UGC Calls for Proposals to Establish Centre of Excellence under National Critical Mineral Mission

The programme seeks to foster advanced research, innovation, and capacity building in the critical minerals sector—spanning clean energy, electronics, defence, mobility, and space applications

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has released a formal call inviting eligible academic institutions and R&D centers to submit proposals for establishing a Centre of Excellence (CoE) under the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM).

Mission Objectives:

The programme seeks to foster advanced research, innovation, and capacity building in the critical minerals sector—spanning clean energy, electronics, defence, mobility, and space applications

Initiatives will target end-to-end technology development, striving to achieve Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 7–8, suitable for pilot plant and pre-commercial demonstrations

UGC has issued the formal notification and urged interested institutions to apply. Proposal guidelines and eligibility criteria are detailed at UGC’s official communication channels research.mines.gov.in

The Ministry of Mines, under whose aegis NCMM operates, is expected to officially launch the full guidelines and application timeline shortly.

Each CoE will follow a hub-and-spoke consortium model, where a lead academic or R&D institution partners with at least two industry entities and two other R&D/academic bodies

This consortium approach ensures a multi-disciplinary framework aimed at pushing innovations from laboratory to real-world application efficiently.

The mission responds to India’s growing need for self-reliance in critical mineral supplies, reducing dependency on imports—especially from China—while supporting the entire value chain from exploration to end-of-life recovery

The Union Cabinet has approved the NCMM with a projected outlay of ₹16,300 crore and public-sector investment estimated at ₹18,000 crore

Eligibility: Registered universities, IITs, central/state-funded institutions, and recognized R&D centers.

Consortium Requirements: A minimum of one lead hub, two industry collaborators, and two R&D/academic partners.

Technical Scope: Projects should address critical minerals throughout the value chain—including extraction, processing, recycling, and beneficiation.

This initiative marks a culmination of efforts by the Ministry of Mines and UGC to bolster India’s capabilities in strategic mineral technologies. Institutions looking to lead and contribute to the nation’s technological independence are being strongly encouraged to respond.