Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (IIT Kharagpur) launches Vikram Sodhi Centre of Excellence for AI-Enabled Geological and Mining Systems

Key facts

• The Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (IIT Kharagpur) has established the Vikram Sodhi Centre of Excellence for AI-Enabled Geological and Mining Systems with a funding commitment of ₹15 crore.
• The centre is funded by Vikram Sodhi, the Vice Chairman of Mineros SA and Managing Partner at Sun Valley Investments, over a period of five years.
• The initiative aims to develop artificial intelligence-driven solutions specifically tailored to Indian geological conditions and mining systems.
• The research scope covers multiple stages including exploration, mine planning, mineral processing, predictive maintenance, and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) analytics.
• The centre will implement an industry-linked Grand Challenges Programme using operational mine datasets provided by industry partners rather than simulated inputs.
• The facility is established as an independent interdisciplinary unit within IIT Kharagpur under the academic oversight of the Dean of Research and Development.
• The launch of the centre coincides with the Platinum Jubilee year of IIT Kharagpur.
• The centre is named after the Sodhi family, including alumnus Col. Manjeet Sodhi who completed his M.Tech. in Radar Systems Engineering at the institute in 1977.