Innovation takes centre stage at CIRCON 2026 in Jamshedpur
PINAKI MAJUMDAR Jamshedpur, September 24: Innovation, resource recovery and industrial sustainability took centre stage as CIRCON 2026 – Circularity Conference began at…
PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, September 24: Innovation, resource recovery and industrial sustainability took centre stage as CIRCON 2026 – Circularity Conference began at Beldih Club here on Thursday, bringing together industry leaders, researchers, academics and startups to explore ways to convert industrial waste and secondary resources into valuable materials.
The two-day conference, themed “Reimagining Valorisation through Innovation & Entrepreneurship,” is being organised by Tata Steel in association with the Indian Institute of Metals (IIM), Jamshedpur Chapter, CSIR-National Metallurgical Laboratory (CSIR-NML), Jamshedpur, and the Indian Ceramic Society.
Focus on circular economy and resource recovery
Padma Bhushan Dr V K Saraswat, former Member of NITI Aayog, was the chief guest at the inaugural session. D B Sundara Ramam, Vice-President, Corporate Services, Tata Steel, and Dr Goutam Sutradhar, Director, NIT Jamshedpur, attended as guests of honour.
The session was presided over by Dipankar Dasgupta, Executive-in-Charge, IBMD, Tata Steel, who set the context for the conference. Bhargav Dhavala, Convenor, CIRCON 2026, proposed the vote of thanks.
Addressing the gathering, Dr Saraswat highlighted the growing challenges posed by climate change and carbon emissions, stressing the need for sustainable technologies and innovative solutions to address complex circularity challenges.
Sundara Ramam highlighted Tata Steel’s efforts towards 100 per cent utilisation of coal and its associated by-products, including ash, as part of the company’s focus on resource efficiency and sustainable industrial practices.
Dr Sutradhar emphasised the growing national demand for critical metals and advocated a three-pronged approach of recovery, reuse and responsible disposal. He also underlined the importance of resource efficiency, waste valorisation, innovation and sustainable technologies amid rising resource consumption.
Industry, academia and startups explore ‘last mile’ of circularity
The inaugural session was followed by a panel discussion on “The Difficult Last Mile of Circularity: Can Every Industrial Waste Find a Home?”, coordinated by Dr Atanu Ranjan Pal, Chairman, IIM Jamshedpur Chapter.
With around 200 participants and stakeholders, CIRCON 2026 is providing a platform for industry, academia, research institutions and startups to explore commercially viable approaches to transforming industrial by-products, waste streams and secondary resources into useful materials.
Critical minerals, battery recycling and circular steelmaking on agenda
The conference features plenary sessions on hazardous waste management and resource recovery, rare earth elements in Indian coal, resource efficiency across the mineral value chain, urban mining and critical mineral recovery, and the economics of pollution and resource recovery.
The two-day technical programme covers a wide range of subjects, including industrial by-product utilisation, slag and fly-ash valorisation, critical metal recovery, refractory recycling, lithium-ion battery recycling, e-waste management, urban mining, carbon capture, circular steelmaking and next-generation resource recovery.
A dedicated “Innovations for a Circular Future” Startup Elevator Pitch is also being held to showcase emerging technologies and entrepreneurial solutions in the circular economy.
The conference aims to strengthen collaboration among industry, academia, research organisations and startups, while promoting practical, innovative and economically viable approaches to circular resource management and sustainable industrial development.
