NavPrakriti Partners with IIT Kharagpur to Strengthen Battery Recycling Innovation and Talent Development

NavPrakriti, a lithium-ion battery recycling and refurbishment company, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur. This strategic partnership is poised to catalyse innovation, talent development and technological advancement in India’s rapidly expanding battery and critical minerals ecosystem. As India sets its sights on 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030 and net zero emissions, the need for robust battery recycling, resource circularity and skilled talent has never been greater. The NavPrakriti-IIT Kharagpur MoU aims to address these national priorities through a multi-pronged approach, encompassing student internship programmes, joint research projects, skill development and capacity building initiatives, as well as technological consulting projects focused on refining and refurbishment of end-of-life batteries.

Under the MoU, IIT Kharagpur students will gain hands-on experience at NavPrakriti’s state-of-the-art facilities, including its flagship Serampore plant, the largest and most advanced lithium-ion battery recycling facility in eastern India. The internship and training programs will immerse students in real-world industrial challenges, equipping them with vital skills for the fast-evolving battery value chain.

Joint research initiatives will focus on advancing technologies for battery material recovery, hydrometallurgical refining and chemical extraction, directly supporting 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.”

Skill development and capacity building are also at the heart of the collaboration. By combining IIT Kharagpur’s world-class research and academic expertise with NavPrakriti’s industry-leading processes and scale, the partnership will create a robust pipeline of talent ready to drive India’s energy transition. Technological consulting projects, particularly in battery refining and refurbishment, will foster innovation and accelerate the deployment of sustainable solutions 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.”

This timely collaboration comes as India’s lithium-ion battery demand is projected to soar from 4 GWh in 2023 to nearly 139 GWh by 2035. By uniting NavPrakriti’s practical expertise and industrial scale with IIT Kharagpur’s research excellence, the partnership is set to deliver transformative outcomes for students, industry, and the environment, setting new benchmarks for responsible innovation, sustainable growth, and environmental stewardship in India’s energy sector.