New Delhi : Prof. Dheeraj Kumar, Project Director, TEXMiN Foundation and Deputy Director, Indian Institute of Technology (ISM) Dhanbad, has been honoured with the prestigious “Medal of Academician Nikolay P. Sazhin for achievements in the development of science and technologies of rare metals” at the International Congress on Rare Metals, Materials and Related Technologies (RAREMET-2026) being held in Moscow, Russia.
The medal was conferred during the opening day of the congress in recognition of Prof. Kumar’s contributions towards the advancement of rare metals research, critical minerals, and technology development in the mining and metallurgical sectors.
RAREMET-2026, organised by GIREDMET, JSC under ROSATOM, is regarded as one of the world’s leading international forums dedicated to rare metals, rare earth materials, advanced technologies, and sustainable industrial development. The event has brought together nearly 1,000 scientists, policymakers, mining experts, metallurgists, researchers, technology leaders, and industry stakeholders from more than 20 countries.
Prof. Dheeraj Kumar has been actively contributing towards strengthening India’s research and innovation ecosystem in smart mining, critical minerals, advanced materials, and technology translation through TEXMiN Foundation at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad. Under his leadership, TEXMiN has been working on industry-oriented research, sustainable mining technologies, and international collaborations focused on strategic mineral value chains and next-generation resource technologies.
Speaking on the recognition, Prof. Dheeraj Kumar, Project Director, TEXMiN and Deputy Director, IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, said, “This recognition is deeply meaningful for all of us working towards building advanced capabilities in rare metals and critical minerals. Receiving this honour at RAREMET-2026 reflects not only the scientific efforts of our teams, but also the growing trust, collaboration, and shared vision between India and Russia in strategically important technologies. We believe such partnerships will continue to strengthen innovation, knowledge exchange, and long-term cooperation between both nations for a more sustainable and technologically resilient future.”
The recognition further highlights TEXMiN Foundation’s growing international engagement and its role as a national platform for technology translation, advanced mining research, and sustainable resource innovation.