024
  Daily Poll
Do you think Indian businesses will be negatively affected by Trump's America First Policy?
 Yes
 No
 Can't Say
  Commented Stories
 
 
About Us  |   Advertise with Us  
  Useful Links  |   Terms and Conditions  |   Disclaimer  |   Contact Us  
Follow Us : Facebook Twitter