H. D. Kumaraswamy Inaugurates SRTMI R&D Connect Workshop, Calls for Innovation-Driven, Green Steel Future
Minister stresses transition to circular economy and decarbonization as SRTMI brings together industry, academia, and startups to align research with real-world steel sector challenges
In a major push to strengthen India’s steel innovation ecosystem, H. D. Kumaraswamy, Union Minister of Steel & Heavy Industries, inaugurated the “SRTMI R&D Connect: From Ideas to Industrial Impact” workshop in New Delhi on Tuesday.
Organised by the Steel Research & Technology Mission of India, the high-level workshop brought together leading stakeholders from government, industry, academia, startups, and research institutions to accelerate the translation of research into industrial applications.
In his keynote address, Kumaraswamy underscored the need for a paradigm shift in the steel sector, stating that India must move towards a circular economy and green decarbonization. He emphasized that innovation must go beyond laboratories to deliver tangible industrial outcomes, highlighting the government’s focus on indigenous technology and startup-led solutions to build a globally competitive and self-reliant steel industry.
Secretary, Ministry of Steel, Sandeep Poundrik, noted that while the global steel sector faces headwinds, India continues to witness strong demand growth. He described this as a strategic opportunity for India to lead globally through sustained investments in R&D and technological advancement.
Highlighting SRTMI’s mission-mode approach, M. R. Gupta, President of SRTMI and Director (Mines), Steel Authority of India Limited, said the focus will be on faster technology development, pilot-scale validation, and accelerated commercialization to enhance productivity and sustainability.
The workshop saw participation from major steel players including Tata Steel, JSW Steel, and Jayaswal Neco Industries Limited, along with leading academic institutions such as Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, and Indian Institute of Technology Delhi.
Senior officials including Ashish Chatterjee, Abhijit Narendra, and Krishna Kumar Singh were also present.
Key Highlights
- Startup Pitch Session: Showcased innovations in digitalization, waste utilization, and advanced materials
- Industry-Led Roadmap: Steel majors outlined real-world problem statements on green steel and efficiency
- Technical Sessions: Academicians presented on decarbonization, circular economy, and operational excellence
- Poster Showcase: Students, startups, and researchers presented cutting-edge ideas
Conclusion
With participation from over 180 stakeholders, the workshop marked a significant step toward bridging the gap between research and industrial deployment. It reinforced India’s ambition to emerge as a technology-driven, sustainable global steel powerhouse, with SRTMI positioned as a key collaborative platform driving this transformation.
