Atria University, MiniMines Partner to Establish AI-Driven Lab for Critical Mineral Recovery from Spent Batteries

Atria University and MiniMines Cleantech Solutions have partnered to establish the MiniMines-AU Laboratory for Sustainable Resource Recovery, a research facility that combines artificial intelligence and synthetic biology to recover critical metals from spent lithium-ion batteries. Based at Atria University's campus, the laboratory brings together Atria University's expertise in artificial intelligence and life sciences with MiniMines' industry leading capabilities in lithium-ion battery recycling, critical mineral recovery and process commercialisation to accelerate the development of next-generation resource recovery technologies.

The demand for critical minerals is projected to more than double by 2030, even as domestic mining is expected to take over a decade to reach meaningful output. Recovering these materials from end-of-life batteries is one of the few near-term opportunities to strengthen domestic supply. The collaboration aligns with the Government of India's two major initiatives - BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment and Employment) policy, which promotes bio-based manufacturing and circular-economy solutions in strategic sectors and National Critical Minerals Mission (NCMM), an initiative to establish a framework for self reliance in the critical minerals sector.

The laboratory's first phase will focus on recovering lithium from used Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) batteries. It targets lithium recovery while preserving high-grade iron phosphate, which conventional chemical recycling often degrades. Supported by researchers, faculty and students, the facility will cover the full research cycle, from microbial cultivation and bioleaching experiments to laboratory-scale validation.

Dr. Madhavan Nair Rajeevan, Vice-Chancellor, Atria University, said, "Securing critical minerals is central to India's clean-energy transition and economic resilience. This partnership demonstrates how industry and academia can build strategic technologies together by combining our strengths in artificial intelligence and life sciences with an industry partner's real-world expertise, ensuring research translates from the laboratory to the ground."

Arvind Bhardwaj, CTO, MiniMines Cleantech Solutions, said, “India's transition to clean energy will depend not only on manufacturing batteries but also on securing a sustainable domestic supply of critical minerals. At MiniMines, we believe the future of resource recovery will be driven by a combination of advanced metallurgy, artificial intelligence and biological innovation. Together with Atria University and its capabilities in AI and life sciences, we aim to accelerate the development of scalable, high-impact solutions for the circular economy."

The laboratory operates within Atria University's SynBioAI initiative, an AI-guided synthetic biology hub. Its research draws on SynBioAI's AI platform, which uses specialised AI models to help scientists engineer high-performing microbial strains faster, cutting the slow trial-and-error that has long defined biological R&D.

The partnership will advance microbial processing as a complementary approach to conventional recycling, reducing chemical and energy intensity while recovering metals from complex or low-grade waste. This will further strengthen India's critical-minerals security and build homegrown capability in sustainable resource recovery. By combining industrial knowledge with academic research, the collaboration establishes a model for translating breakthrough science into deployable technologies. MiniMines will play a key role in evaluating process scalability, economic viability and industrial implementation, ensuring that successful laboratory innovations can be integrated into commercial recycling operations. The partnership reflects Atria University's continued commitment to advancing research at the intersection of artificial intelligence, life sciences and sustainability, while building solutions that address critical national priorities and global challenges.