Neyveli, March 01: NLC India Limited (NLCIL) and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, on February 28, 2026, exchanged a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) for a joint research project focused on developing an alternative to tungsten carbide excavator bucket teeth inserts for the mining industry.
The MoA was exchanged between Neeraj Kumar, CGM–Unit Head/CARD, NLCIL, and Dr. Pikee Priya, Assistant Professor, Department of Materials Engineering, IISc, in the presence of NLCIL Chairman & Managing Director Prasanna Kumar Motupalli, Director (Power) M. Venkatachalam, and Director (Planning & Projects) Rajesh Pratap Singh Sisodia.
The project aims to design advanced materials and processes to develop indigenous alternatives to tungsten carbide components used in mining operations, enhancing durability and reducing import dependence.
Through its Centre for Applied Research & Development (CARD), NLCIL has been strengthening structured R&D collaborations with premier academic institutions. With this agreement, the company has signed 13 MoAs with IISc, IITs, NITs and state universities, reinforcing its focus on technology-driven operational efficiency.
The initiative aligns with the government’s “Atmanirbhar Bharat” vision to boost domestic manufacturing capabilities and promote self-reliance in critical industrial inputs, while supporting innovation in the coal and mining sectors.
