Union Minister of Steel and Heavy Industries, H.D. Kumaraswamy, inaugurated the SRTMI R&D Connect workshop in New Delhi, emphasizing the need to transform research and innovation into tangible industrial outcomes. The workshop, organised by the Steel Research and Technology Mission of India (SRTMI), brought together key stakeholders from industry, academia, startups, and government to deliberate on strengthening India’s steel sector through collaborative innovation.

Addressing the gathering, the Minister underscored the strategic importance of the steel sector in India’s growth story and highlighted the Government’s clear vision for the future. “India is moving forward with a clear vision of becoming a self-reliant, globally competitive, and technologically advanced nation. The steel sector is central to this vision,” he said.

He further credited the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in driving this transformation. “Under the leadership of our Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji, the Government has placed strong emphasis on Aatmanirbhar Bharat. In the steel sector, this means reducing dependence on imports and building indigenous capabilities,” he noted.

The Minister highlighted key policy interventions such as the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Specialty Steel, alongside forward-looking initiatives like the National Green Hydrogen Mission and the upcoming Green Steel Mission, which are collectively steering the sector towards sustainability and innovation.

Referring to the core themes of the workshop, Kumaraswamy said that areas such as circular economy, waste utilization, startup-led innovation, and green steel technologies are not merely technical domains but “national priorities” that will define the sector’s future trajectory.

He also stressed the importance of ensuring that innovation leads to real-world outcomes. “Innovation must not remain confined to discussions. It must move from ideas to implementation, from research to results, and from pilot to scale,” he asserted, calling for stronger industry adoption of emerging technologies.

The day-long workshop featured multiple sessions, including startup pitch presentations showcasing cutting-edge solutions in process efficiency, sustainability, and advanced materials, as well as technical discussions led by leading institutions and industry players such as SAIL, Tata Steel, and JSW.

In his concluding remarks, the Minister called upon all stakeholders to work collaboratively towards shaping a resilient and future-ready steel sector. “Let us work together with a shared vision and strong commitment to shape the future of India’s steel industry,” he said.

The SRTMI R&D Connect initiative marks a significant step in aligning research, policy, and industry efforts to drive innovation-led growth in India’s steel sector.

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AG

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