NavPrakriti, eastern India’s pioneering lithium-ion battery recycling and refurbishment company, has struck a landmark MoU with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur—setting the stage for a major push in India’s battery and critical minerals ecosystem.
The partnership arrives at a critical moment, as India accelerates toward 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030 and net zero ambitions. Against this backdrop, the collaboration targets one of the sector’s biggest bottlenecks: efficient battery recycling, resource circularity, and skilled workforce development.
At its core, the NavPrakriti–IIT Kharagpur alliance is designed as a multi-pronged innovation engine. It will bring together student internships, joint research, skill development, capacity building, and technology consulting focused on refining and refurbishment of end-of-life batteries.
Students from IIT Kharagpur will gain direct exposure to industrial operations at NavPrakriti’s facilities, including its flagship Serampore plant—touted as the largest and most advanced lithium-ion battery recycling facility in eastern India. The program is expected to bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world battery value chain challenges.
Research collaboration will zero in on next-generation solutions for battery material recovery, hydrometallurgical refining, and chemical extraction—directly aligning with India’s National Critical Mineral Mission. NavPrakriti is already recognised as eligible under the Mission for the extraction of cobalt, nickel, and lithium.
Akhilesh Bagaria, Co-Founder of NavPrakriti, said, “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.”
The partnership also places strong emphasis on workforce development. By combining IIT Kharagpur’s research strength with NavPrakriti’s industrial scale and processes, the initiative aims to build a talent pipeline equipped for India’s fast-evolving clean energy transition. Alongside this, consulting projects in battery refining and refurbishment are expected to speed up the deployment of sustainable technologies across the sector.
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.”
The collaboration comes as India’s lithium-ion battery demand is projected to surge from 4 GWh in 2023 to nearly 139 GWh by 2035.
By combining NavPrakriti’s industrial capability with IIT Kharagpur’s research excellence, the partnership positions itself as a catalyst for scalable innovation—aiming to set new standards in sustainable growth, responsible recycling, and environmental stewardship across the energy sector.
