The Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur has set up a new Centre of Excellence to apply artificial intelligence across the mining sector, aiming to improve how data is used and integrated in operations. Named the Vikram Sodhi Centre of Excellence for AI-Enabled Geological & Mining Systems, the centre will focus on advancing data-driven innovation in the mining industry through interdisciplinary research. The project has received a funding commitment of Rs 15 crore over five years from investor Vikram Sodhi, Vice Chairman of Mineros SA and Managing Partner of Sun Valley Investments, according to an official release.
The centre will work across five key areas: exploration, mine planning, processing, predictive maintenance, and ESG analytics. It will follow a unified system where data moves across the entire mining lifecycle instead of staying limited to individual tools or departments.
The programme will introduce Industry-Linked Grand Challenges. Under this, mining companies will work directly with researchers by sharing real operational and geological data from active sites. This will allow research teams to build and test AI models on actual industry problems.
Over the next five years, the centre plans to deploy AI systems in working mines, publish applied research, and enable technology transfer through industry adoption or new ventures emerging from the programme.
The centre will operate as an independent interdisciplinary unit within IIT Kharagpur. It will follow a faculty-led governance model and report to the Dean of Research and Development. An external advisory board will guide its strategy.
The initiative also plans to develop its own revenue streams by the end of the funding period, in line with evolving academic-industry collaboration models at leading institutions.
India’s mining sector is often described as “data-rich but information-poor,” with large volumes of underused data. The centre aims to address this gap by enabling integrated and data-driven mining operations, with a focus on improving productivity, safety, and environmental performance.
The centre will work across five key areas: exploration, mine planning, processing, predictive maintenance, and ESG analytics. It will follow a unified system where data moves across the entire mining lifecycle instead of staying limited to individual tools or departments.
The programme will introduce Industry-Linked Grand Challenges. Under this, mining companies will work directly with researchers by sharing real operational and geological data from active sites. This will allow research teams to build and test AI models on actual industry problems.
Over the next five years, the centre plans to deploy AI systems in working mines, publish applied research, and enable technology transfer through industry adoption or new ventures emerging from the programme.
The centre will operate as an independent interdisciplinary unit within IIT Kharagpur. It will follow a faculty-led governance model and report to the Dean of Research and Development. An external advisory board will guide its strategy.
The initiative also plans to develop its own revenue streams by the end of the funding period, in line with evolving academic-industry collaboration models at leading institutions.
India’s mining sector is often described as “data-rich but information-poor,” with large volumes of underused data. The centre aims to address this gap by enabling integrated and data-driven mining operations, with a focus on improving productivity, safety, and environmental performance.
