The TEXMiN–MaxelS Center of Excellence for critical minerals has officially been established in Nagpur. The facility is designed to converge exploration, digital mineralogy, and technology development under a single roof to strengthen supply chains within Maharashtra.
The decision to set up the center in Maharashtra is supported by the state's significant mineral profile. Maharashtra holds approximately 41 per cent of India’s rare earth element (REE) resources, with Nagpur serving as a central hub for the Vidarbha mining and coal belt.
Additionally, Nagpur hosts several key industry bodies and institutions, including Western Coalfields, the Indian Bureau of Mines, Manganese Ore (India), the Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminium Research Development and Design Centre, the Directorate General of Mines Safety, and Maharashtra’s Directorate of Geology & Mining.
The newly inaugurated center brings together capabilities across the critical mineral value chain. These include exploration and mapping, extraction, digital mineralogy, AI-based analytics, advanced testing and analytical facilities, as well as training and capacity building. The facility aims to strengthen TEXMiN’s ongoing work in critical minerals, REEs, and digital mineralogy while deepening regional partnerships.
The Technology Innovation in Exploration & Mining Foundation (TEXMiN) is a Section-8 company established under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems programme by the Department of Science and Technology at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad. MaxelS Tekventures is a Nagpur-based startup that was incubated under TEXMiN.
Sukumar Mishra, Chairman of the Hub Governing Board at TEXMiN and Director of IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, stated that the inauguration marks an important milestone in extending institutional strength into Maharashtra, a state recognized for its mining expertise and rare earth resources. He noted that the center will help advance research, technology development, and skilled talent.
Dheeraj Kumar, Director of TEXMiN, added that Nagpur’s established mining and mineral ecosystem provides a natural home for the facility. Through the partnership with MaxelS, the organization intends to translate research into practical capabilities on the ground.
Madhu Nair, CEO of MaxelS Tekventures, described the Center of Excellence as a natural progression of the company's journey from incubation to building indigenous technology, leveraging Nagpur's ecosystem to unify exploration, digital mineralogy, and automation under one platform.
"The establishment of the TEXMiN–MaxelS Center of Excellence in Nagpur highlights the growing importance of bridging academic research with regional industrial ecosystems. By leveraging Maharashtra's substantial rare earth resources and local institutional presence, this initiative creates a structured pathway for developing indigenous technology and skilled talent in the critical minerals sector. For the startup ecosystem, it demonstrates how incubation programs can evolve into impactful, ground-level industry partnerships." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes
