Dr S Chandrasekhar, secretary to the Government of India, Department of Science and Technology on Friday   inaugurated TEXMiN, the technology innovation hub of IIT (ISM)  and  lauded the technologies developed by TEXMiN including the cutting edge telematics platform that enables real time monitoring and optimization of vehicles and asset movements in Mines.

He also mentioned the web enabled illumination surveying equipment and AI powered e surveillance system developed at TEXMiN as a major technology which ensures greater safety and enhanced efficiency of  workers.

“I am glad that TEXMiN established at IIT (ISM) an institute which having over 97 years’ experience in  Mining and other earth science study is carrying forward the National Mission for Interdisciplinary  Cyber Physical system of DST” said Chandrasekhar. He  inaugurated the hub  through  online mode from his office in New Delhi.

He, however, advised the experts that the technologies developed here do not remain confined to usage startup as first phase activity and called upon the researchers to ensure the further development of the technologies at advance level to ensure its further usage at larger scale by garnering more funds.

Addressing the gathering Prof Rajiv Shekhar, Director, IIT (ISM) threw light on the two years journey of TEXMiN established in 2020 and said that the journey of TEXMiN has so far been quite amazing and momentous.

Terming the inauguration of TEXMiN held today as momentous occasion he said, “The proposal of DST for  establishing centre under the National Mission for Interdisciplinary Cyber Physical System came before the Covid and we decided to go for establish center for carrying out translational research and promote Innovation in the field of Mining and Exploration”.

“Though, initially we were not very much aware about its potential but picture started making clear  gradually with big mining players like Dassault (for setting up of Mine Excellence Centre), ESCI (for setting up of Geospatial Centre at TEXMiN), Sandvik (For establishing Mine Automation Learning Centre), Coal India (for launching of Innovation  and  incubation Centre) and Adani (for setting up S3 Mining Excellence Centre) joining hands with us” and added that once they further laid focus on more innovative technologies realizing the fact after two years there will be no funding from DST.

He also gave details of the technologies developed for Odisha Mining Corporation and Mahanadi Coalfields  Limited.

Prof Dheeraj Kumar, Deputy Director of IIT (ISM) who is also Project Director of TEXMiN while addressing the gathering gave details of facilities developed at TEXMiN as well as areas of expertise and collaborative work being carried and said “Altogether 21 startups are working at present with TEXMiN as incubates developing one or other innovative technology” and added that though it has been established over two years ago but the inauguration was carried out today as they wanted to make announcement with the solid evidence of some breaking research and  development work carried out by it.
Jeremy Kilburn, Provost, Curtin University, Australia, who happens to be one of the associate partners of the institute in different fields gave  details about the collaborative academic and research partnership between the two organizations.

Saifullah Ansari, Director (MSE), Directorate General of Mines Safety  underlined the significance of innovative technologies for ensuring greater safety during Mining Operations.