India seeks critical mineral partnerships with UK and Australia

India is increasingly engaging in international partnerships to secure critical minerals and advanced materials essential for industrial growth and self-sufficiency.

In the United Kingdom, experts suggest that India and the UK have significant opportunities to collaborate on these resources. Professor Aravind Vijayaraghavan of the University of Manchester noted that while both nations seek to build secure ecosystems, the challenges are mechanistic rather than a lack of willpower. He highlighted that the UK possesses strong research and development capabilities in advanced materials, while India is focused on developing its domestic industrial capacity. Existing frameworks like the India-UK Free Trade Agreement and the Technology Security Initiative provide potential avenues for this cooperation.

Simultaneously, Monash University from Australia is deepening its ties with India through research and industry collaboration. Following high-level visits to Mumbai and Hyderabad, discussions have centered on critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, and rare earths. Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu expressed interest in joint research and student exchanges, aiming for the state to become a partner in the entire value chain rather than just a consumer. Researchers noted that the partnership could combine Australian innovation in mineral engineering with India’s industrial scale and speed.