NavPrakriti, a lithium-ion battery recycling and refurbishment company based in eastern India, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur. The partnership aims to support innovation, talent development, and technological advancement in India’s battery and critical minerals sector.As India targets 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030 and net zero emissions, the need for battery recycling, resource circularity, and skilled talent is growing. The NavPrakriti-IIT Kharagpur MoU will focus on student internship programs, joint research projects, skill development and capacity-building initiatives, and technological consulting projects related to the refining and refurbishment of end-of-life batteries.Under the MoU, IIT Kharagpur students will gain experience at NavPrakriti’s state-of-the-art facilities, including its Serampore plant, a lithium-ion battery recycling facility in eastern India. The internship and training programs will immerse students in industrial challenges, equipping them with skills for the fast-evolving battery value chain.Joint research initiatives will focus on technologies for battery material recovery, hydrometallurgical refining, and chemical extraction, directly supporting India’s National Critical Mineral Mission. Akhilesh Bagaria, Co-Founder of NavPrakriti, said in a statement, “Partnering with IIT Kharagpur is a proud milestone for us. By integrating our industrial experience with the academic excellence of IIT Kharagpur, we’re not just advancing the science of battery recycling but also creating unique learning opportunities for India’s next generation of engineers and innovators. This collaboration will help us accelerate the pace of research and deliver real, scalable impact.”Avnish Bagaria, Co-Founder of NavPrakriti, added, “India’s journey to energy self-reliance and sustainability requires bold ideas and skilled talent. Through this MoU, we are investing in both. By nurturing student talent and fostering collaborative research, we believe we can shape a future-ready workforce and unlock new technological breakthroughs for the nation’s battery and critical minerals ecosystem.”