SRTMI Launches Three New R&D Schemes and Web Portal to Accelerate Innovation in Indian Steel Sector

The event was inaugurated by Shri Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma, Minister of State for Steel & Heavy Industries, who formally launched the new R&D schemes and the SRTMI web portal.

The Steel Research Technology Mission of India (SRTMI), a collaborative initiative between the Indian steel industry and academia with support from the Ministry of Steel, introduced three new research and development (R&D) schemes along with a web portal during the event "Catalyzing R&D in the Indian Steel Sector" at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.

The high-profile event brought together leading stakeholders from across the steel industry, including major steel manufacturers such as SAIL, JSW, JSPL, Tata Steel, NMDC, JSL, RINL, and MECON. Academic and research institutions, including IIT Kanpur, IIT Bombay, IIT Kharagpur, IIT Roorkee, IIT BHU, NIT Trichy, IIT Hyderabad, IIT Delhi, IIT Madras, ISM Dhanbad, and CSIR-IMMT, participated, along with emerging startups and international organizations such as the Swedish Energy Agency and the Asian Development Bank.

Launch of New R&D Schemes and SteelCollab Platform

The event was inaugurated by Shri Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma, Minister of State for Steel & Heavy Industries, who formally launched the new R&D schemes and the SRTMI web portal. He underscored the importance of research-driven technological advancements in achieving India’s target of 300 million tonnes (MT) steel capacity by 2030. Stressing the need to accelerate technology commercialization and indigenization of capital goods manufacturing, he highlighted the role of SteelCollab, a new collaborative platform designed to promote industry-wide engagement, idea exchange, and innovation in the steel sector.

Shri Sandeep Poundrik, Secretary, Ministry of Steel, elaborated on India's position as a growing steel demand hub, forecasting a rise in per capita steel consumption from approximately 100 kg to 158 kg by 2030. He outlined the critical challenges the sector faces, including plant efficiency, AI/ML adoption, digitization, and decarbonization. He stressed that R&D efforts must be tailored to India’s unique industry structure, where the secondary steel sector accounts for 45% of total capacity.

Shri Amarendu Prakash, Chairman, Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) & President, SRTMI, emphasized the significance of industry-academia collaboration in enhancing India’s global competitiveness in steel production. He noted that India's 11% steel demand growth rate significantly exceeds the global average of 0.5%. The newly launched R&D schemes aim to foster joint research projects that address pressing challenges in the sector.

Shri Abhijit Narendra, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Steel, delivered the opening remarks, outlining the objectives of the new initiatives. Ms. Neha Verma, Director, Ministry of Steel & SRTMI, provided an in-depth presentation on the newly launched R&D schemes, their implementation strategies, and the functionalities of SteelCollab.

Three New R&D Schemes Launched by SRTMI

1. Challenge Method – Focuses on solving critical industry-wide challenges of national importance through R&D collaborations.
2. Open Innovation Method – Encourages academic institutions and researchers to propose industry-relevant projects in partnership with steel companies.
3. Start-up Accelerator – Provides financial and technical support to early-stage startups working on breakthrough steel technologies.

SteelCollab: A Digital Hub for Innovation and Industry Engagement

The SteelCollab platform will serve as a matchmaking hub, connecting industry leaders, researchers, startups, and academia to drive decarbonization, digitalization, and advancements in steel technology. It allows steel companies to post their challenges, while researchers and startups can propose solutions and innovations, fostering seamless collaboration between different stakeholders.

Discussions on Industry-Academia Collaboration and R&D Priorities

A panel discussion on "Forging Innovation through Industry-Academia Collaboration" highlighted the need for:

• Establishing pilot testing facilities for R&D projects.
• Aligning academic curricula with industry needs.
• Focusing on green steel, decarbonization, and digital transformation.
• Encouraging startups to bridge the gap between academic research and industrial application.

A subsequent brainstorming session on "Bridging the Gap Between Industry and Academia" featured 19 industry experts, who discussed collaborative opportunities across the steel value chain.

Conclusion and Future Roadmap

The event concluded with strong commitments from participating stakeholders to advance research and technology development in the steel sector. Shri G. Sarathy Raja, Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Steel, provided insights into additional R&D initiatives supported by the Ministry of Steel. With the launch of these initiatives, India’s steel industry is set to embrace a future driven by innovation, sustainability, and global competitiveness.