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Image caption: Shri Amarendu Prakash, Steel Authority of India Chairman, Dipankar Chakraborty from UNSW, Neha Verma, Director of SRTMI, and Philip Green, High Commissioner of Australia to India, celebrating the signing of the MoU in Mumbai.
The UNSW SMaRT Centre and the Steel Research and Technology Mission of India (SRTMI) have entered into a partnership to collaborate on green steel manufacturing, decarbonisation, recycling, and advanced steel technologies.
The Memorandum of Understanding was signed during the India Steel Expo 2025, with support from Investment NSW.
The agreement was formalised by Neha Verma, Director of SRTMI, and Dipankar Chakraborty, Managing Director of UNSW South Asia, following recent visits to India by UNSW and SMaRT Centre Director, Prof Veena Sahajwalla, including with Investment NSW as part of bilateral trade initiatives.
This MoU partnership builds on the Australia India Green Steel initiative under the Australia India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement and highlights how UNSW Sydney is supporting homegrown research to deliver global and economic impact.
The collaboration aims to facilitate cross-border knowledge exchange, industry-led training, and development of sustainable manufacturing practices.
The partnership will focus on SMaRT's Green SteelTM Polymer Injection Technology (PIT) developed by Prof Veena and the UNSW SMaRT Centre.
This technology involves transforming waste materials into inputs for steel production, and follows the next phase of SMaRT R&D for its Green SteelTM technology, which can use waste rubber from end-of-life vehicle tyres, conveyor belts and other suitable waste sources as a substitute for imported carbonaceous materials (such as coke and coal) as rubber crumb for use in electric arc furnace steelmaking.
Professor Veena Sahajwalla said it is crucial for manufacturers and researchers to work to tackle environmental issues, while delivering commercial outcomes.
“Climate change and clean energy narratives often overlook the need for more sustainable manufacturing and waste management practices, where we start to use waste resources for future manufacturing needs.
"Natural resources alone will not deliver the feedstock supply for all of society’s needs, so we need a far more sustainable approach, like some of the innovative recycling technologies we’ve developed at the UNSW SMaRT Centre.”
“By working collaboratively with partners we have been able to prove that polymer injection works and is commercially viable. It is only through partnerships that we can truly achieve positive environmental outcomes at scale.
“I encourage all manufacturers to engage with your local research institution and challenge them with a business issue that needs solving. Conversely, I recommend researchers go out into the field and work with industry because there are really interesting, practical challenges to solve.”
The global steel industry faces significant challenges, as current production methods rely heavily on coal, resulting in high carbon emissions.
With steel demand projected to rise by 30% by 2050, the industry must balance growth with the urgent need to reduce its environmental impact and meet climate neutrality targets set by the Paris Climate Accord.
ABC News story and radio interview
Steel Research and Technology Mission of India post
A later UNSW announcement stated:
The MoU lays the groundwork for a two-year collaboration aimed at delivering impactful research outcomes and strengthening academic and industry ties between Australia and India. The agreement was formalised during the India Steel 2025 international conference at the Bombay Exhibition Centre in Mumbai.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by His Excellency Mr Philip Green, High Commissioner of Australia to India, and Shri Amarendu Prakash, Chairman of the Steel Authority of India Limited and President of SRTMI, alongside senior officials and researchers from both the steel and academic sectors.
Under the agreement, UNSW academics will work closely with India’s steel producers and industry experts to develop innovative solutions that improve the efficiency and sustainability of steel production and use.
Key areas of collaboration include:
- decarbonisation and green steel innovation
- circular economy and resource efficiency
- development of advanced and high-performance steel
- integration of digital technologies into manufacturing and industrial processes, including applications of artificial intelligence and machine learning.
Science-led innovation tackling environmental challenges
Professor Veena Sahajwalla, founding Director of the UNSW SMaRT Centre and a global leader in sustainable materials research, said the collaboration highlights the University’s world-leading expertise in tackling major environmental challenges.
“Steel is a critical commodity for national development, but we must make its production more efficient and environmentally responsible. This MoU with SRTMI reflects our shared commitment to advancing a circular economy by transforming complex waste into valuable inputs for sustainable steelmaking,” she said.
“I’m proud that the Green SteelTM Polymer Injection Technology, developed at UNSW, is reimagining waste as a resource and driving innovations for sustainable industrial growth. It’s a powerful example of science-led innovation making a real-world impact, and I look forward to sharing this technology through this partnership.”
As part of the agreement, UNSW and SRTMI will collaborate on joint research projects, academic and scientific exchanges, and training programs aimed at building industry capability. These efforts support global sustainability goals and the transition to a low-carbon future.
Dipankar Chakraborty from UNSW with Neha Verma, Director of SRTMI, signing the MoU at the India Steel 2025 international conference.
Mr Green, Australia’s High Commissioner to India, welcomed the agreement.
“I commend UNSW, SRTMI, and the Ministry of Steel for this initiative,” he said.
“This MoU builds on the existing India-Australia Green Steel Partnership to tackle some of the most pressing technological challenges in the steel sector, including decarbonisation, circular economy, and digital transformation.
“The steel industry is fundamental to economic development and national security. Australia and India bring complementary strengths: we are the world’s largest exporter of iron ore, and India is the second-largest producer and consumer of steel. Given that steel and iron production accounts for around 9% of global greenhouse gas emissions, the sector is at the forefront of the global energy transition.”
Shri Amarendu Prakash, Chairman of the Steel Authority of India Limited and President of SRTMI, said the partnership marked a pivotal moment for Indian steel research and development.
“It aligns with our national vision of developing indigenous, sustainable, and globally competitive technologies,” he said.
“This MoU will act as a catalyst for high-impact research and international collaboration in areas such as decarbonisation, advanced materials, and digital innovation.”
Established by the Ministry of Steel, Government of India, in collaboration with key stakeholders from the Indian steel sector, SRTMI’s mission is to enhance the industry’s global competitiveness through focused research, innovation, and strategic partnerships.
Neha Verma, Director of SRTMI, said she was optimistic about the potential of the collaboration.
“The MoU with UNSW Sydney opens new avenues for developing transformative solutions tailored to India’s unique challenges,” she said.
“Together, we aim to deliver technological breakthroughs that can redefine sustainable steel production in India and beyond.”
Green SteelTM PIT aligns perfectly with the broader goals of a hydrogen-based decarbonisation strategy. By offering an efficient and technically viable method for reducing carbon emissions in steel production, it eliminates the immediate need for large-scale hydrogen storage and transportation, addressing key barriers to hydrogen adoption.
Green SteelTM PIT uses rubber tyres and other sources rich source in carbon and hydrogen, in EAC furnaces, and balances different chemical reactions to liberating hydrogen enabling a more efficient steel production.
Furthermore, Green SteelTM PIT supports resource efficiency and promotes a circular economy by utilising waste materials as valuable feedstock.
